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St Dunstan’s is a wonderful venue to have your marriage service. Not only is it a beautiful setting for your special day, but holding the ceremony in church means seeking God’s blessing for your relationship. The vows that you take are stronger and more meaningful than a civil ceremony. If you are married in church, you avoid the need to go to the Registrar in Tunbridge Wells. All couples have the flexibility in choosing their ceremony, including whether it is traditional or more modern. All couples are invited to attend a short course of marriage preparation, which includes exploring expectations of marriage, its meaning and dealing with relationship issues.

For weddings between citizens with UK passports, marriage is normally by ‘banns’. This means that an announcement is made on three consecutive weeks in church in the three months before you are to be married. You have to live in the parish or, if you do not live in the parish, you will need to be on the ‘electoral roll’ of the church or have a qualifying connection. To be on the electoral roll, you are asked to worship at St. Dunstan’s regularly for a period of at least six months (this normally means attendance at last once a month). If you have some special connection with St. Dunstan’s (i.e. you were baptised here or your family has worshipped here), then you may also be married in the church. 

For weddings where at least one of the wedding couple holds an Overseas Passport, you will almost certainly need to be married by ‘common license’ instead of banns. Unless you have been a regular worshipper at St. Dunstan’s for a period in excess of six months, you will also need a Superintendent’s Certificate from the Registrar in Tunbridge Wells. Please call the Vicar and he will explain the process you need to go through to you.

If either party has been divorced, marriage in church is possible, but is not automatic and needs to be carefully considered together with the Vicar. In line with Church of England policy, marriage of divorcees is allowed within certain conditions. The couple is encouraged to meet with the Vicar to discuss their circumstances. Normally, there is an initial meeting at which the church’s policy is shared with the couple and if the couple wish to proceed, they are invited to complete a short questionnaire and then there is a follow up meeting. Experience has shown that this is a positive and healing process and most who wish to be remarried in church are able to do so.

If you would like to consider getting married at St Dunstan, the best thing to do would be to come along to a service on a Sunday and to see the church for yourself and introduce yourself to a member of clergy. You can book a meeting at the Vicarage with the Vicar at any time, by telephoning the Parish Office. The process and fees will be explained at an initial meeting with the Vicar.