Are you newly engaged (congratulations!)? Or would you like to celebrate your marriage and renew your vows?
We know that wedding days can be one of the most important days in people’s lives. Weddings in the church building have been happening for centuries and we would love to help you make your day as special as it can be. Below you will find all the information you will need to book a wedding or a blessing with us.
As far as it is legally possible, we want to welcome you to book a wedding at St Mary’s.
But before booking a wedding with us, please read through the following to find out whether you can be married in our church.
Can I get married at St Mary’s Bletchley?
In order to be married at a Church of England church one of those wishing to be wed needs to currently live in the parish or have a qualifying connection.
Our parish is most households with an MK3 postcode. If you wish to check that we are your parish church go to www.achurchnearyou.com and search for your postcode. If you live in the parish of St Mary’s Bletchley then you are automatically connected to us and you are able to get married in our church building.
If you don’t live in our parish but would still like to get married at St Mary’s then there are seven qualifying connections that will allow you to have a wedding with us. You can marry in a Church of England church if you can show that one of you:
- has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months
- was baptised (christened) in the parish concerned
- is confirmed and your confirmation was entered in the register of confirmations for a church or chapel in the parish (this will usually be the case if you were prepared for confirmation in the parish)
- has at any time regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months
- one of your parents, at any time after you were born, has lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months
- one of your parents, at any time after you were born, has regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months
- one of your parents or grandparents was married in the parish
If you do not live in our parish and book a wedding with us through a qualifying connection you will need to arrange for your Banns to be read at your parish church. This is a legal requirement.
Banns
Banns are a legal requirement in the UK for a wedding in a church building. It is where your names are read out during three church services. It is your declaration of your intent to marry. More information about Banns can be found Forms, Applications & Downloads