WEDDINGS AND PARTNERSHIP BLESSING CEREMONIES
THE SERVICE
This is entirely up to you. I can design you a service and then you can suggest any changes or ideas of your own, or you can design one yourself. I can conduct anything from a highly traditional style wedding to a religiously neutral partnership ceremony and any shade in between.
Your ceremony can be interfaith, ecumenical or even secular and non-religious.
I can also conduct religious same sex weddings. One of the key features of the Society for Independent Christian Ministry is their celebration of same sex love.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Often, couples arrange to sign the marriage / civil partnership register at their local town or city hall with the required witnesses and then arrange a more ornate and meaningful ceremony elsewhere at a later time or a later date which they will treat as their wedding day, with guests and celebration. Alternatively, you could sign the documentation with the registrar at your chosen venue before your guests arrive on your wedding day, so you are legally registered as married before your ceremony. When your guests arrive, I can then conduct the wedding service and blessing in the way you would like.
I can provide a ceremony that is far more ornate and creative than any civil registrar could offer. I can also tailor it to meet your own individual taste without the anti-religious restrictions on music and readings.
THE VENUE
You decide upon and book a venue; this could be in a function room in a hotel, a stately home, a castle, a local community centre or hall, your home or another friend or family member's home, a marquee, or any other place of significance to you - even at the top of a hill overlooking beautiful scenery (if you trust the weather!)
It is unusual for a Church of England or Catholic priest to allow me to use their church for any of my services as they are often opposed to the aims of the Society for Independent Christian Ministry because they are envious of the way we have stripped away their bureaucracy and dogma to the beauty of Christ's inclusive and liberating love.
However, some old church buildings and monasteries that are no longer used for services are available to rent for functions so they could also be an option. But the advantage of having your wedding conducted by an independent, liberal minister, such as myself, is that outside a church you can have it WHEREVER YOU WANT !
THE COST
This depends on the distance I have to travel and the amount of preparation I do, although I will always strive to keep the cost as low as possible for you. I can give you a basic estimate of cost when you enquire.
