In our diocese couples wanting to marry in church must contact the parish priest six months ahead of their intended wedding date. This is to allow sufficient time for them to attend the Marriage Preparation Course but also to allow sufficient time for all necessary paperwork to be completed.
Our priests prefer to be given a year to complete the paperwork and suggest that couples do not set a date for their wedding until they have first spoken to a priest.
Once you have decided to get married, please email the Parish Office with your names and addresses and a preliminary marriage application form will be sent to you plus an enrolment form for the Marriage Preparation Course.
If you intend to get married at a church other than St Edmund’s, or overseas, the clergy at St Edmund’s is still responsible for all the paperwork.
For parishioners born outside the UK we need to obtain documentation from their previous parishes. This can take some time.
There is also extra work to be completed for those who are having their ceremony abroad or for those who have had a previous marriage. So, in short, as soon as you decide to get married, please start the ball rolling by getting in touch with us.