All about Weddings

GETTING MARRIED

Congratulations on your forthcoming marriage.
In these pages You should find most of the information you require to commence the planning process for a wedding in St Peters Catholic parish. However, if you require further information or assistance do not hesitate in contacting Peterhouse
When you are ready we suggest that you print off the following documents. The "Wedding Information Sheet" contains the information on this page. You will need Acrobat Reader on your PC, see left column.

Readings for your wedding
Wedding Information Sheet

So where do you start?
Start by buying (or borrowing) a good book on organising weddings, there are several to choose from at leading book shops.

Talk to your families and identify their expectations so you can incorporate them into your planning.

Talk to your married friends and learn about their experiences, negative as well as positive!

Determine who you will be inviting to the wedding, your reception and the evening event - if you are having one. You will need to know how many you are planning for.

And don't forget to consider what will make your wedding "perfect" for you.

For lots of information on every aspect of getting married, and a shop for all manner of wedding extras, click on www.hitched.co.uk The site will open in a new browser window, close it when you have finished and you will return to this page.

With a good idea of your requirements you will now need to check on the availability of the church and your chosen venue for the reception. NB You are advised to make a "provisional reservation" for the reception venue. Do not "confirm" the venue until you know the church is available, as this could incur unexpected costs should you have to cancel. Provisional reservations are best made in writing.

Parish Churches
The following churches in the Parish are licensed for weddings:

St Peter's Church, Jewry Street
St Stephen's Church, Oliver's Battery Road
St Gregory's Church, Alresford
The choice of the church is made by the couple to be married.

General Information

Preferably, six months notice should be given to the Priest or Deacon prior to the date of the wedding.

Your first meeting will be with Mrs Jenny Guerrier 01962 882636 who will prepare the paperwork. Then you will meet the Priest or Deacon who is officiating at your wedding. He will want to discuss your Order of Service and arrange a rehearsal. Couples are expected to attend a Marriage Preparation Course as an indispensable part of the preparation for marriage. A certificate of attendance will be kept in the marriage records at the church of your marriage.

Each party should bring a baptismal certificate,(if you are a Catholic it will need to be a recent certificate), unless one of you is unbaptised. If under 18, a person should have written permission from their parents. Also required is a letter from a parent confirming that you have not been married previously. If you are resident in another Parish we will require a Letter of Freedom from the Parish Priest to say that you have not been married before.

Civil Requirements
The priests and deacons are Authorised Persons for the registration of marriages. Each of you requires a Marriage Certificate which is provided at your request and purchased from the Registrar of the district in which you live. It can be applied for within twelve months of the wedding but at least three weeks prior to the wedding. The Registrar will require proof of your identity e.g. Birth Certificate or passport.

Church Arrangements

a	The order of service will be prepared with you by the priest or deacon who is officiating. It is your choice whether you have a Service Sheet printed.
b	Music. To arrange an organist, contact Mr I Waring Green as soon as the date is set, so that someone can be booked to play. Contact can be made at an appropriate time to arrange details of the music itself, tel 01962 735588. If you wish to use another organist please contact Mr Waring Green first.
c	Flowers. You are welcome to organise your own flower arrangers or you can contact the St Peter flower arrangers. In either case please contact the Parish Office on 01962 852804.
d	Photographs and video may be taken during the service, but don't let the photographer control your wedding, as they often do!
e	Confetti is not encouraged, except in small biodegradable doses! Please do not use confetti inside the churches, thank you.
f	Lent and Advent. During these seasons the church must be taken as it stands, irrespective of the time of year.

Wedding Expenses Connected to the Church
Church expenses, £250
Organist Fee, £85, without choir or soloist
£100, with choir or soloist, (allows for 1 hour's rehearsal)
NB If a sound or video recording is to be made, the fee should be negotiated with the organist beforehand
Use of organ, £20
Bells, £40
Registration (Sacristan) £50
This payment is due when signing the papers
Please note that extra copies of the Wedding Certificate will cost £7 each
Choir fees, £20 for each member of the choir, minimum 8, (£160)
Priest's offering, at your discretion
Marriage Preparation Course fees will vary with locality.

Cheques should be made payable to "PRCDTR Hampshire Downs"

We wish you a Wonderful Wedding Day and a long and happy life together.