Are we entitled to get married in the parish of Hope?
If you wish to be married in either of our churches – Hope Parish Church or Emmanuel, Pen-y-ffordd, your first approach should be to the Rector, preferably by telephone (01978 762127).
For a couple to be entitled to be married here, one or other of them must be resident in the parish, which includes Hope, Caergwrle, Abermorddu, Cefn-y-bedd, most of Pen-y-ffordd and the western outskirts of Higher Kinnerton.
Alternatively, one or other must have been attending either church at least twice a month for six months. When one or both of the couple have been married before with a former partner still living, there is no absolute right to get married in church and it will be necessary for them to discuss their circumstances with the Rector.
It is not necessary for those wishing to be married in church to have been baptised, but unbaptised persons may like to consider baptism around the time of their marriage.
Preparation for marriage is, of course, about a lot more than practical arrangements for just the one day of the wedding ceremony. We hope you will find the following website helpful in getting ready for the big day and also thinking about life together after all the celebrations are over Prepare for marriage
Time and day
On Sundays the only time which may be accommodated is 12:45 p.m. because of constraints of church services that day. Couples should agree a time and date with the Rector before confirming arrangements with the reception venue.
More than one wedding booking may be accepted by the parish on any day but there will be at least ninety minutes between start times to allow for a relaxed interval between services.
The wedding ceremony itself, assuming inclusion of two hymns, will last approximately half an hour.
Order of Service, Readings and Hymns
Rehearsal
The wedding rehearsal usually takes place two or three days before the wedding. It involves only the couple and the officiating cleric. This is his or her chief opportunity to get to know the couple and is complicated by the presence of others.
The bridesmaids, and whoever is giving away the bride, all have parts which are so straightforward that they can be explained to them immediately before the service. There is plenty of time for the Best Man to be walked through his part on the day since he and the Groom will arrive about 45 minutes before the service starts.
Banns and Licences
Banns of marriage are usually read out on three consecutive Sundays at some point during the three months before the wedding at the main service of the church or churches of the parishes where the couple are resident. If either or both of the couple usually worship in a church or chapel of another denomination they will need to have their banns read in the relevant Anglican church in England or Wales. It is the couples’ responsibility to have their banns read in any other parish where either of them is resident.
Where either party has been divorced and the Rector has given permission for the wedding to be held in church the member of the couple who is resident in the parish will be required to make the declaration for the granting of a Common Licence, for which an additional fee is payable. The Rector himself will hear the declaration and deal with the application.
Where a couple are claiming the residence qualification to be married in the parish, on the basis of their staying at an address within the parish for a fortnight, they will be required to approach the local authority Registrar for both addresses involved in order to make the declaration necessary for the issue of a Superintendent Registrar’s Certificate, for which an additional fee will be payable to the Registrar but not to the church.
It is not necessary for a couple to obtain a Licence or a Certificate when their banns are being read.
The Rector Writes article for August 2007 covers this subject in more detail
Flowers
The ladies of the church are responsible for flowers in the sanctuary but they are willing to discuss colour-schemes and types of flowers with the bride. A contribution to the cost of these will be welcome.
No flowers are provided or permitted in the sanctuary (ie, near the altar), during Advent (the four weeks before Christmas) or during Lent (the six weeks before Easter).
When a firm booking has been made couples will be given the name and phone number of the lady responsible for flowers, who will be pleased to meet them, preferably after a mid-morning service on a Sunday.
Flower-arrangements on pedestals may be provided by the couple. One may be placed near the steps to the pulpit and another at the top of the steps leading into the church. These may be removed by the couple, immediately after the service, if they so wish, and relocated at the reception venue.
Arrangements on the pew-ends must not be secured into the wood but must be tied in place.
Music
The Rector will advise couples who will be playing the organ for their wedding as soon as he knows himself. They are recommended to contact him or her to discuss hymns, and what music they would like played as the bride enters the church, during the signing of the registers and as the couple leaves. Most weddings include two hymns. Click here to download a list of hymn suggestions
It is possible for couples to request that a friend or relative play the organ in place of the church organist if they prefer (fees to the church are not affected).
It is also possible for the couple to arrange for other musicians, such as harpists, quartets, solo singers or choirs to perform at their wedding, but they should mention this possibility to the Rector before making bookings.
Photography and Videos
We have found that the following rules provide the best way of ensuring that the sanctity of the marriage service is observed whilst allowing for a precious record of the occasion to be made:
Photography or videos are allowed during a wedding only by the official photographer or videographer. The photographer may take any photographs during the service, without flash, from the very back of the church, that is, from under the tower. He/she may then take posed photographs in the east end of the side chapel after the signing of the registers. Any video camera must be set up on a tripod at a point in the choir stalls agreed with the minister. This camera may be moved to the side chapel for the signing of the registers.
Services of Blessing after Civil Weddings and Renewal of Marriage Vows
These may be arranged by discussion with the Rector. He will be able to suggest various items for inclusion.
Fees
Click here to view up-to-date fees
Marriage Law
The Church in Wales was disestablished in 1920 but the law relating to marriage in Wales is essentially the same as for the Church of England. However the CofE has recently changed its criteria for allowing a couple to marry in a particular church (they need to show at least one connection with the parish out of a possible seven); the Church in Wales has not made such a change and the requirement for one party to demonstrate a residential link remains.