Information for Wedding Preparation
Getting married in church is different and special for two main reasons, firstly it’s in front of God. Wedding services are worship as well as a marriage and in that we look to God to bless our marriages. Secondly church weddings happen in the parish church at the centre of our communities. We look forward to celebrating with you in this way. This page provides some documents and links for preparing your wedding.
Church contacts
Mark Cresswell is the first point of contact to arrange a wedding and will guide you through the early stages.
Weddings will be conducted by one of our ordained clergy however we welcome visiting clergy to preach and lead prayers.
Marriage Prep
Firstly Marriage Prep. This is different to Wedding prep and it's all about laying the foundations for a successful and long lasting marriage. It considers all sorts of questions that might not come up in normal life, like managing conflict, money and time issues, our vows and priorities and how a couple might handle things like long term illness.
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In 2025 we will run a course 'The Marriage Sessions'
on the Sat 15th Feb, in Grundisburgh. Details are below.
Please contact us for details, outside of
these times you can use the materials
through the Care for the Family website.
Planning your service
In planning your service there are a number of elements to be considered and these can be discussed with your Minister. That needs to start three to four months before the day. At about three months before the legal steps need to start. These are reading of Banns of Marriage in our church and your local church or obtaining a common license. Couples will also need to plan music and readings for the service and possibly create an order of service for guests. You will also need to have a reader(s) and witnesses.
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The Church of England website Your Church Wedding
has lots of information including suggested readings
and music and answers many questions.
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In May 2021 changes were made to the way that marriages
are registered. In particular churches don't issue Marriage
certificates anymore. These are done through Suffolk
Registrars after the service. In 2023 the minimum age for
marriage has become 18 years of age.
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The following information is more specific to Carlford:
Our short wedding information leaflet with contact points.
This is the order of service marked with points where couples will need to make a choice, eg a piece of music, and the prayers and headings for the congregation.
The Marriage sessions is our Marriage preparation course for 2025
If we don't have your details this is the form to use. It includes details of who will be named on the marriage document.
Link to Suffolk Registrars, to order a Marriage Certificate
Bell ringing information