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Anglican
Parish of Coromandel Valley
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Getting Married in the Parish of Coromandel Valley and Blackwood
(this information can be downloaded here)
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Congratulations on your decision to get married in this parish. The preparation for a wedding is quite complex and these notes are designed to help you. If they do not fully address all your questions then please contact the parish priest Fr Stephen Clark for more information
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Weddings take place either at St John’s Church, 337 Main Road, Coromandel Valley or at All Hallows’ Church, 37 Coromandel Parade, Blackwood.
Arrangements can be made for outdoor weddings or weddings at other venues. Please discuss this with Fr Stephen.
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Initial contact: Arrangements for your wedding need to be made directly with the parish priest even if another priest is conducting the wedding.
Bookings are usually made on a “first come first served” basis, though we try to accommodate your wishes if we can
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Appointments, interviews and preparation
The parish priest will arrange to meet with you to discuss the process. It is normally expected that after this initial interview the couple will undergo some form of Marriage Preparation Course. These are available through Anglicare or Relationships Australia and information will be given about them at the time of your initial interview.
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After you have completed the Marriage Preparation Course you will meet with the priest conducting your wedding approximately 6-8 weeks before the wedding to go through the service (see below) and to complete any forms.
A Wedding rehearsal may be held in the week or so preceding the wedding.
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Legalities.
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In order to be married a person must be of legal age (18) unless special rulings of the court have been made.
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A person may not be married if they are married to another person and have not been divorced from that person.
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According to church rules, a divorced person can only be married if permission has been given by the local Bishop, so the priest has to seek specific permission. It should not be presumed that this permission will be automatic.
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A person may not be married to a person to whom they are related in the first or second degree (Parents, Grandparents & Children or Brothers and Sisters). This applies also to relations created by adoption. It is possible to marry a person to whom you are more distantly related, for example, a cousin .
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Notice of Intention A notice of intention to marry (blue form) is to be in the hands of the celebrant 1-6 months before the wedding. This form has to be formally witnessed and is normally filled in at one of the interviews, and the priest celebrant can witness it. In situations where the celebrant may not see the couple beforehand (eg. where they are interstate or overseas) it is sufficient for the form to be completed and witnessed by a police officer, another celebrant, a doctor, or various types of legal officer.
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Other documents:
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Evidence of birth (birth certificate, passport, citizenship ) needs to be provided in an original form (ie. NOT a photocopy)
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Where a person has been married before, evidence of death or divorce from the previous spouse has to be sighted by the celebrant (absolute decree, death certificate)
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Baptism (or Christening) The church requires that at least one of the persons should have been baptised either as an infant or as an adult, in an Anglican or some other church. A certificate to that effect should be produced. If you do not have one then it should be possible to get some confirmation from the church where the sacrament took place.
THE WEDDING CEREMONY
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An Anglican wedding uses a fixed form of service which is usually the second order from A Prayer Book for Australia. A copy of this service will be given to you at the first interview
Although much of the text of the service is set, there is also a great deal of choice and it is possible to personalise the service completely.
The choice of music, readings from the Bible, and appropriate prayers is an important way of putting your personal stamp on the service.
It is also possible to include material such as poetry, recorded or live music. Other additions are also possible as long as they are in keeping with the dignity of the occasion and the teaching of the Christian Church. Please discuss this with the celebrant.
The Bride and Groom are also encouraged to learn their words rather than repeat them after the priest
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Ministers of other Christian churches may be permitted to participate in an Anglican wedding, but the principal celebrant will usually be a priest of the Anglican Church.
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Seating. It should be noted that St John’s Church only seats a maximum of 80 people comfortably, and All Hallows’ Church 120-130
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Music An organist will be provided by the Church if desired. The organist will help you to choose the most suitable music for your wedding, and will endeavour to accommodate your desires.
It is not necessary or even desirable to have hymns, particularly if participants in the wedding are not church people (as they will not sing them)
All additional arrangements for music, live or recorded, must be discussed with Fr Stephen and the parish reserves the right to approve music or not.
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Confetti It is normal practice these days not to use paper confetti. It is permitted to use rose petals, rice or other environmentally friendly material.
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Photos & Video During the service only one official photographer is permitted to use a flash and only one official video operator is requested. General Members of the congregation will be asked to not take photois during the ceremony (the designated photographer may)
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Flowers As flowers are provided for church services on Sundays we normally prepare these for a wedding also and provision is made for these in the general fee. These are nice basic flower arrangements and they will remain in the Church for services following. Should any specific flowers be required or any particular colour these will need to be at your expense and payment of them will be required so that the volunteers who arrange them are not personally out of pocket.
It is to be remembered that the Church uses volunteers and not professionals and people’s kindness and desire to do a good job should not be exploited.
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Decorations The Church has a limited number of pew decorations which may be used for your wedding. If you wish to provide your own then they need to be constructed in such a way that they can be tied or slipped on to the pew and not pinned or fixed with sticky material
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Cost The church is not ‘hired’ in the sense that other venues are but as certain costs are involved these should be reimbursed.
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A total fee covers the organist, basic flowers, the fee for the registration of the marriage (payable to the celebrant), availability of the Church. This fee will be discussed with you on application.
Any out of pocket expenditure (for example: for flowers, or for the purchase of special music ) is additional to this basic charge and should be paid to the person concerned at the earliest convenience.
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Additional Services
A female solo singer may be available to sing at weddings
A small choral group may be available
A number of other groups are available in the area
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Contact information
Parish Priest: Fr Stephen Clark 35 Coromandel Parade, Blackwood, 5051
email: coro35@bigpond.net.au Tel: 8278 2548
Parish Office (Mon-Fri: 9-12) 45 Coromandel Parade, Blackwood 5051
Tel:8278 8626
Organist: When your marriage is arranged the parish will put you in touch with an organist for the occasion should you wish
Flowers: The parish provides flowers for church on Sundays which will be augmented for weddings. The cost of these is included in the basic fee. Should anything more elaborate be required then this can be arranged at additional cost
Anglicare Marriage and Relationship Education: Tel: 08 8305 9674
