Weddings

Exchanging vows for life before God

Churches helping you bring a spiritual dimension to your married life

A bride and groom walking together after getting married

Congratulations if you’re thinking of getting married in Church!

Christians believe that marriage is a gift from God and making your wedding vows in church means that God is part of your relationship to give you strength and guidance.

A floral pew end decoration for a wedding
A bride entering the church with page boys and vicar waiting
A wedding couple exchanging rings

Getting married in the OVMC

A church wedding ceremony at any of our Mission Community churches provides you with the setting of a beautiful church building: you might even be marrying in a church where your parents and grandparents were married. Certainly you will get married in a sacred space that has seen many couples make their vows over centuries.

When you get married in one of our churches, you’ll find a supportive community there for you. You will get to know the Officiating Priest and your wedding will therefore be a personal and meaningful event. All the clergy of the Ministry Team are licensed to take weddings across the Mission Community and as a team we are committed to making your day a wonderful, joyful and celebratory occasion.

The wedding process

We want your church wedding planning to be as straightforward as possible and we've set out here how the process works. If one or both of you have been married before please contact the OVMC Administrator who will put you in contact with the parish priest. It is at their discretion as to whether you can be married in church.

Wedding couple holding the bride's bouquet after being married
A wedding couple forming a heart with their hands

The marriage preparation course

While not compulsory, we strongly encourage couples to engage with our one day marriage preparation course. Feedback from couples who have attended has been overwhelmingly positive. People have appreciated the time to discuss their relationship, the meaning of love and lifelong commitment, and to meet other couples sharing hopes and dreams and planning ideas!

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COURSE LOCATION

The Narthex
St Michael’s parish church
Bendarroch Road
West Hill
EX11 1UW

NEXT COURSES

  • 22nd February 2025
  • 26th April 2025

Financial support

If you live in Ottery St Mary, Alfington, Escot, Tipton St John, Wiggaton or West Hill you may be entitled to a small grant. Thomas Axe, who died in 1691 left a considerable sum of money to support couples marrying in the old parish of Ottery St Mary.

The grants are:

  • £150 on marriage
  • £75 on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd anniversaries of the marriage
  • £125 on the 5th anniversary

As soon as you are married you should contact the Clerk to the Trustees of Thomas Axe’s Charity – Mr David Roberts on 01404 813961.

Section of the Thomas Axe memorial stating how much the trust will pay to support a wedding couple

Further information

If you are marrying in West Hill please see the Marry in West Hill Initiative.

For more information about getting married in an Anglican Church please visit the Church of England Weddings page.

Book your dream day

Please complete the form below. The OVMC Administrator will then contact you to discuss your wedding and help you plan the best church service possible.

If you are not marrying in your home church, you will need your banns read in your home church. Please complete this form and the OVMC Administrator will contact you to confirm the dates your banns will be read.

There is a fee for getting married in church and this depends upon whether you both live where you are marrying or if one or both of you are marrying away from where you live. Chose the appropriate question below to determine the fee you will need to pay to the church(es).

The fees quoted here are valid for 2024.

There are a number of optional extras you can add to your church wedding service. The options and their prices vary per church so will be discussed with you by the OVMC Administrator once you have sent in your booking form.

  • Bells

    Have the bells rung before and/or after your marriage service
    A photo of church bells
  • Have the hymns you have chosen sung by the church choir as well as the congregation
  • Brighten up the church and the day with an assortment of flower arrangements
  • Add some heating during the winter to warm up the occasion
  • Have the music you have chosen played on the church organ
  • Have an expert on hand before and after the service to help with proceedings