Marriage
Any couple who would like to be married in the Church is required to give at least six months’ notice. They will meet with their priest to discuss in advance, and also be required to take a pre-marriage course through a recommended organisation to help them prepare.
Tertullian, a father of the ancient Church, wrote beautifully on the subject of Christian marriage, saying,
“How can I ever express the happiness of the marriage that is joined together by the Church, strengthened by an offering, sealed by a blessing, announced by angels and ratified by the Father? … How wonderful the bond between two believers, with a single hope… There is no separation between them in spirit or in flesh…”
It is worth spending some time considering the spirit and prayerfulness of the wedding ceremony itself. This will include choosing scripture readings from a given selection that you find give inspiration for the marriage that is about to be created. It will also include selecting appropriate music, which must be religious music that gives praise to God and sees marriage and love in the context of the love of God. If you have any queries regarding what music is appropriate or what musicians are available, your priest will be very happy to help.