Dear Resident Reverend,
My fiance and I live in Bristol and are planning to get married this summer at a venue licensed for civil ceremonies in Cheltenham. I had hoped that we would be able to have a wedding blessing or 'service of prayer and dedication' immediately after the civil ceremony (at the same venue), but don't know if this is going to be possible as the venue is not a church. Does the church allow such blessings to take place in buildings that are not a church and how should I go about finding a member of the clergy to conduct the service? I don't know whether to approach churches locally or close to the venue in Cheltenham. Bringing the marriage before God and having it blessed is important to me, as I used to attend church and have Christian values but I have no links to a church in Bristol or Cheltenham.
I would really appreciate your advice on this as I am unsure what to do.
Kindest regards,
Joanna
Comments
Thank you Jan - I will definitely try that website and see if I can find someone suitable who is willing to do the honours. I'll let you know what the outcome is!
Hi Joanna
The church usually offers blessing services in a church. Often if a person gets married in a registry they go to the church afterwards (or even on another occasion) for a blessing. My husband and I had our own blessing on our 10th anniversary! You can do it anytime.
However, the blessing service is not a legal service in the same way a wedding is, and therefore doesn't need entering into a register. A blessing can therefore be carried out anywhere - even in your garden - so having it in the hotel shouldn't be a problem provided you can find a minister who is willing to do it.
If you don't have links with ministers in Bristol you might be better going to the local clergy in Cheltenham. Just tap in the postcode of your venue in the website www.achurchnearyou.com
Then contact the minister and ask the question. They will charge a fee if they can do it.
Hope the day is FAB for you
Warm regards
Jan