Weddings and Blessings at St Mary's Church

If one of you lives within the parish of Plympton St. Mary, you are eligible to be married in the parish church; however, we do not offer the marriage service after divorce. There is a service of prayer and dedication after civil marriage (‘Blessing’) that the Vicar would be happy to discuss. This may also be of interest to those who have chosen to be married in an exotic location, but would like a further ceremony at home so that family and friends can be present.

The Church of England Marriage Measure 2008 makes it easier for people who have moved away from the parish to be married at St. Mary’s (on the same basis as above). The changes introduced by this measure will mean that an engaged couple may be married at St. Mary’s if just one of these applies:
• One of them was baptised or prepared for confirmation in the parish
• One of them has lived in the parish for six months or more
• One of them has at any time attended public worship in the parish for six months or more
• One of their parents has lived in the parish for six months or more in their child’s lifetime
• One of their parents has regularly attended public worship there for six months or more in their child’s lifetime
• Their parents or grandparents were married in the parish
If you live outside the parish, but none of the above applies to you, you may like to consider coming on to the church electoral roll. For this you need to be baptised, and to worship on a regular basis for six months, before coming on to the electoral roll.
For any of these situations, you would need to consult the Vicar – please contact her in any case if there are any matters about marriage at St. Mary’s that you would like to discuss.
Telephone: 01752 336157

The First Step

You can either telephone the Vicar to discuss your wedding plans, or make enquiries at the parish office, (weekday mornings 9am-noon, 01752 348525). You will need a ‘first interview’ with one of the clergy. These usually take place on a Saturday morning, and you will need to phone the parish office to book this.

At the First Interview

You will be able to choose the date and time of your wedding: on Saturdays the times are 12, 1.15pm, 2.30pm. You will need to supply some information. It is helpful if you bring your birth certificates with you. You will be asked for a deposit of £100 – this will be deducted from the final cost. If you are booking a year or two in advance, the clergy will be able to give you a rough idea of the cost of your wedding, although the exact fee will not be available until later. You will be given a leaflet giving guidance about a wedding in church.

Preparing for your Wedding

We are committed to supporting and helping all couples getting married at St. Mary’s as much as we can. We will write to you, to let you know the dates of the marriage preparation sessions we run. These usually take place in the October, January and February before your wedding. You will be given a choice of dates, and asked to attend one session, either on a Friday evening or a Saturday morning. You will meet other couples like yourselves, preparing for marriage, the clergy, and some married couples from the congregation. Those who have attended these sessions to date have commented on their enjoyment of this time together. Couples are given a ‘wedding pack’ with all the information they need.

We also hold an evening of Wedding Music when the Director of Music introduces a range of organ music, hymns and choir items to help you choose the music that will make your wedding day really special. This is held early in the year, on a Friday evening.

Before your wedding day, you will have a second interview with the clergy to make the final plans for your service and a rehearsal, usually a few days before the wedding.

Getting married somewhere else, but need to have Banns called here?

You will need to see one of the clergy to make the arrangements for this. Please telephone the Parish Office (weekday mornings, 9am-noon 01752 348525) to make an appointment, which is usually on a Saturday morning. When the banns have been called a certificate will be issued for you to take to the church where you will be married. (2009 fee is £34).

Special Anniversaries and Celebrations of Marriage

We are delighted to arrange services of thanksgiving for marriage. Please contact the Vicar for more information.

Wedding Fees 2009

Further information is available upon request.
‘Basic Wedding’ after banns, to include church fees, organist & other local fees: £485
With the bells, (add £100): £585
With the bells and the choir (add £100 & £50): £635

If a video is made of the service there is an additional fee of £110