Our wedding in church after the register office
Nikki and Chris
Nikki and Chris fell in love with the church they found on May Hill, in Gloucestershire, in fact that’s what made them want to get married.
But then they discovered they were not legally able to marry there. They didn’t live in the parish and had no other connection with the church. They couldn't even create a connection with the church by going along to the usual services there, because of their work schedules.
Undeterred, they contacted Vicar of All Saints, Felicity Walters, who had an idea. So Nikki and Chris were legally married in a register office, with a church wedding two days later.
The church wedding looked exactly like a real wedding. When the couple would normally sign the register, they signed a commemorative certificate instead.
Nikki said, “It was exactly what we wanted; it had to be at that church. Felicity went along with our plans and made it perfect.”
More on this: Couples are welcome to have a legal marriage service in a church where they have a special connection, but because Nikki and Chris did not have one, their Vicar suggested this alternative. Nikki and Chris actually married in a civil ceremony at a registry office then celebrated with a religious ceremony in a church. Services of prayer and dedication after a civil wedding ("blessings"), also work like this, they can be offered in any church where a Vicar is available to do it.
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