Interfaith Weddings & Marriage Blessings

There is no "standard" pattern for interfaith weddings, or blessings.  I will design each service in close liaison with you both, to harmonise totally with your wishes, and in accordance with your own spiritual values, views and needs, whatever these may be.

Some couples prefer a more traditional service, whilst others wish to incorporate readings, music and/or poetry from various religious traditions, and still others may prefer no mention of, or reference to, any spiritual path at all.  It is because there is no set marriage service (as there would be in the traditional religious systems) that you and I together will be in close contact in order to build that special, memorable event that is uniquely yours.  Part of my task will be to help you choose certain themes, readings, or ideas, if you have no firmly-formulated ideas of your own.  However, below is a guideline structure to help you begin to formulate your ideas:

During the lead-in time to your marriage service or blessing I will explore with you your spiritual background and that of your respective families, plus some factual issues: in short, to get to know you a little, as individuals. I'll also be offering a list of questions that will be personal for the two of you to discuss between you. The importance of this is that it will help you create and mould your vows to each other - your personal promise to each other - which you will be giving in front of your family and friends.  This is your publicly-voiced commitment, and can be considered as a sacred moment within the marriage service.

Who Might Choose an Interfaith Service?

• People who do not belong, in any active sense, to a particular religion, but who require the services of a minister for certain major events in their lives.
• People of different religious traditions who wish to jointly honour their union.
• Same-sex couples who wish to celebrate their relationships.
• People who are free-thinking, and often on a spiritual quest.
• People who have absolutely no time or inclination for anything remotely religious or spiritual, but who wish to honour their partnerships in a public and formal manner.
• And anyone else at all, of any religion, or of none.

Fees for wedding services:

My objective is to ensure that your marriage/blessing ceremony is special, wonderful, memorable and unique to you. The fee you pay reflects my working closely with you in the lead-up to the service, being available to you for advice and consultation, for researching relevant readings, for designing the service, for guidance in formulating your vows, for one full or partial rehearsal if required, and for facilitating the service on the day. Any necessary long-distance travelling and accommodation  expenses will be be added to this sum. 

It is normal in the case of weddings for the fee to be paid by the Best Man, or equivalent, immediately after the service.

A guideline for fees can be seen here.

Practicalities

Once we have confirmed your preferred date, I would appreciate a 10% deposit to set this date aside for you.  I will also write to you to confirm our arrangement, and would ask for an acceptance of terms by either conventional mail, or email.  From this point, once I have received your acceptance, I will anticipate that we  work closely together as we lead up to your special day.  Personal, email or telephone contact between us will be crucial to the success of the process, and ultimately to the service itself.

Important:  In England & Wales the formal civil ceremony must, by law, be carried out separately from an Interfaith service.  Most couples have this legal ceremony a day or so before the main wedding or blessing ceremony with me.  However, the civil ceremony need only be the bare legal minimum.  (Under Scottish law, an Interfaith Minister can apply to formalize the marriage legally - i.e. no separate civil ceremony required.)