Wedding & Banns Information
Thinking about getting Married or having your Banns Read?
Here you will find all you need to know about getting married at St Mary’s or having your Banns Published (Read) at St Mary’s if you are getting married at another church.
There is also a link below for Wedding Resources and a guide to the legalities for getting married in a Church of England Church.
Click below to find out
more about
getting married
Banns of Marriage
wedding resources
Getting Married
at St Mary’s
Click for more information
on getting married
How to have your Banns Read
Click here to find out
more about Banns of Marriage
Wedding Resources
Click here for resources for your wedding from the
Church of England
A Guide to Getting Married at St Mary's
Click on the questions below to find out more information on having a wedding at St Mary’s
You can make a wedding enquiry using the online form below
To get married in any Church of England Church there are some Legal Requirements that must be met by the couple
❖ You must be at least 18 years of age
❖ At least one of you should have a Qualifying Connection to the ecclesiastical (not Civic) Parish of St Mary's Wistaston & St Luke's Willaston (see below)
❖ Your Banns of Marriage should be Published (read) at St Mary's Wistaston and, if applicable, in the Church of England Parish Church in which you live
❖ If you are divorced at least one of you will need to live in the Parish* and you will need to produce your Decree Absolute before the wedding can take place
❖ Although same sex-marriage is legal in the UK, it remains the case that it is not legally possible for same-sex couples to marry in the Church of England
In order to legally qualify to get married at St Mary's you either need to be either
1. Resident in the Parish
To verify this please click the link below to check if you live in the Parish. This will open in a new window. Simply enter your address and then search, on the list of churches that appear you have to look for the one that states, 'This is your parish church', please note it's not necessarily the first on the list. It should be noted that Parish refers to the ecclesiastical parish and not civic, as they have different boundaries! Please check.
Click Here To Check
OR
2. If one of you is not resident in the Parish then one of you needs to fulfil at least one of the criteria below:
- one of you was baptised or prepared for confirmation in the parish;
- one of you has lived in the parish for six months or more;
- one of you has at any time regularly attended public worship in the parish for six months or more;
- one of your parents has lived in the parish for six months or more in your lifetime;
- one of your parents has regularly attended public worship here for six months or more in your lifetime;
- your parents or grandparents were married in the parish.
- one of you is on the Electoral Roll of the Parish (you can join this after attending this church for 6 months)
In 2025 our weddings begin at £753.00.
This gives you everything you need to get married including a minister, organist, Banns* (at St Mary's) & the registration procedure. If you are planning to get married in October - April inclusive we recommend that you add the heating on at £47.00.
Other options include the Bells at £223.00.
To view full details of the fees for this year and estimates for subsequent years please see below.
* if you don't live in the parish of St Mary's you will also have to pay an additional fee to your local parish church for the Publication of your Banns - currently £56.00.
We conduct weddings on most days of the year between 11am & 4pm with the following exceptions:
We do not conduct weddings
❖ on a Sunday
❖ on the 3rd Saturday of June
(Wistaston Village Fete!)
❖ on a Bank Holiday
❖ on Good Friday, Easter Saturday
or Easter Monday
❖ on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day,
Boxing Day or New Years Eve
Wedding enquiries for for any date after the 3rd Sunday of December, except those mentioned above, would be considered, but as this is an extremely busy time in the life of the church, priority would be given to church events and requests would be looked at on an individual basis.
If you choose a weekday for your wedding please note that we cannot always guarantee a Choir or Bell Ringers - but we would try our best.
We are happy for you to have all of the above!
We are happy for you to have a Florist or for you to do the flowers yourselves.
Confetti, absolutely, as long as it's outside the church and biodegradable!
Photography & Videography is welcome in church as long as it's not obtrusive.
We have had many of the local photographers in church and they understand working in churches.
If you are having a video then you may need a Performing Rights Society Licence - please check with the videographer.
We would encourage you to produce your own Order of Service.
Having your Banns Read at St Mary's
If you are getting married at another Church of England church, but live in the Parish of St Mary’s Wistaston or St Luke’s Willaston, then please see below for details of how to arrange for your Banns to be read with us.
About Banns of Marriage
Banns are an ancient legal tradition and have been read out every week in churches across the land for millions of couples, over many centuries. They are an announcement in church of your intention to marry and a chance for anyone to put forward a reason why the marriage may not lawfully take place.
Banns have to be read at the parish church in where you live and at the church in which you are to be married. Your banns can be read in church at any time during the three months leading up to your wedding and are usually done over three consecutive Sundays. It would be advisable to arrange to have your banns read a few months in advance. A small fee is charged for reading banns in church. After the reading of the banns you will be sent a certificate to prove that the banns have been read and that there has been no impediment alleged to your marriage.
Whilst you are not legally required to be present during the reading of your banns, it is a lovely tradition to come to Church and hear your banns being read. You could also bring your friends and family along to the special event and it’s an opportunity to get to know your local church a little better. Here at St Mary’s we read the Banns at the beginning of 10.40 am service.
If you live in the Parish of St Mary, Wistaston (click here to check with your Post Code), and are getting married in a Church of England church other than St Mary’s, then it is a legal requirement to have your banns read here.
How to arrange to have your Banns Read at St Mary’s
- Please note we only take applications for Banns of Marriage within 12 months of a wedding and an application must be received at least 10 days before the Sunday you wish your Banns to commence to be read.
Check if you live in the parish, click here. - If you live within the parish complete the Banns Request Form via the button below and you will receive an email with the Banns Application Form.
- Follow the instructions on the emailed form to complete your Banns Application Form and return it to the Rector.
If you prefer you can call the Church Office – please be ready to give the details requested on the form below.