I hope someone else who's married in a Liverpool church but isn't from Liverpool can help me!
I am hoping to marry at the Palm House in Liverpool next summer. A lot of my family are in or near Liverpool but I've never lived there myself and have no qualifying connections to any churches there.
We've contacted quite a lot of churches who have said that until we worship with them for six months, they won't let us book our date. But I know loads of couples who've married elsewhere recently and have been allowed to book their date first, then attend the church sporadically between the booking and wedding day. We'd be more than happy to do this - we don't mind attending the church at all, but just want to be able to get our date booked first. Am I being unreasonable?
It seems so unfair as we are both practising Christians! We live in Manchester and feel our parish church is too far to travel from to the Palm House. I'm hoping one of you can recommend a church which you've been allowed to marry in despite not meeting the criteria...
Thanks in advance Katie x
CommentAuthorclairenina
Hi Katie,
I'm not far from Liverpool, and didn't get married in a church (so don't know actual info), but could you not get your vicars to speak to one another, perhaps involve someone else higher in the CofE? More like a reference I suppose. It seems odd that you worship in the house of God, regardless of location.
CommentAuthoralmost a year wife!!
There's a lot of churches like that unfortunately. Could your vicar in Manchester liase with the vicar in Liverpool? You can have anyone marry you you know hun u could just use the church? Take your vicar with you? I'm not in formby not far from liverpool xx
Ill marry my hero
CommentAuthorMrsC2bee
Have you asked if you can ore book the date then attend the church for 6 months? We had a connection with ours but maybe asking them they might allow it?
CommentAuthorKatieM794
Thanks so much for your replies. I have spoken to my vicar but he doesn't have any links with Liverpool churches it seems. I've asked whether we can book the date and then attend the church but they're not having any of it! It's understandable if that's the rule I suppose.
I think we're going to go for a church in Warrington where I'm from and then travel to Liverpool for the reception :)
Sorry to hear they won't allow it :( is that the vicar saying u can't book it first? If not maybe you could attend then ask while your there? Or if it not then maybe Warrington then Liverpool best idea or if church isn't a must for you ( as know it is for some but not others) what about a venue in Liverpool that can do the ceremony and the reception :) x
CommentAuthorElinor Claire
They're doing it by the book I'm afraid, the rules are very clear that if you don't qualify for the church by residency or family connection you have to have been worshipping there for six months. I would hope that someone more lenient would allow you to book a date far enough in the future that you would have been attending for six months by the time the banns need to be read (in an Anglican church), or you have to give notice (for any other denomination). I'm sure the vicar that married us also married a couple that were newer to the church than six months when they organised it (that's in Cardiff so no help to you). However if they are being absolutely strict they can insist that you have been attending for six months before they agree to marry you. Perhaps you could compromise and provisionally reserve the church for the date that you want, with an agreement that you will confirm the booking once you have been attending for six months. Are you definitely looking for an Anglican church? It may be that some other denominations might be more willing to allow you to book before you've attended for six months, as they are not the state church. Maybe try a Methodist or Baptist church, or a church that isn't part of a wider denomination.
30th August 2014 was the best birthday ever.
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