getting married at sunnyside

Congratulations. Marriage is one of the biggest decisions anybody will make in life. It can be the beginning of a wonderful life with the person you love. But organising the wedding day can seem daunting, and making a go of married life an even greater challenge. We want to do all we can to make your wedding day special, and to help you prepare for a lifetime together.

why get married in church?

A marriage service, wherever it is held, is a public declaration of love and life-long commitment to your partner. If you choose to get married in church, there is an added dimension – the assurance that God cares about your relationship and that his resources and strength are available to help you. Including God in your marriage doesn’t mean that you will avoid all the usual ups and downs, but you will know that you can look to God for help and guidance and that his love will sustain you. You will also have the support and encouragement of the Christian church family.

what do christians believe about marriage?

The Bible compares married love to the love Jesus has for his followers. He expressed his love by being prepared to sacrifice himself, even to die for the people he loved. This is amazing, unconditional love. Jesus never said, ‘I love you but…’ In our marriages we can try to follow his model by loving our partners in a self-sacrificial way, putting their needs before our own.

The marriage ceremony gives you a new legal status as husband and wife and a new stability within which your relationship can flourish and grow. Christians believe that marriage offers the right place for the fulfilment of our sexuality and that it provides a stable and secure environment for bringing up children.

You will undoubtedly have many questions, and we would encourage you to explore these well in advance of the wedding day. A useful source of information about church weddings can be found here.

who can get married?

God loves everyone, and Christian marriage is open to all, subject to certain legal requirements.  You do not need to be baptised or confirmed in the Church of England.

what are the legal requirements?

Marriage in the Church of England must be between a man and a woman over the age of 18 years (or over the age of 16 if you have the written consent of your parents). You must not be married to anybody else, and may not be more closely related than first cousins. If one or both of you are not British citizens, you will need to discuss the possibility of obtaining a Special Licence with the minister at the outset, before a date for your wedding can be confirmed.

what if we are already living together?

We are delighted that you have taken the step of considering marriage as a permanent commitment. Prior co-habitation is not a barrier to marriage.

what if one of us is divorced?

Marriage in the Church of England is sometimes available to people who are divorced and whose previous partner is still alive. Under some circumstances this is possible at Sunnyside, so please speak to the vicar to find out more.

which church can I get married in?

At the moment, provided you meet the conditions above, you have a right to be married at Sunnyside as long as one or both of you live in our parish (we can advise you if this is the case), or you have a ‘qualifying connection’ (see below). You may also be married here if you have been worshipping with us regularly on Sundays for six months or more and are on the Electoral Roll. You will need to have your banns called in Sunnyside, and also in any other churches whose parish you or your fiancé(e) live in.

marriage at a church with a qualifying connection

Following the change in wedding regulations by the Church of England Marriage Measures Act 2008 it is now possible for a couple to be married in a church that has a special meaning to them. Therefore, providing the church is available for a service, couples may choose to get married in:

• their local parish
• the parish where they were baptized and/or confirmed
• the parish they have lived in for 6 months or more, at any time during their lives
• a parish they have attended worship in for at least 6 months
• the parish their parents lived or worshipped in (during the child’s lifetime)
• the parish their parents were married in
• the parish their grandparents were married in

You will need to provide evidence to support your qualifying connection.

Please contact the church office and we will be happy to discuss your requirements.