Weddings

Congratulations on deciding to get married!

Our four parish churches which form Horringer Benefice (Westley, Brockley, Whepstead and Horringer) have been celebrating this moment with couples for centuries. As far as it is legally possible, we want to welcome you for a church wedding, and you can find full details and FAQs on this link,  as well as on www.yourchurchwedding.org, the Church of England's very helpful wedding planning website.

St Mary's has a lovely, intimate atmosphere, particularly for a small wedding, and can seat up to about 90 guests comfortably (although a few more can usually be squeezed in!).  You are very welcome to contact the Rector or Debbie and Marian, the churchwardens, and come and have a look around the church for yourselves. The cost of a wedding at St Mary's is shown below; you are welcome to provide your own flowers to decorate the church or you can keep it simple and use the flowers we usually have in place for services, which are two arrangements on the shelf behind the altar and one pedestal arrangement.  The single bell is usually rung as the bride enters the church, and again when the bride and groom leave the church. There is a small car park adjacent to the church, and we are very happy for biodegradable confetti to be thrown in the churchyard.

Marriage fees are set nationally by General Synod and approved by Parliament. We also charge local fees in respect of sundries such as organist, verger, bells and heating. For 2024 these fees are:

Marriage ceremony - £531*

Banns reading - £36*

Certificate of banns, if required - £18*

Organist - £110 (to be confirmed with organist)

Verger - £40 (one of the Churchwardens who will help out before and on the day as required)

Heating (standard charge October-March) - £40

Floristry minimum fee £60 if required. All flowers to be retained in Church

Hire of portaloo - at cost if required

* indicates a statutory fee fixed by the Secretary of State