Marriage Information

Church Documents and Requirements

Pre-Marriage Course

The parish provides a pre-marriage course every year, in April/May. There are four sessions on Tuesday evenings from 8pm till 9.30pm in the Parish Centre. The cost for the course is £30 per couple. Cheque payable to: “Sacred Heart Church”.
There are other pre-marriage courses available around the diocese; some are day courses on a Saturday. You are required by most dioceses to attend a course as part of your preparation for marriage.

Civil Registration: Certificate for Marriage

Must be applied for by each couple from each couples respective Council Registration Office. You must make an appointment and be interviewed. The Certificate for Marriage document is held and displayed publicly for 21 days after which you must collect them. It is advisable to begin the process of obtaining your Certificates for Marriage at least four months before your wedding. Both Certificates for Marriage documents should be given to the priest as soon as you receive them. You cannot be married without them.

Marrying in another City or Country

If you are planning to marry outside the Archdiocese of Westminster, i.e. in another city or in another country and you have lived in your current location for more that six month, the priest is required to gather all your documents and forward them through the Chancery (Diocesan Office) who then send them on to diocese and church in which the marriage is to take place.

Civil Requirements for another Country

If you are getting married in another country, you must find out all that you need to do to comply with the Civil Authorities requirements for your marriage. Contact the relevant Embassy of High Commission for information.

Time of Wedding at Sacred Heart Church

Usually Saturdays earliest 2pm and latest 4pm
Weddings can take place on weekdays but not on Sundays.

Rehearsal

A rehearsal will be arranged for a few days before the wedding. It is important the all the main people involved should be present. Readers should also be present at practice. This is an appropriate time to bring envelopes with the registrar’s fees and offerings for the Church, priest and sacristan. The Rehearsal is the best time to bring the offerings and fees for the Wedding day.

Costs

Priests often hear the question, “How much does a wedding cost, Father?” The answer, of course, is that there is no charge for the sacraments. The sacraments are dispensed by the Church as gifts from God to the community. There is, however a long standing custom of free will offerings made by the faithful on the occasion of certain sacraments. These offerings reflect both gratitude to God and appreciation of the ministry of priests.

Sacred Heart Church is served by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and your offering should recognise the expense a parish incurs in connection with all involved with your marriage. The offering should be in proportion to the other costs of the wedding celebrations. The Offerings are not for the priest but for the Oblate Mission.

Registrar

The official fee for the registrar is £40. Cheque payable to ‘Margaret Kiely’

Church Offering

An offering of £150 towards the cost of providing church facilities is suggested. Cheques made payable to “Sacred Heart Church

Flowers

By arrangement with Ann Palmer 7624 9680
Cost of flowers agreed with Anne and £50 charge for preparing flower arrangements.

Sacristan

An offering of £20 is suggested

Music

Negotiate directly regarding fee
Mario Alphonso – Piano/Organ – (m 07960 550 693) 020 7624 1701
Helen Blake –Organ/Piano (m 07946 533 776) 020 8933 2512
Roy Emerson – Organ (m 07973 517 788) 020 7267 5858
Christopher Matthews – Organ 020 8458 6262 (cm@londonmail.com)

Time Keeping

Please keep to the time you agreed. Lateness is very disrespectful and delays everything else that follows your wedding in the Church. It is common courtesy to arrive on time. Allow for traffic, fittings, hair styling, and above all photographs. There is no excuse.

Recording and Photography in Church

Only the official appointed photographer should move around on the sanctuary and only agreed with prior approval of the ministering priest.

Confetti

Bio-degradable confetti may be used but only outside the church.