Do I need to be a member of the Church to be married in church?
NO. You do not need to be a member of the Church to be married in the Church of Scotland, although of course we would be delighted to welcome you into our fellowship. In protestant Christian denominations marriage is not a sacrament, nor are you asked to make a promise directly to God. You are asked to make important promises to each other before God therefore these are binding in His sight and should not be entered into lightly.
Can I re-marry in church if I am divorced?
Being divorced is not in itself a barrier to remarriage in the Church of Scotland. Church of Scotland ministers may, but are not obliged to, solemnise a marriage where one of the parties is divorced and the former spouse is still alive. Before agreeing to officiate in these circumstances the minister will want to talk to you in more detail.
For whom will the minister of Perth North Church conduct a marriage ceremony?
Normally, the minister is delighted to conduct marriage services for couples with a family connection with our church or who live within our parish of Tulloch, Hillyland and Fairfield. He is willing to discuss the possibility of other couples, however, as ours is a lively, busy church this may not always be possible or appropriate. To enable on-going pastoral care it is best to be married in a local parish church.
Can I be married by the minister outwith the church building?
It is the minister's preference to conduct marriages in the church. This said, he is willing to discuss with you marriage at another location providing this is a dignified and appropriate environment (no bungee jumping!). Decisions will be made on an individual basis.
Can I invite another minister to conduct the service?
All worship, including your wedding service, is the responsibility of the minister of perth North Church. If you have a friend who is an ordained Christian minister and you wish them to be part of the service, speak to our minister who will normally be happy to involve him/her in some way. In all situations the primary responsibility for the service will remain with the minister of Perth North Church and in the majority of circumstances he will conduct the marriage ceremony itself.
Can I invite a friend to be part of the service?
Yes. You will be fully involved in the planning process, during which individual items which will make the day special to you can be aired (for example, on occasions couples ask for a friend to read a poem or sing an appropriate song). In normal circumstances the minister will be delighted to have friends or family involved in your service, the details of which will be agreed during discussion.
What costs do I have to consider?
There is no charge for the minister's services, although if you are to be married in a location other than the church you should discuss travel expenses with him.
There are, however, costs which need to be met, for example to pay the organist and church officer. These are set annually by the Kirk Session and details can be obtained from the church secretary. There is currently no fixed charge for use of the church, however, an appropriate donation is requested in the context of your overall wedding expenditure. For your information it normally costs in excess of £100 to open and heat the church for just one wedding. There may also be extra costs in terms of copyright and performing rights should you choose to record your wedding. All fees and church donation should be paid at the church office no later than 21 days prior to your wedding date. Please note that (at March 2011) wedding fees are being reviewed and further details will be posted here when available.
What about photography and video?
You will obviously want many photographs to remember your happy day and we will do our best to assist you in this. The ceremony itself is first and foremost a Christian service of worship and its dignity must be respected and protected. Flash photography during the service is therefore not permitted. When you sign the marriage schedule (or 'register') at the end of the service flash photography is permitted.
Video operation that detracts from or gets in the way of the service is also not permitted, however, there are ways around this. If you would like a video of your ceremony speak to the minister and he will advise of the best way to do this. You should note that, under Musicians Union guidelines, if a video recording is made the organist is entitled to request a higher fee.