St. Mary’s Luton
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We want to make your wedding day go as well as possible.
We suggest that you join us at our Morning Service at 10.00am or our Evening Worship at 6.30pm, so that you can meet our Wedding Clerks and arrange to book your wedding. This will also enable you to get to know the clergy informally, some of our church members and to begin to enjoy the feel of St. Mary’s.
A few days before your wedding service, we will have a short rehearsal in the church. This will enable you, together with the best man, the bridesmaids and your parents to know exactly what to expect on the day. This will help you feel
more relaxed and so able to enjoy your wedding service. The wedding service is the key to all that happens for the rest of the day, so we hope that you will agree with us that time spent in careful preparation will be beneficial to everyone.
The notes below will help to explain what happens, answer some questions, and help you prepare for the day.
Anyone living in England is entitled to ask to be married in the Anglican church of the Parish in which they live.
One or both of you needs to join the Church Electoral Roll. This is a list of those entitled to vote at the Church’s Annual General Meeting. To join the Electoral Roll, you need to be baptised, over 16 years of age and to have been attending St. Mary’s for more than 6 months on a regular basis before the Banns are called.
To get married at a Church of England Church, we need to publish your Banns of Marriage, which is the traditional way that couples intending to marry tell others of their intention. We announce them at our main Sunday morning worship service on three consecutive Sundays, within three months of your wedding.
Banns of Marriage are called both in St.Mary’s and in the parish where you live. It is your responsibility to ensure that banns are read in the appropriate parishes and a certificate obtained and sent to the Church Office one month before your wedding.
Marriage by Licence instead of Banns
Occasionally, there is either not enough time to read the Banns of Marriage, or one of the couple are not British citizens. If this applies to you, then the clergy are willing to discuss the use of a Licence.
Occasionally, there is either not enough time to read the Banns of Marriage, or one of the couple are not British citizens. If this applies to you, then the clergy are willing to discuss the use of a Licence.
Music forms an important part of your service in that it can set the tone for the day. Normally, you will need something to be played when the bride enters the church. Then, while the marriage registers are being signed. Finally, you will want something played as the two of you leave at the end of the service.
If you are not sure what you want, we will be happy to advise.You may feel that some guidance would be helpful and we can loan you a CD of wedding music (deposit £10).
A choir can be available to lead the singing, which can be most helpful if you feel your family and friends could do with some musical help.
Some of our wedding couples have a member of the clergy or a musician, who is a friend or relation, and whom they would like involved in the service. This is usually possible, but please discuss it early on with the wedding clerks.
Many of our couples like to have a Service Sheet, showing the hymns and the order of the service. Should you opt for a printed Service Sheet, please discuss its content and order with the clergy so that what appears on the Service Sheet is in the right order. A simple sheet of paper can suffice and the Church Office is happy to lay out and print Orders of Service if required!
There are always flowers in church, arranged by our flower arrangers. There is an automatic fee towards the provision of these flowers and nearly all our couples find this helpful and appropriate.
It is possible to have extra flowers in church for your wedding service, provided that you supply them yourselves.
Wedding photos are very important as a record of your wedding service and as a way of including family and friends who are unable to attend the service. Your church wedding is an act of worship and photos taken during the service, whether by the professional or your guests, are not allowed.
The clergy do want to assist your professional photographer to take as many photos as necessary before the service and after the signing of the marriage registers at the end of the service.
We are quite happy to allow a video recording of your wedding service, but permission needs to be obtained and simple guidelines adhered to. Local professional firms are well acquainted with us and look forward to videoing St. Mary’s wedding services. They
understand the importance of not spoiling your wedding day by intrusive videoing and we have a fixed position near the front, from which they get an excellent view of you and your guests.
Our town centre location means that car parking is in short supply and so, except for disabled or elderly guests, we cannot offer parking facilities in the church grounds. There are plenty of spaces nearby in the Arndale car parks or the Vicarage Street car park under the flyover.
Our churchyard is maintained by the Council and therefore we have to ask people not to throw confetti in the churchyard.
A full list of the current fees can be gained via download here or the church office. Please arrange to pay the full amount due one month before your wedding. We can accept cash or cheques.
The Wedding Clerks, members of St.Mary’s, help wedding couples to book the date, understand the costs, and assist with questions. They can be contacted via the Church Office. Normal office hours are Monday to Friday 9.00pm to 3.30pm.
Ralph & Beryl Gough (Wedding Clerks)
St. Mary’s Church Office
Church Street, Luton LU1 3JF
Tel : (01582) 721867
Nick Bell (Vicar)
Tel : (01582) 721867
Tel : (01582) 721867
St Mary's Parish Church, Church Street, Luton, Bedfordshire. LU1 3JF. 01582 721867 admin@stmarysluton.org
