Personal, meaningful, spiritual and beautiful!
Amanda and Andrew
Andrew and Amanda’s ceremony in March 2008 has to be the ultimate in dream church weddings.
Married in England’s most popular church for weddings, St Mary’s, in Orchardleigh, Somerset, the couple fell in love with the church and its congregation long before the big day.
Initially they were driven by the desire to marry in a beautiful location, and found the idyllic St Mary’s, which is set in the stunning grounds of Orchardleigh House. Surrounded by a moat, with no electricity, the services are conducted by candlelight, accompanied by a hand-pumped organ.
Before the law changed in October this year, the couple were required to attend the church for at least six months to ensure a place on the electoral roll, which meant they could marry there.*
Amanda’s parents lived near to the church, so the 90 minute drive from the couple’s home in Portsmouth each weekend could combine family visits and a drop in to the church’s Sunday service.
In fact, the couple loved the church and its congregation so much, they kept going for 12 months up to the big day, and they've carried on going to the church ever since, whenever they can.
Andrew said: “I wasn’t brought up religious, so initially I think I wasn’t too keen on a church wedding. But when we discussed it together, there was an element to our thinking that made us feel marriage in church was important and so we started looking around for one.
“Visiting various different churches and being welcomed so warmly by them really swung my preference for marrying in church. You’re not on a conveyor belt. It’s personal, as well as being in the romantic setting of a church building.”
As the couple got to know the congregation at St Mary’s, they felt more committed to the church. When the wedding day arrived, marrying in a place where they had made their own connections made the ceremony all the more meaningful.
* Under a new law, there are seven new ways to marry in your special church. Read more.
However, even if you don’t have one of those seven special connections with the church, you can still attend for six months or more in order to be placed on the electoral roll. Not only does this mean you can marry there, but also helps you build a meaningful relationship with the Vicar who will marry you, and the congregation who will pray for you.
Photograph kindly supplied by Howard Keith Photography, © Howard Keith Photography