After originally deciding to get married a sheffield town hall one or two of my friends pulled me up to inform me that their close friends had managed to get married at a church for free.
After asking them the usual questions such as dont we have to be members of the church of devoted religious people etc etc
I was told "no ring up the churches and see what you get offered because some places just ask for a small donation to the church".

I dont quite believe it myself but i know that these people definately wouldnt lie to me. Is this possible??? If so it would be perfect because i would love to get married in a church just never saw it as an option due to money.

thanks

Do you go to church regularly? I am sure your vicar will be able to sort something out for you if you have no money. If you just want the 'big church trip' and are not involved in your local church community, then why should you get any special privelidges?

However as attendance is falling perhaps you could get a free marriage if you offer the vicar a two-for-one deal and throw in your mother as well.

You're definitely a Sheffielder - owt for nowt.

At least pay the vicar the minimum wage for turning out to marry a couple of non-believers and the verger for opening the place up for you and your mates, and the heating, choir, bells?

Cheapskate! :)

What kind of church? It would differ between religions as do the rules as to where you can marry.

The standard fee for a Church of England service is £252 or thereabouts

Do you go to church? I feel it would be unfair to get married there paying next to nothing if you are not a regular. When my friend got married a couple of years ago it cost her around £300 for the church.

Erm ok i guess it came across a bit wrong, i want trying to get something for nothing but i was hoping that maybe it might not have cost me £500 as it seems to cost everywhere if you want a nice marraige...

Please dont all jump on my back it was simply a case of miswording - jeez

Get some sponsorship, possibly from a chocolate manufacturer or get married naked and sell the video rights. Also consider product placement. Give me a shout if you want any help with getting your freebie wedding sorted out.

What do you mean by a nice marriage? Mine cost £100 and that included travel to Hackney and two veggie breakfasts on the day.

There are loads of places you can get married, including lovely historic buildings. Do you want a religious place? Why? Are you religious? If so, do you go to church? If you do, the church you attend will be pleased to perform the ceremony! If you're not religious but just want a lovely and impressive location, look around. Check out the City Hall, Cutlers Hall and others.

http://www.weddingvenues.com/venue3095.html as an example of a website to check out

Not jumping on your back but just responding to what you put. I just don't generally agree with people keeping up with the joneses and having the church wedding when they don't go any other time. I find it selfish.

ok thanks...no im not religious but always found churches to be absolutel beautiful and spriritual places...
Nevermind.

Not jumping on your back but just responding to what you put. I just don't generally agree with people keeping up with the joneses and having the church wedding when they don't go any other time. I find it selfish.

Why selfish?

ok thanks...no im not religious but always found churches to be absolutel beautiful and spriritual places...
Nevermind.

I understand that.

I dont think that by wanting to get married in a church, when you do not attend on say a sunday... is selfish in the slightest!! In fact i think it is nice when two people want to celebrate how much they love each other, by gettin married before god.
i am not religious in the slightest but when i get married it will be in a church, or a chapel.
:D xxx

Are you old enough to get married? Have you considered the 'implications' of marriage or do you just want a nice day out? Have you actually got anyone in mind as my schedule is a bit hectic over the next few weeks but if you are a 'looker' I might be able to accommodate you for some market testing.

Why selfish?

Well they want to use the church. They want to have the fantastic photos in the church grounds and in tjis case they want it for next to nothing and then that's it. They don't want to go on Sundays and show support they rarely attend if ever after the wedding until the day they want their child christening. That's why I find it selfish.

What the hell are you on about!!! I love my partner very much and we have been together for two years happily with a 11 month old daughter. Im 22 and have known people YOUNGER than be get married and last for years and years and are still together now! What the hell has age got to do with getting maried!!!

well said!!! :D
i dont think age has anything to do with marriage. as long as you are happy and are in a stable relationship etc then why bother with age.. isnt it all supposed to be about how you feel about each other?? xxx

Well they want to use the church. They want to have the fantastic photos in the church grounds and in tjis case they want it for next to nothing and then that's it. They don't want to go on Sundays and show support they rarely attend if ever after the wedding until the day they want their child christening. That's why I find it selfish.

I dont want my child christening she can decide what religion she wants to follow when she is older why should I force ANY religion upon her...so in order to get married in a church a spiritual place where it feels more than right to get married i have to be devoted to religion and attend every sunday!!!

Relax, people are just trying to wind you up. Follow the advice of the nicer people and ring round a few churches. If you want to get married in a church what does it matter if you're not religious, nobody expects you to be political if you get married in the Town Hall.

It's your day, and your future husband's, so take the opportunity to have a really nice day and if you want to save a few pounds on the way that can only be a good thing.

Good luck from a 30 year veteran.

What the hell are you on about!!! I love my partner very much and we have been together for two years happily with a 11 month old daughter. Im 22 and have known people YOUNGER than be get married and last for years and years and are still together now! What the hell has age got to do with getting maried!!!

So why do you want to get married now? It will end in tears.

I dont want my child christening she can decide what religion she wants to follow when she is older why should I force ANY religion upon her...so in order to get married in a church a spiritual place where it feels more than right to get married i have to be devoted to religion and attend every sunday!!!

Not trying to wind up at all. You post on a public forum you get opinions. FACT. And I have given mine. Religion is good enough when you want a cheapo wedding but not any other time.....if it's spiritual you want perhaps you ought to be looking at spiritualist churches?

Ergh get a life you dont know me so how can you judge, im just going to ignore your posts now

not aiomed at starlett

Everyone has the legal right to get married in their own church of england parish church, whether they attend it regularly or not and whether they are religious or not.

Fallen - check out this link http://www.yourchurchwedding.org/youre-welcome/you-can-marry-in-a-church.aspx

That website also lists the standard charges but the church does have some leniency I think, I would be surprised if you could get a local church which you don't attend for no fee at all though. I think the fees for the church are reasonable at the standard cost though, it's the most important part of the day after all :)

Go for it girl.

We had a register office wedding 43 years ago.

My wife said that one of her biggest regrets was not having a church wedding.

So instead of asking.just grasp the nettle and make it happen.

omg i cant believe how rude some people are on here!! anyway getting back to the topic...i am getting married in a catholic church and all they have asked for is a small donation. So yeah practically free :-)

Well they want to use the church. They want to have the fantastic photos in the church grounds and in tjis case they want it for next to nothing and then that's it. They don't want to go on Sundays and show support they rarely attend if ever after the wedding until the day they want their child christening. That's why I find it selfish.

It's no more selfish than wanting to be married in any nice place.

And, to the person who equates 'spiritual' with 'spiritualist' - I suggest you Google 'spiritualist'. You'll find it's not the same thing at all (in this context)!

omg i cant believe how rude some people are on here!! anyway getting back to the topic...i am getting married in a catholic church and all they have asked for is a small donation. So yeah practically free :-)

A strange concept, a 'catholic church'. What makes it catholic and not methodist or presbyterian or protestant or new age or charlotte?

I wouldn't associate myself too closely with Benny at the moment, although free weddings may be a good idea to lure people back into the catholic fold. Just don't let your children join the choir.

well i am catholic hence my choice of a catholic wedding but i do not think religion is the topic of choice here bloomdido so please get over yourself :)

Just Highjacking this thread is it possible to get married in your own garden?????

Just Highjacking this thread is it possible to get married in your own garden?????
or local pub...

well i am catholic hence my choice of a catholic wedding but i do not think religion is the topic of choice here bloomdido so please get over yourself :)

Sorry. I will go away now. Good luck with it all.

Just Highjacking this thread is it possible to get married in your own garden?????

No not unless one of you has a medical reason that you can't leave the house. See this link:

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_family/family/getting_married.htm#Where_can_a_marriage_take_plac e

I cannot believe the rudeness of some of the people on here, and we wonder why people fight about religion.... The churches are not just there for the people who attend weekly, you do not buy a membership card, they are there for everyone in the community. If the Vicar doesn't have a problem about people who don't attend all the time getting married in a place of their choice why should you??
And to be fair most churches charge around £450/£500 to perform the ceremony (I know because I'm getting married next year). Without this money do you really think half of the churches would be able to survive??
FallenAngel6, I hope you find the perfect place for your wedding and if you do get it cheaper all the better, please don't be put off by some of the replies on this thread..

This thread is making me chuckle!

I have to say that I agree with Starlet in every way about the church wedding...I haven't been to church unless it was a school thing, someones wedding or christening. I am not religious so therefore I got married in a hotel. How can I start my marriage as a lie (i.e. in the eyes of god when I don't beleive in god)

On to age...I was just turned 20 when I got married and so far we are fine :) (although it will be only 6 years in November) :)

I cannot believe some of the posts on here?!
At the end of the day, how, when, where and why people get married is entirely up to them. Everyone has their own views and own ways of doing things and as long as its not breaking the law or hurting anyone else, then why not?! So if you want to get married in a church for whatever reason, go for it!

We are planning on getting married next year and have both agreed that we'd like to have a church wedding. For us it is tradition and for us it is the right way, the proper way. The sense of occassion, the full ceremony, the beautiful setting...
For some getting married in church is as much a tradition as the bride wearing white, the father walking her down the aisle, and the best man doing a speech - none of these are essential for a wedding but all are traditional.

And like I said, when it comes to it, its up to the individuals - getting married in church is not right or wrong, not hypocrytical, not a lie - its just someones choice.

Now come on, this should be a happy thread - we're talking weddings here! Lets not spoil anyones special day...