Congratulations on your forthcoming marriage. Whether you’re just dreaming of a church wedding, or well into the planning already, we want to help and support you.
Can I get married at Blofield Church?
Thanks to a change in the law, it is much easier to get married at a church which has a special significance for you through family or other connections.
Here are the new rules:
You can marry in a Church of England church if you can show:-
That one of you:
• has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months or
• was baptised in the parish concerned or
• was prepared for confirmation in the parish or
• has at any time regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months
or that one of your parents, at any time after you were born:
• has lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months or
• has regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months
or that one of your parents or grandparents:
• was married in the parish
In all cases involving church services – i.e. going to normal church services, baptism, confirmation or marriage – this applies only to Church of England services. Even if you cannot demonstrate any of the above connections, we want to help you explore whether it may still be possible for you to marry in your special church.
In addition to these new rules the Bishop of Norwich has given permission for these new rules to apply to either Blofield or Hemblington Churches as the parishes form a united benefice. This means if you qualify under the new rules to get married at Hemblington you automatically qualify for Blofield Church too (and vice versa).
What if there has been a divorce?
We wish you a lifetime of love that grows within God’s protection. But we recognise that some marriages do fail for all sorts of sad and painful reasons.
So in certain circumstances the Church of England accepts that a divorced person may marry again and this has been the case since 2002.
It is important that you talk to the Rector about the past and your future hopes as part of your preparation towards marriage. He is very happy to listen and talk and advise.
What do we do next?
Contact us and we will find a date where we can talk and plan. The first meeting is all about getting to know each other. You will have all kinds of questions too regarding costs, flowers, procedures which we will also cover. It is all very informal and relaxed.
We will meet a number of times leading up to the wedding to make sure that everything is organised and special.
There are a number of different ways to take a wedding and different orders of service can be used: for example the traditional language service has a different ‘feel’ from the modern service. The Rector will cover all aspects of this: the choice is yours – it is your wedding. He will also help with compiling the order of service.
We always have a rehearsal so that everyone can be confident and relaxed (as possible) on the big day.
How much will it cost?
| Wedding Fees 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Calling of banns | £36.00 |
| Marriage service in Church | £531.00 |
| Verger | £30.00 |
| Organist | £80.00 |
| Bells | £170.00 |
| Heating if required | £60.00 |
If you do not live in Blofield or Hemblington your banns of marriage will need to be published in the parish church where you live as well as Blofield. The additional fee for this and the certificate payable to that church is £46.00.
