GETTING MARRIED
Legal Requirements for Marriage
Firstly, we must know whether either of you has been married before. There are three different ways to fulfil the legal requirements. (These are not required for Service of Blessing following a Civil Marriage). Please read the following details carefully to see which is appropriate to your circumstances and contact us if you need clarification.
1. Banns To have your banns of marriage read in church, at least one of you must be resident in the parish or on the electoral roll of that church.
a) If you both live in the parish where you are getting married, the banns must be read at that church on three consecutive Sundays during the three months before your wedding. We will arrange for the banns to be read and will send you a note of the dates and times so that you can come and hear them if you wish. There is a small charge for the certificates, which are required for the marriage ceremony.
b) If one of you lives in the parish where you are getting married and the other lives in another parish, then the banns must be read in both parishes. We will make arrangements for the banns to be read here and will send you a note of the dates and times so that you can attend if you wish. You must contact the minister of the other parish to give him or her your details and arrange for the banns to be read there. The other parish will issue a banns certificate to prove this has been done which you must collect and pass on to the minister conducting your marriage before your wedding day.
that from 1st October 2008, it will be easier for couples to get married in a church that has special significance for them, through family or other connections. Click here to read the full details from the Church of England website.
2. Apply for a Special Archbishop’s Licence (Fee £140)
If neither of you live in the parish or are on the church electoral roll, you may be able to apply for a special licence. Even if you have family members living here (e.g. your parental home is here) you will still need a licence. You will need to discuss this with the Priest. To apply for a licence you must show some involvement with the church and the community, and the minister taking the wedding will need to support your application. You need to contact the Archbishop’s Faculty Office, 1 The Sanctuary, Westminster, London, SW1, who will send you a form. When this has been filled in, it must be checked by the priest, and validated by oath in his or her presence. It is then returned to the Archbishop's Faculty office with the payment. You can apply up to one year before your wedding date. You are advised to apply as soon as possible to avoid possible delays in the process.
3. Superintendent Registrar’s Licence (Fee £30)
This is issued from Bedford Registry Office, Pilgrim Centre, 20 Brickhill Drive, Bedford. It requires you:-
a) to prove you have been resident in the parish for a minimum of 7 days and nights in the Parish. Proof of residency can be a bank statement, bill confirming residency at parental home (remember this is a legal document), or a letter from your parents stating dates that you have stayed there.
b) to bring proof of identity, eg passport
c) to provide a letter from the minister supporting your application and agreeing to marry you. The certificate is valid for 12 months. You must allow 16 clear days after submitting the application before the certificate can be granted.