Planning your Christian Marriage Service
This section will help you plan your wedding service and answer some of your questions about the ceremony. Details have been spread over six pages; click the "Next" and "Back" links at bottom to navigate through the complete set.
The marriage service is a service of worship of God in which two people promise to love each other and to spend the rest of their lives together.
We have some tips and ideas together which will make your wedding day truly a day to remember, and help you as you plan your life together after the wedding ceremony.
People to ask for assistance and answers to your questions . . .
The Cathedral Secretary will take your booking and answer your questions about the availability of churches. Tel: 09 303 9500. [Email Link].
Archdeacon Michael Smart is Priest Associate at the Cathedral. He offers Marriage Preparation programmes, and can advise you on your service. Tel: 09 303 9500. [Email Link].
Peter de Blois is the Director of Music at the Cathedral. He advises on your choice of hymns and music and will arrange the organist and accompanist. Tel: 09 303 9508. [Email Link].
It helps to book the day and time of your ceremony as early as possible. In the summer months when bookings are heavy we may not be able to give you your first choice, so we encourage you to think about this early in the preparation.
You may book a wedding venue online here.
Note: St. Stephen's Chapel seats a maximum of 45 people. We are not able to accept bookings for numbers exceeding this due to Fire Regulations.
The Marriage Service
When you book your service with us we will give you a copy of the marriage services used in the Anglican Church in New Zealand. There are four to choose from. We encourage you to sit down together, read through each of the services, and choose the service which best suits your thoughts and desires for your life together.
The service has a reading from the New Testament and you may include other appropriate readings subject to the Priest's approval.
- Think about asking friends or family to read the text you choose.
- A specially printed order of service is not necessary, but if you choose to have one, please give a draft to the Priest marrying you before it goes to the printer.