So, you’d like to get married at St. James’s . . .

Keeping the Rector Informed
When you book your wedding, you will be asked quite a lot of
questions. For some of those questions, the answer is unlikely to
alter (e.g."What is your name?"), but for others, the answer may
well change over time (e.g. "What is your telephone number?").
Please let me know any changes in your personal situation,
no matter how small.

Residence Requirements
A legal requirement which must be fulfilled for you to be married at St. James’ Church is that at least one of you lives in the parish of St. James, Kidbrooke, that is the geographical area associated with our Church of England churches, and you may be asked to supply documentary proof of your address, such as a utility bill which is less than three months old. If you are unsure whether you live in the parish, please ask me.

Banns
Banns usually will be called during the 10.00 am. Sunday Service, between six and twelve weeks before the date of your wedding. You are very welcome to come and hear your banns, but it is not essential to do so.

If one of you lives outside this parish, then you are responsible for arranging for your banns to be read in that church as well. When your banns have been called there, the vicar, upon payment of a fee, will give you a certificate which you must bring to the Rector; without this it will not be possible to conduct your wedding.

If one or both of you is not British, then it is likely that your wedding will need to be undertaken by licence rather than banns. If that is the case, I will explain to you what is involved.

Preparation and Rehearsal
In the January before your wedding, or earlier in the case of Spring weddings, I will write to you confirming the arrangements for your wedding. Most years I invite couples to join two or three others in attending a series of three preparation evenings. These are informal times where we look together at various aspects of married life. Except in extreme circumstances I will expect you both to attend each of the sessions, and most people seem to find them helpful and enjoyable. They are usually held mid-week at 8.00 pm, finishing no later than 9.30 pm.

During the preparation evenings a date will be arranged for your wedding rehearsal. Normally this is held in church during the week before your wedding. Please note that the bride and groom, only, attend the rehearsal with the minister - no-one else!

Fees
The Rector’s letter to you in January will tell you the cost of your wedding. If you have yet to decide about certain options at that time, the cost will be the highest it will be. A separate sheet with a break-down of the fees is available upon request. If paying by cheque, the fees must be paid in full by a month before the wedding day. If paying by cash, the fees must be paid in full at, or before, the rehearsal. The wedding will not proceed until the fees are paid in full.
To see a table of fees, please click here.

Flowers
You will need to make your own arrangements for flowers in the church, should that be your wish. To enable access to the church by your florist, please talk to the Rector very early on.

Photography
Apart from the official photographer, no photographs may be taken during the wedding service, except for the signing of the registers.

Please ask your official photographer to consult with the Rector before the service begins so that he may be shown the arrangements for taking photographs in
St. James’ Church. He/she may not use flash.

Video
Video recordings outside the church may be taken freely.

Video recordings inside the church of the service may be taken, but they will affect the fees, whether the video crew is amateur or professional. They will have the affect of significantly increasing the fees for the organist and, if you have them, the choir members. The Rector will need to consult with the video crew before the service to let them know the appropriate arrangements.

Confetti
Sorry, but confetti is not permitted in the church or the church grounds because of the very great mess it leaves, which is difficult to clear up. However rice is acceptable when used outside.

Heating
During winter and other cold periods heating will be provided and the appropriate fee charged.

Lateness
While it is appreciated that it is traditional for the bride to be a few minutes late entering the church, anything longer than five minutes is very inconvenient for all those involved in the wedding service. To the best of your ability, please ensure that you arrive at the right time.

In very extreme cases, where lateness of bride or groom has caused the wedding service not to have started thirty minutes, or more, after the scheduled time, the minister will have the right to cancel the wedding forthwith, without any reimbursement of fees.

Any Problems?
If, at any time, you have any queries that need answering or need any further information, please feel free to write to, or telephone, the Rector. We, at St. James’s, want your wedding to be a very happy event and will do our best to see that it is.