Choosing a church wedding

We are happy to help you celebrate your special day with dignity, reverence and meaning. St. Barnabas and All Saints are Anglican Churches. The normal expectation is that at least one of the partners to a proposed marriage is a member of the Anglican Church and at least one must be baptised. It is possible for those who have been divorced to be married in the Anglican Church.

Wedding Service

Three forms of the marriage liturgy are provided in A New Zealand Prayer Book. The clergy are willing to discuss the wedding service with you and to adapt it to meet your needs, remembering that this is a Christian service.

The clergy in this diocese are not permitted to officiate at weddings held outside the church building, nor are they civil union celebrants. We discourage couples from being married in Holy Week, the week immediately preceding Easter Day.

Date and Time

First arrange a date and time with the clergy. This needs to be done early so that you can then book the reception venue, caterers and photographers.

Marriage Licence

The Marriage Licence is obtained from the office of the Registrar. When you receive these papers please bring them to the Parish Office at Khandallah. Please ensure that the papers are in no later than one week before your wedding.

Prayers Asked

On the Sunday before your wedding your intention to be married is made known to the congregation and the people are asked to pray for you as you prepare for marriage. We encourage you to be present on this day.

Flowers and Decorations

Flowers are provided in church for our usual Sunday services. If you wish to have extra flowers, or flowers of a particular colour, you will need to supply them. If you have someone who wishes to arrange flowers you will need to negotiate this with the person arranging flowers for that week. Please phone the parish office (970 -1121) and ask for the name and phone number of the person on the flower roster during your week. The parish has a few ribbon decorations for the ends of the pews in the main aisle. We would prefer our ribbons to be used, because our experience has been that other ribbons affixed to the pews frequently cause damage to the varnish.
No Confetti Please.

Music

Music must be chosen in consultation with the clergy and the organist. Music not generally available will need to be supplied. Adequate time will need to be arranged well in advance if rehearsal time is required. It is possible for CDs to be played through the parish sound system.

Rehearsal

We usually hold a rehearsal the day before the marriage service. We recommend that all members of the wedding party attend, including whoever is accompanying the couple into church: such as attendants, flower girls, pageboys and readers.

Photographers and videos

We welcome photographers and video camera operators to the wedding services, but ask that they be unobtrusive during your service. It is best if they talk to the priest before the wedding, or attend the rehearsal. Flashes are only permitted during the signing of the register and as the couple walk down the aisle at the end of the service.

Donations and fees

Organist ($100)

Verger ($20) (this person ensures that the church is warm, books available, arranges the ribbons and microphones)

There are costs involved in keeping the church buildings open for your use. A donation of $250 is suggested.

There is no fee for the services of the priest, but it is customary for a donation to be made. This amount is at the discretion of the couple.

Please feel free to contact us if you are not sure about any point. We see you both a few times before the wedding itself so we can get to know each other as we look at marriage and what it can mean for you. If at any time in the years ahead you wish to come and talk things over, do not hesitate to call.