Getting Married

St Mark's is a beautiful church for a wedding! It is historic, atmospheric and well cared for and we encourage you to enjoy it on your special day.

It is also a place of worship, and so the following information is provided on the understanding that those using it will respect the dignity and spirituality of the space.

We are currently revising our information booklet about getting married at St Mark's but you will find basic information in the link under ‘Related Resources’ on the right.

The simplest way to begin your enquiry is to ring and make arrangements to meet the parish priest on a Sunday morning after the 9.30am Mass. The success of your preparation and the warmth of the wedding ceremony depend to a large degree on the relationship you develop with the priest in the months leading up to your wedding. You are encouraged to attend the Sunday Mass, which is also an opportunity to meet members of the St Mark's congregation, but this is not mandatory.

Alternatively, you might like to make a more detailed telephone enquiry. Preliminary questions can be quickly addressed and any booking or other diary queries can be easily sorted out.

These should be directed to Fr Stuart Soley 03 94194587. We do not make initial arrangements by email or text.

Some other basic requirements and general information are as follows:

• Generally speaking, the Parish Priest celebrates all weddings at St Mark's. The use of the church by Civil Celebrants is not permitted.
• To proceed with your wedding at St Mark's you will need to complete a Notice of Intended Marriage, not less than one calendar month and not more than 18 months prior to your proposed marriage. This is a requirement under the Marriage Act (1961).
• If you are re-marrying we encourage you to discuss your wedding plans with the Parish Priest. It will be necessary for an approval to be sought from the Bishop but we will assist you in this process and work through any personal issues with you. Documentary evidence of dissolution of a marriage or the death of a former partner is required in such circumstances.
• We appreciate that in many cases couples have been living together for a considerable time before deciding to marry. However, pre-marriage education sessions still have much to offer and we are able to provide a personalised in-house program in such instances. These are conducted by an experienced marriage educator who is a member of our congregation. These are provided without cost to couples marrying at St Mark's. We do not conduct group courses.
• A rehearsal will be included in your wedding arrangements. The time and date will be by mutual agreement. This is for all members of the wedding party and the parents of the bride and groom.
• We discourage the involvement of Wedding Planners. The rehearsal and wedding are organised by the parish priest. This ensures that the Christian context of the wedding and the spirituality of the ceremony are respected and maintained.

 

Related resources

• "Getting Married at St Mark's" Booklet