Here are some answers to commonly asked questions. Feel free to contact us if there are any further questions that you would like to ask or speak with the Vicar when you meet.
Q. I’m not baptised. I don’t go to church. Can I still get married in church?
A. Yes you can. Absolutely!. God’s love and blessing is available to everyone who wishes to be married in church and not just those who come regularly.
A. Yes you can. Absolutely!. God’s love and blessing is available to everyone who wishes to be married in church and not just those who come regularly.
Q. How do I book the church for a wedding?
A. It’s pretty easy. Get in touch with the Vicar and he’ll guide you through the process. We’ll book a time to meet with you and begin to discuss and plan the wedding. Booking the church for a particular date is all part of that chat.
A. It’s pretty easy. Get in touch with the Vicar and he’ll guide you through the process. We’ll book a time to meet with you and begin to discuss and plan the wedding. Booking the church for a particular date is all part of that chat.
Q. We’ve decided to get married abroad (or in a civil ceremony) but we would like a church blessing. Is that possible?
A. Yes. There is a service called ‘Prayer and dedication after a civil ceremony‘. You can find out more about this service and other options on our website.
A. Yes. There is a service called ‘Prayer and dedication after a civil ceremony‘. You can find out more about this service and other options on our website.
Q. I’m divorced. Can I still get married in church?
A. In the Church of England, we believe that marriage is for life, but we also recognise that sadly, some marriages do fail and that it’s important to recognise that and respond appropriately. Divorced people can remarry in church at West Malling or Offham under certain circumstances. Each case is different and circumstances are always unique so the important next step is to speak to the Vicar about your situation. He will want to talk to you frankly about your past and your hopes for the future. You will need to be honest and open with him about your past and he will let you know whether he can marry you. Even if it is not possible to do your wedding, they will be able to offer you a service of prayer and dedication after a civil ceremony (see above).
A. In the Church of England, we believe that marriage is for life, but we also recognise that sadly, some marriages do fail and that it’s important to recognise that and respond appropriately. Divorced people can remarry in church at West Malling or Offham under certain circumstances. Each case is different and circumstances are always unique so the important next step is to speak to the Vicar about your situation. He will want to talk to you frankly about your past and your hopes for the future. You will need to be honest and open with him about your past and he will let you know whether he can marry you. Even if it is not possible to do your wedding, they will be able to offer you a service of prayer and dedication after a civil ceremony (see above).
Q. What is ‘marriage preparation’ and why do we need it?
A. You will never make such big promises to each other as you will in church on your wedding day. You are still two separate individuals with different backgrounds, personalities, experiences, hopes and fears. The average wedding takes 150 hours to prepare, but very few couples give some of that time over to investing in their relationship. Marriage is a serious commitment and ‘marriage preparation’ is an opportunity to make some of that investment in your future together. We use a nationally recognised course called (very obviously) The Marriage Preparation Course and try to host the course in one of the local bars or restaurants. There is a small fee for each couple to help pay for the hire of the venue.
A. You will never make such big promises to each other as you will in church on your wedding day. You are still two separate individuals with different backgrounds, personalities, experiences, hopes and fears. The average wedding takes 150 hours to prepare, but very few couples give some of that time over to investing in their relationship. Marriage is a serious commitment and ‘marriage preparation’ is an opportunity to make some of that investment in your future together. We use a nationally recognised course called (very obviously) The Marriage Preparation Course and try to host the course in one of the local bars or restaurants. There is a small fee for each couple to help pay for the hire of the venue.
Q. How much will the wedding cost?
Fees for weddings are set nationally so that the same basic fees apply whichever church you get married in. However, there are some variations – usually dependent on your circumstances and what you want in your service (e.g. an organist or a choir) and also what licences to marry apply. We have prepared a special page about the fees for you to read through but please do speak to our Vicar to discuss the fees in more detail.
Fees for weddings are set nationally so that the same basic fees apply whichever church you get married in. However, there are some variations – usually dependent on your circumstances and what you want in your service (e.g. an organist or a choir) and also what licences to marry apply. We have prepared a special page about the fees for you to read through but please do speak to our Vicar to discuss the fees in more detail.