ARRANGING A WEDDING AT ST MARY’S

To arrange a Wedding at St Mary’s you need to contact the Vicar and arrange to see him, so that he can take your details, and discuss with you what kind of wedding you want. (Phone 01455 234241)

Normally those getting married go to their own Parish Church – everyone in England lives in a Parish. Hinckley is divided into two parishes – St Mary’s, and West Hinckley. If there is a  special reason why a couple want to get married at St Mary’s, and they do not live in St Mary’s Parish, it may be possible for them to do so. They need to see the Vicar, tell him why they want to get married at St Mary’s, and he will explain the matter further.

For couples where one or both are divorced:  The clergy at St Mary’s are prepared to marry those who are divorced; but before agreeing to do so, the vicar will want to see the couple and talk the matter over with them.

 Fees from 1^st January 2008

 Total     :    £389.50

 Bells     - optional extra             £85.00

Choir    - optional extra             £40.00

Wedding Blessing    Total  :    £241

Certificate of Banns

( for those getting married elsewhere)

  Total   £34

 These fees go up a little each year.

We ask for a deposit of £75  to confirm the wedding arrangements.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION

MARRIAGE PREPARATION

 It is the duty of the person who will be conducting your wedding to help you prepare for it. This means not just the arrangements for the service, but to help you understand what Christian marriage means.

There are various ways of doing this. Some clergy will do the preparation themselves, either with each couple separately, or with  several couples together.

Larger parishes will often involve other people in the preparation. This may take the form of  several evenings in someone's house along with other couples. Or  it may involve all the couples coming together for several hours on a  Saturday.

 Whatever form the preparation takes the aim is the same: to help couples prepare for the most important commitment that most people ever make. Couples need all the help they can get if they are going to make a success of their marriage. It is because so many marriages today fail that most churches  try to give better preparation than often happened in the past.

 Nothing will guarantee the success of a marriage except two people determined to make it work. But proper preparation is essential : thinking through the meaning of the vows that will be made, preferably in the company of other couples. In the end Christian marriage is about believing there is a God, the God of love, who is always there to help us love and forgive each other.   

At St Mary’s we now run a two week course – usually on Sunday evenings, at the home of the couple running the course. If you decide to get married at St Mary’s, at least six months before the wedding you will be contacted to tell you about arrangements for the Marriage Preparation.  

The Vicar says: “So many couples – the vast majority – tell me how much they enjoyed the Marriage Preparation. Some even  make new friends, and not only go to one another’s weddings but keep in touch, and go out together”.

COMING TO CHURCH

We ask all those getting married at St Mary’s to try to come to church at least once a month in the period leading up to your wedding. Among all the preparations to be made for your wedding don’t forget to prepare for the most important part of all, the service in church.  The best way to do this is by coming to church. This way you will get accustomed to the church, and you will feel far less nervous on your wedding day!

 Services every Sunday:

10.15a,m ALL TOGETHER – our lively All Age Service

6.00pm EVENING WORSHIP – a quieter, shorter service

MUSIC

Peter our Organist is always pleased to discuss with you any personal requirements you may have for your special day or make suggestions if you want something that little bit different.

Please feel free to contact him and chat over your wishes.

Obviously to enter the church, leave the church and during signing the register music is appropriate, as well as the traditional our organist Peter will be pleased to suggest other options.

SUGGESTED HYMNS SUITABLE FOR WEDDINGS