We now accept contactless payments

Weddings

If you would like to book a wedding at St. Lawrence's then please come to the office. Opening times:

Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 9.00 am - 12.00 pm alternatively Tel: 01724 506031

We would be pleased to discuss all aspects of the marriage service, including the posting of banns, service protocol, choir, bells and any other areas of concern you may have.

A wedding is a very special day in anyone's life and everyone at St Lawrence's wishes to make it as enjoyable as possible.

Your Church Wedding

1.Before you book

Previously the law of the land meant you could only get married in

St Lawrence's Church if you either live in the parish or attend worship there regularly. However the CHURCH OF ENGLAND MARRIAGE MEASURE 2008 considerably widened this criteria by introducing a range of qualifying connections, if you believe you may meet one of these new connections or would like to know more about them please contact a member of the clergy to discuss this further. (contact details are on the website.)

If you live outside our parish, we would need to establish a qualifying connection to our church to enable you to get married here.

The guidelines from the Church of England include:

If you were baptised or confirmed and entered on the register in the parish.
If your parent or grandparent was married in the parish.
If you have lived in the parish for at least 6 months.
If your parent has lived in the parish for at least 6 months during your lifetime.
If you have worshipped in the parish for at least 6 months.
If your parent has worshipped in the parish for 6 months.

2. Next

If none of these conditions apply then you would need to attend church for a qualifying connection.

If either of you have been married before, please call in the office for a Marriage After Divorce form, then you will need to arrange to see a member of our clergy before booking.

3. Booking Procedure

The payment of a deposit of £100 will confirm the booking of your wedding service at St. Lawrence’s. This is not refundable.

In addition please bring to the office

both your birth certificates,

passport and

proof of address.

If you need to re-arrange the date and/or time of your wedding please let us know as soon as possible.

If you need to cancel your wedding, again, please let us know as soon as possible.

Guidelines for booking

When you have booked your wedding, there is a lot to think about.

You may also wish to visit www.yourchurchwedding.org,

a Church of England website which contains some useful information and guidance.

Photos

Banns

Music

Banns must be called in the parishes where each of you live, so unless you both live in St. Lawrence’s parish you will need to arrange to have banns called at another church as well. When

the banns have been called,

you must collect a certificate

(for which the other church will make a charge) and bring it here.

We cannot marry you without

a certificate.

Your banns will be called in this benefice on three Sundays during the 10.45 a.m. service.

We hope you will both be able to join us to hear them read.

You will almost certainly want pictures of your wedding and there will be plenty of chances to take photographs during the day. We do ask photographers to check with the vicar taking the service to ensure that they do not distract those attending. We would, however, be glad to arrange photos in church afterwards. Video cameras are allowed to record the service. However, if the service is videoed an extra fee is charged (please see charges below). It is helpful if the person making the video comes to the rehearsal, so that they can see where they may set up the camera.

You will need to choose music to enter and leave to, and one song for while you are signing the register, there are usually two hymns as well. If you would like some help, the member of the clergy taking the service would be happy to suggest some suitable hymns. We can no longer accept music on a CD. We can provide the hymn books and service books if needed. If you would like to have your own service sheets printed please talk to the person taking the service first to arrange details.

Option 1

For most of the year there are flowers in church. A flower pedestal is included in the basic price of your wedding.

Option 2

Couples can elect to have their own florist but please inform the office in advance. The florist needs to agree suitable times to come into church.

If flowers are removed after the wedding, 1 pedestal must be left in church, by the altar for the following Sunday.

If there is more than one wedding on one day, then a neutral coloured pedestal will be done.

During Lent (6 weeks before Easter) and Advent (4 weeks before Christmas) there are no flowers in Church, your options will be discussed when you book for during this time.

Flowers

Supporters

Fees

Traditionally, the groom is supported by the best man, usually his brother or a close friend, while the bride has her sister or friend as a bridesmaid.

There is no limit on the number or age of bridesmaids (or pageboys) at a service, but small children can find it very difficult to cope with standing still and quietly for long periods. Keeping several small children quiet for a whole service (plus the photographs afterwards) could be almost impossible.

Please think carefully before deciding who to ask.

The fees charged are the ones that apply on the date of the wedding, not the date of the booking. To give you an idea, the fees for 2024 are £681.00 in the summer months and £781.00 in the winter months. This includes church and legal fees and the fees for the organist , verger and flowers. If you need a banns certificate from another church, that must be paid for separately; at the moment it costs £45.00

There are extra charges if you choose to have the church bells, choir or video recording; this year:

Bells £40,

Choir £100

Video £45.

The fees should be paid at least 6 weeks before the wedding. Payment can be made in instalments, cash would be appreciated to enable easy distribution of funds. However we can now accept card payments.

Cheques should be made payable to Frodingham Parochial Church Council only we cannot accept any other name.