Weddings
Marriage – A wedding is one of life’s great moments!
When we love someone, we show it in many different ways: by holding hands, perhaps sending a text message, giving flowers, exchanging a kiss and by sharing our lives together. These are all signs of a deeper reality – of our love, affection and commitment to the person we want to be with forever. When two people decide to ‘tie-the-knot’ at St George’s, we are very pleased for them. Couples have expressed the sense of an added dimension to their wedding service when their vows are made in God’s presence in the beautiful and sacred building of St. George’s Church. Their wedding day marks the beginning of a new way of life for them which is blessed by God in the marriage service.
The Church of England Marriage Measure of 2008 has significantly relaxed the regulations for marriage in its churches. There are now many qualifying connections which either the bride, groom, parents or grandparents can have to enable them to be married in church. This can be by previous residence in the parish or by baptism, marriage or confirmation.
Everyone wants the very best for their wedding day; the couple, their friends and relatives and the church community too. We want to make the day special and one that the couple will remember for the rest of their lives. Great care is taken in putting the service together and choosing appropriate hymns, music, readings, prayers and beautiful flowers. Singers, a choir, a band and of course, the bells all add to the occasion. Selecting those people who will play significant roles is a thoughtful and important task. The presence of several people from St George’s who act as vergers helps the service to run smoothly, making sure everything is in place, everyone is looked after and the sound system works effectively. The service lasts for around 40/45 mins, then it’s time for the very necessary photographs and confetti throwing before moving on to the reception. If the weather proves to be ‘unkind’ photographs have been taken inside church.
Towards the end of the service, before signing the registers, the couple are given a large wedding candle to take home. It is lit from the Easter Candle in Church and given to the couple to hold together (this makes a wonderful photograph). We pray that the candle will be a reminder of their special day as they re-light the candle on their anniversaries and that they will strive to keep the flame of love alive, which the light on the candle symbolises. We look forward too, when couples return to see us from time to time after their marriage.
To find out more about qualifying connections or to book a wedding, download this form.
