During the Covid-19 pandemic we are only taking enquiries by e mailing our Parish Office - upperskerne@gmail.com

How To Arrange A Wedding In The Parish Of The Upper Skerne

Arrange a Date

To enquire about  weddings, please come along to our vestry hour, from 5.30pm -6.30pm on Wednesdays. This will alternate between St Edmund’s in Sedgefield and St Mary Magdalene’s in Trimdon Village. The second Wednesday of the month at Sedgefield and the fourth Wednesday at Trimdon

Timing 

Please remember when planning the service that there may be another wedding following yours, possibly ninety minutes after yours is due to start. 

Banns

We usually begin reading  the banns 10 weeks before the marriage. Remember that if one of the couple being married lives outside the parish of the Upper Skerne you will need to arrange to have the banns read in your Anglican Parish church 

Music and Hymns 

The clergy and others can give advice on suitable hymns and music. Please remember in choosing music that it should suitable for an act of Christian worship.

If you want recorded music then the ushers (or someone else) should be responsible for operating it. 

If you wish to use your own organist or have singers then this needs to be negotiated with our organist. 

Flowers 

There is a separate leaflet for information on flowers 

Photography and Videos 

Please make sure that your photographer sees the priest either at the rehearsal or before the service so that s/he is aware of what is permissible in the church. You may also wish to have someone to video the service, and an extra fee may be charged  (for copyright purposes). Again the video operator must make arrangements with the priest before the service

Rehearsal 

This will take place at a time arranged between you and the priest and is usually a week or so before the wedding service. 

The Marriage Service 

Below is an outline of the usual marriage service which you will find helpful in planning a service booklet. Hymn books are available, though it is more convenient to print them in the booklet and you may have more than two. We can also provide a full version of the marriage service in electronic or printed form for you to study. 

       The Welcome

        First Hymn  

        Readings

        The Marriage

        The Blessing of the Marriage

        Second Hymn 

        Prayers

        Signing of the Registers