The
use of St. Mary's Church for the purpose of weddings
is restricted to "parishioners" of St. Mary's.
To that end, the following are to be considered
as "parishioners":
- Couples in which one person is already a registered
member of the congregation.
- Those in the immediate family of members
of the congregation present or past.
- Couples who have no church home, but who
are in the process of making St. Mary's their
spiritual home.
Those finding themselves in this category should
note that active participation in services of
public worship will be expected prior to the beginning
of counseling and prior to the setting of any
wedding date.
For
Episcopalians, this will assume the issuance of
a letter of transfer to St. Mary's and active
participation in the life of the congregation.
For those not members of the Episcopal Church,
it is understood that at least one of the parties
will seek instruction and eventual confirmation
at the hands of the Bishop
Remember,
before you can announce or publish the date of
your marriage:
1. You must have met with the clergy to assure
that there are no canonical impediments.
2. You must have completed your premarital counseling.
(and where it is applicable, obtained the consent
of the bishop)
3. You must have cleared your wedding date and
time with: the
church office, the clergy and the Altar Guild.
Some
General Principles
The
simplest way of doing things is often the best!
The
more complex and involved the ceremony, the more
opportunities arise for embarrassment, hurt feelings,
and distraction from the true purpose of the service.
Dignity
and beauty are an offering to Almighty God, the
creator of order and beauty. The church is the
House of God and your wedding is a sacrament of
the church which is His body. The wedding is under
the absolute control and direction of the parish
priest; his authority is the Book of Common Prayer
and the Canon Law of the Church. Before you make
any plans for your wedding service, you should
read and familiarize yourself with "The Celebration
and Blessing of a Marriage" and its appurtenant
rubrics from the Book of Common Prayer.
The
Canon Law of the Episcopal Church requires that
the clergy of the church meet with couples intending
marriage not less than thirty (30) days prior
to any such marriage to:
1.
Ensure that there are no connubial impediments to the proposed union.
2.
Allow the clergy to instruct the couples as
to the nature and content of the Declaration
of Intention.
3.
Ensure that there are no canonical impediments
to the proposed union.
Minimally,
there are three meetings between the couple and
the clergy and three meetings with the couple
and the counselor prior to the wedding rehearsal.
For
those who are divorced there are additional and
special canons which come into play. Divorce decrees
must have been final before any plans can be made
for re-marriage in the church (we recommended
that decrees be final not less than one year prior
to the date of the intended ceremony). For those
previously married in the Episcopal Church it
is required that a "Marital Judgment" be obtained
from the Bishop. This process will add from four
to six weeks to the time necessary prior to the
official acceptance of any wedding date, the offering
of the church's approval of the marriage, and
the publication of the date.
Pre-Marital
Counseling is required for all couples intending
to be married in the church. A trained and certified
counselor works in concert with the rector to
provide this service. Three sessions are required
at a cost of $30.00 per session.
Civil
Law
Under
Maryland Law, a civil license must be obtained
before the church can solemnize any marriage.
The minimum age for obtaining such a license is
sixteen (16) years (with notarized consent from
parents). Since the church is in the jurisdiction
of Harford County, the license must be obtained
at the courthouse in Bel Air, the county seat;
a process which can take up to three working days.
There are no required blood tests in the state
of Maryland and witnesses are not required to
obtain the license. One of the contracting parties
must apply for and receive the issued license.
These licenses are good for a period of ninety
days (90) and thus may be picked up well in advance
of any intended date. The civil license should
be placed in the hands of the clergy at or before
the time of the rehearsal.
Persons not resident in the County may apply for
a license by mail, including a statement from
a Clerk of the Court (or a comparable official).
These forms are available from any Clerk of the
Circuit Court in Maryland.
The cost of the license, as of this writing, is
Forty Dollars CASH, no checks - no plastic.
Remember,
the clergy cannot officiate at any wedding if
they are not in possession of a valid license!
(This means all three of the copies you receive)
If you are not being married at the church, be
sure that the location of your wedding is in Harford
County. If not, you need to make plans to purchase
your license from the appropriate jurisdiction.
About
the Service
All
services at St. Mary's will be held in strict
accordance with the authorized rites and rituals
of the Episcopal Church in the USA, as set forth
in the Book of Common Prayer.
To
Find Out More
Either
call or write to the church office and ask for
The Wedding Packet. This is a brief synopsis
of the customs and traditions regarding weddings
in general and services at Saint Mary's, some
general principles regarding the wedding party,
pictures, and other services which surround
a wedding, as well as a schedule of fees and
gratuities. [BACK
to Activities & Events]
