Many couples who have had a civil wedding decide they would like to dedicate their marriage to God in church soon afterwards.
Couples can have their marriage blessed in church, whether they got married in the UK or abroad. For couples who marry abroad, it can be a way of ensuring more family and friends can celebrate the marriage if they were unable to travel to another country for the legal marriage.
It is a simple service acknowledging the commitment already made between husband and wife during a civil ceremony and asks for God’s blessing and guidance in your new life together.
Because it is not a marriage service, banns are not required, there is no exchange of rings and there is no signing of the official marriage paperwork during the service.
It can be designed to have a similar feel to a wedding with hymns, readings, flowers and even bells if you would like that, or it can be an intimate, low key service. The service itself has no statutory fee (because it is not a legal service) but there may be some costs, such as flowers, bells and use of an organist. These would be charged at the church’s local rate.
You can have a blessing in any church of your choice, so long as the church and the vicar are free on your preferred date.
Many couples have opted for this service where one or both of them is remarrying after divorce. If this is your situation, talk things through with your vicar who can offer guidance on remarrying in church or having a blessing.
Same Sex Blessings
Since March 29 2014, under the provisions of Same-Sex Couples Act 2013, same-sex marriages are permitted by law in England and Wales and, as a result of this, clerics may receive enquiries from same-sex couples seeking to be married in church.
As the law stands, same-sex marriages may not be solemnised by the Church in Wales. However, following approval at the Governing Body of the Church in Wales in September 2021, a Liturgy for the Blessing of a Same-sex Civil Marriage or Civil Partnership has been authorised by the bishops for use in each of the dioceses from 1 October 2021. The text of the service is available here.
This means that same-sex blessings fall into the same category as above and all details are applicable.
Contact Us:
For more information or to schedule a meeting to discuss your blessing plans, please contact the Vicar or Rector at the church where you desire tombe blessed. They are eager to assist you and ensure that your blessing is deeply meaningful and beautifully memorable.