Such a perfect day
Wedding days can often take quite some planning! After all, it’s such a special time, and there are so many things to get just right, to make the day perfect.
The dress and flowers, the cars and cake, the bridesmaids and confetti, the banquet and the speeches, the list can go on and on! Although many weddings tend to have all these things – and more -to make the day so special what lies at the heart is quite simple.
Two people publicly pronounce their love one another and give themselves to one another for life.
They exchange rings: a sign of their unending love and faithfulness, and a reminder of the vows they make.
Finally, the priest blesses the couple and those present pray for them. It couldn’t be simpler!
Yes, the marriage bond is so special that the Church has raised it to the dignity of a sacrament. The love that the couple have for one another expresses the love that Jesus has for the church.
Through the grace of the sacrament the couple are strengthened in their love. Their love is perfected and caught up in the divine love. Is this what we really mean when we talk about a marriage made in heaven?!
Weddings are a costly business, often running into thousands of pounds. Yet, in offering themselves to each other in complete trust both partners will be running a far greater cost!
For love, the kind of authentic love which reflects the love of God is willing to give everything: it asks for and offers a lot, which is why family and friends are so filled with joy on the day and want to be part of the celebrations!
Marriage is a partnership. Yes, it is a partnership for the couple: after all, they become ‘one flesh’ but it is also a partnership with God. God is involved intimately in their relationship.
At the heart of all the wedding plans is this knowledge that makes the wedding day so perfect and the marriage special.
Who can be married in the churches of South Cardiff?
To be able to be married in one of the churches of our Ministry Area one of you is required to be living within the or to have some ‘qualifying connection’ with the parish. These are:
- that person was baptised in that parish (unless the baptism took place in a combined rite which included baptism and confirmation) or is a person whose confirmation had been entered in the register book of confirmation for any church or chapel in that parish;
- that person has at any time had his or her usual place of residence in that parish for a period of not less than six months;
- that person has at any time habitually attended public worship in that parish for a period of not less than six months;
- a parent of that person has during the lifetime of that person had his or her usual place of residence in that parish for a period of not less than six months or habitually attended public worship in that parish for that period;
- a parent or grandparent of that person has been married in that parish.
(If one of the couple is a foreign national, then other legal formalities are required.)
Banns of Marriage
Most people are married after the Publishing of Banns (where your intention to get married is read out on three consecutive Sundays) or, less frequently, by a Common or Special License.
If only one of you lives in the Ministry Area, you will need to arrange the reading of banns in the parish or Ministry Area in which the other lives.
If neither of you live in the parish but you are able to get married here by fulfilling one of the qualifying connections above then the banns must be read in the parish in which each resides and in the church where the marriage is to be solemnized.
However, the priest can go through all these things when you meet. We can answer all your questions about getting married in one of our churches.
I’m getting married somewhere else
If you are getting married elsewhere but one or both of you live in the Ministry Area, you will need to arrange to have your banns published in one of our churches. You can do this using the online Banns application form:
Please note that, since St Paul’s Church is presently redundant, our premises there are not presently licensed for weddings.
South Cardiff Ministry Area 