Weddings at Aldridge Parish Church
Thinking about getting married at Aldridge Parish Church?
Congratulations, one of the best things we do here at the Parish Church is prepare people for marriage. A church wedding is something rather special, and we want to do all we can to make your wedding day the best it can be. To find out more, please read on or contact the Church Office on 01922 455229 any week day morning.
Am I able to get married at Aldridge Parish Church?
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.
You were confirmed here at Aldridge Parish Church and your confirmation was entered in the register of confirmations here.
You have at any time regularly gone to normal church services here in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months
or
That one of your parents, at any time after you were born has lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months.
That one of your parents has regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months.
or
That one of your parents or grandparents was married in the parish
Also, if you move house, into Aldridge and fall within the parish boundary, you’re immediately connected to the church here and can get married.
In all cases involving church services – i.e. going to normal church services, baptism, confirmation or marriage – this applies only to Church of England services.
If you cannot demonstrate any of the above connections, you could create one, simply by attending our church’s usual services twice a month for six consecutive months. If you decide to do this, please remember to leave enough time after your attendance for the banns to be read before your wedding too – about another two or three months should be enough.
To find out which Church of England parish you live in try the following website:
www.acny.org.uk/parishmap.php
Licences
If you are a foreign national, you will need to marry by licence. Please advise the office, when you first make contact that this applies to you. Please note that if a licence is required, one party must be baptised.
If you live in the parish and one of you is divorced, we are happy to talk to you about re-marriage in church, but you will need to have a discussion/s with one of our clergy first to see if it is possible for you to get married here. Please let the office know when you call if this is the case.
Away Banns
If you are getting and married at another church and would like us to read your banns then please let us have the following information:
• Full names of bride and groom and address(es) including post code(s)
• Date and place of your wedding, including the name of the church where you will be married
• We will advise you the dates that your banns will be read - this has to be three consecutive Sundays, within three months of your wedding date, and we shall read your banns during our main Sunday morning service.
• There is a fee to pay (currently £46) when you collect your banns certificate.
Booking the date of your wedding
It's probably advisable to have made previous enquiries about the availability of a reception venue, but you should not actually book the reception until you know whether a particular date and time will be possible here at the Parish Church. Once the date has been arranged, and you know it's available here, we will arrange a mutually convenient time to see you both to book the date into the church diary. At that time you will need to provide documentation to prove your identity and address (this must be at least three or four months before the date of your marriage). This may include: passport or driving licence, birth certificate and a utility bill. You will need to pay a £50 deposit and complete a marriage booking form. If you are getting married here because of a qualifying connection, you will also need to bring along proof of that connection.
We will let you know the time and dates your Banns will be read in church, this is normally approximately 6 weeks before your wedding date. If either of you live outside Aldridge Parish, then please remember you will also need to arrange to have 'Away Banns' read at your local church, (please refer to the notes above). We need to be in possession of this certificate before your wedding date.
The cost of a wedding
Wedding Fees – 2023
Total if marrying by banns £584 (plus the cost of your wedding certifiacte)
If you are not resident in the parish, you will also need to pay your home parish a statutory fee of £51 for your banns to be read and for a certificate of calling to be produced.
Options / other costs
• Organist £90
• Bells after the service only £165
Please note that fees are revised yearly and will therefore increase in 2024 . Current fees at date of wedding will be applied.
Payment is due in full one month
Wedding Certificates
Wedding certificates are no longer given to you on your wedding day, they are now the responsibility of the local Walsall Registry Office. You will need to apply direct to them online, allowing 3 weeks after your wedding, current fee is £11.00 per copy, plus £6 for registered post. If you feel you will need more than one copy, they are slightly cheaper if you get them when you first apply, rather than asking for additional copies in the future. The link for Walsall Registry office is https://go.walsall.gov.uk/forms/Registrars-form
