Marriage
A marriage service, wherever it is held, is a public declaration of love and commitment to your partner.
If you choose to get married in church, there is an added dimension – the assurance that God cares about your relationship and that his resources and strength are available to help you. Including God in your marriage doesn’t mean that you will avoid all the usual ups and downs, but you will know that you can look to God for help and guidance and that his love will sustain you. You will also have the support and encouragement of the Christian Church family.
As you walk down the aisle you will be walking in the footsteps of thousands of people who have seen the church as an important focal point in their local community, a place where they have shared their joys and celebrations as well as their sorrows. The church you have chosen may have a special place in your lives, or you may be new to your area and have not yet made links with your local church. If you haven't already, make time to familiarise yourself with your local church, its worship and its congregation. When you marry in church, you are not in a building that is run as a commercial venture, you are married amongst a community of Christians, some of whom will pray for you in the run up to the big day.
Where can we get married?
Until recently, couples wished to marry in a parish where neither of them lived they would require a special licence or six months of regular attendance followed by entry on the local church electoral roll. The new Marriage Measure means that an engaged couple are welcome to be married in church in a parish if just one of these applies:
- one of you was baptised or prepared for confirmation in the parish;
- one of you has ever lived in the parish for six months or more;
- one of you has at any time regularly attended public worship in the parish for six months or more;
- one of your parents has lived in the parish for six months or more in your lifetime;
- one of your parents has regularly attended public worship there for six months or more in your lifetime;
- your parents or grandparents were married in the parish.
More details of parishes in the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds – click here
An added dimension
Your wedding day will be one of the most important occasions in your life, but if one day can involve so much time and energy, then think about how much more time needs to be given to your ongoing marriage relationship.
The marriage service now assumes every couple will have taken part in some form of marriage preparations. You will meet and get to know the vicar in advance of the wedding. He or she will not only be able to help, support and advise you in your planning, but also take time to discuss with you the meaning of marriage and the promises you will be making to one another in the service. It is also increasingly likely that you may be invited to join a small group with other couples who are also planning to marry, in order to share with one another your expectations of marriage and how you might deal with issues that arise in the future