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A wedding is one of life’s great moments, a time of solemn commitment as well as good wishes, celebration, and joy.
On your wedding day you will turn to face each-other as bride and groom; and, holding hands, you will make your promises and receive God’s blessing – to enable you to love and support each other in good times and in bad, and to share in the care and upbringing of children. The public and life-long covenant and vows that you will make on your wedding day will be declared and celebrated in the presence of God, your guests, and before witnesses. If you would like to get married at All Saints’ Church, the best thing to do is to get in touch with the Parish Office. We will be happy to help you! |
'Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.' - Colossians 3:12-14 |
Frequently Asked Questions about Weddings
Can we marry at All Saints’?
Yes, provided that you live in the Church of England parish of Houghton Regis or you have a qualifying connection to All Saints' Parish Church.
You can marry in your parish church regardless of whether or not you are baptised, and whether or not you attend church regularly.
You can marry in your parish church regardless of whether or not you are baptised, and whether or not you attend church regularly.
When can we get married?
You can get married on most days of the year.
Saturday afternoons are the most popular choice, but weddings on weekdays are becoming more common as well.
Restrictions on times and dates are very few; Ash Wednesday, Passiontide (the two weeks preceding Easter Day), and the nine days before Christmas Day.
Saturday afternoons are the most popular choice, but weddings on weekdays are becoming more common as well.
Restrictions on times and dates are very few; Ash Wednesday, Passiontide (the two weeks preceding Easter Day), and the nine days before Christmas Day.
I’m not baptized; can I get married at church?
Yes, you can. You are not required to have been baptized (christened), or be a regular churchgoer, to have a church wedding. If you have a legally-recognised connection to a church and there are no other complications to consider, you can get married there.
However, you can still be baptized as an adult and if this is something you’re thinking about speak to the Parish Priest who will be delighted to talk to you about what it involves.
However, you can still be baptized as an adult and if this is something you’re thinking about speak to the Parish Priest who will be delighted to talk to you about what it involves.
One of us is divorced; can we still get married at All Saints’?
If one (or both of you) has been married before there may well be a possibility for you to be married again in church. Please contact our Parish Priest to talk about your plans for the wedding.
Can Roman Catholics marry at All Saints’?
Roman Catholics are welcome to have a Church of England wedding. It will always be taken by a Church of England priest, for legal reasons, but a RC priest can be involved in the service by doing prayers, the Blessing of the Marriage, readings or a talk/sermon.
Do we need to attend a Marriage preparation course?
No, you don’t. The Parish Priest will arrange to meet with you on a number of occasions to sort out the legal paperwork, to help you plan the ceremony, and to get to know you a bit better before your big day.
Should you wish to attend a marriage preparation course, Father Diego will be happy to put you in touch with other local churches running one.
Should you wish to attend a marriage preparation course, Father Diego will be happy to put you in touch with other local churches running one.
What is a 'Nuptial Mass'?
A Nuptial Mass is a Mass (a service of Holy Communion) celebrated as part of the wedding ceremony. This is type of ceremony is open to everyone, and it is particularly appropriate if one or both of you are committed Christians.
How much does a wedding Ceremony cost?
The Church of England sets statutory fees for weddings each year which apply to every church. The fees for 2024 are £531 for the Marriage Service, and £36 for the Publication of Banns.
Other, non-statutory, fees for 2024 are
You may wish to add any of the following,
If you would like your wedding to be recorded or live streamed the fees for choir and organ will be double, in line with the directives from the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM).
Other, non-statutory, fees for 2024 are
- Organ (and/or the use of recorded music) - £70
- Heating contribution (October to April inclusive) - £70
- Verger - £30
You may wish to add any of the following,
- Bells - £150
- Choir - £150
If you would like your wedding to be recorded or live streamed the fees for choir and organ will be double, in line with the directives from the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM).
We had a civil wedding; could we come to All Saints for a Wedding Blessing?
Yes, absolutely! Many couples have their union blessed after the wedding took place, either because this took part in a secular setting, or because they would like to renew their vows after a number of years.
Same-sex marriage and Civil Partnership
We would be happy to host and help you and plan a blessing service for your Marriage or Civil Partnership which took place at the Register Office or at another venue.
Please, contact the Parish Office to discuss this further.
Please, contact the Parish Office to discuss this further.
Reading of Banns
Most Church of England marriages require banns before the wedding can take place.
Although a legal requirement, banns can be a special occasion too. Banns are a formal announcement of your intention to marry and they are a legal requirement for marriage in church. Banns need to be read in the parish where each of you lives as well as the church in which you are to be married, if that is somewhere else. Also, you must have your banns read out in church for three Sundays within the three months before the wedding. This is usually done over three consecutive Sundays.
Even if you are not getting married at All Saints’ you are invited to attend the services at which your banns will be read out. After the banns announced, the congregation will pray for you both.
To arrange for Banns, please get in touch with the Parish Office.
Although a legal requirement, banns can be a special occasion too. Banns are a formal announcement of your intention to marry and they are a legal requirement for marriage in church. Banns need to be read in the parish where each of you lives as well as the church in which you are to be married, if that is somewhere else. Also, you must have your banns read out in church for three Sundays within the three months before the wedding. This is usually done over three consecutive Sundays.
Even if you are not getting married at All Saints’ you are invited to attend the services at which your banns will be read out. After the banns announced, the congregation will pray for you both.
To arrange for Banns, please get in touch with the Parish Office.
