WEDDINGS AT ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, DONISTHORPE
Congratulations on your forthcoming marriage. Whether you’re just dreaming of a church wedding, or well into the planning already, we want to help and support you.
Did you know that today more than a quarter of all marriages in England between a man and a woman take place in the traditional setting of a Church of England church? You're welcome to marry in church whether or not you are baptized and whether or not you go to church.
For such a special day, we offer a special place.
What do we do next?
Call our Team Vicar, Rick Tett o 01530 610235 and we will find a date where we can talk and plan. The first meeting is all about getting to know each other. You will have all kinds of questions too regarding costs, flowers, procedures which we will also cover. It is all very informal and relaxed. We will meet a number of times leading up to the wedding to make sure that everything is organized and special.
We always have a rehearsal so that everyone can be confident and relaxed (as possible) on the big day.
Real reviews:
“The service was amazing. Everyone was made to feel welcome, especially the children who were allowed to play and enjoy it too. The service was made very personal to our situation”
“The service was excellent; the vicar was exceptional with meetings etc prior to our special day. We would personally recommend this church for any service”
“Very friendly, helpful and supportive throughout the organization of the day and on the day”
"Vivien was absolutely brilliant from start to finish. The service was lovely exactly what we wanted, the whole thing was beautiful."
We wish you every blessing for your forthcoming marriage.
Can I get married at St John's?
Anyone who lives in the Parish (which covers Donisthorpe, Oakthorpe, Stretton-en-le-Field, Acresford and much of Moira) can be married in the church. Don’t worry if you don’t currently live in the parish. Thanks to a change in the law, it is much easier to get married at a church which has a special significance for you through family or other connections.
Here are the rules: you need to show:
That one of you:
• has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months or
• was baptized in the parish or
• was prepared for confirmation in the parish or
• has at any time regularly gone to normal church services in the parish for a period of at least 6 months
or that one of your parents, at any time after you were born:
• has lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months or
• has regularly gone to normal church services in the parish for a period of at least 6 months
or that one of your parents or grandparents:
• was married in the parish
What if there has been a divorce?
We wish you a lifetime of love that grows within God’s protection. Marriage is for life but some marriages do not succeed for all sorts of sad and painful reasons. So in certain circumstances the Church of England accepts that a divorced person may marry again and this has been the case since 2002. We will therefore, on a case by case basis, consider conducting a wedding in Church for those who have been divorced.
It is important that you talk to our Team Vicar about the past and your future hopes as part of your preparation towards marriage. She is very happy to listen and talk and advise.
If you do not live in the parish, banns of marriage will need to be published in the parish church where you live as well as in Donisthorpe. The additional fee for this and the certificate payable to that church
All you need to help you plan a personal, meaningful, spiritual and beautiful church wedding can be found on the Church of England weddings web site: www.yourchurchwedding.org
Now have a walk through one wedding that took place at St John's recently:
Waiting for the bride The bride arrives
The ceremony itself And now they've signed the registers....
Coming outof church: Mr & Mrs
Photos in the church grounds