Your Wedding at St Mary-le-Bow

We’re always happy to hear from couples who would like to explore holding their special day at St Mary-le-Bow. In order to marry here you must either have a connection to St Mary-le-Bow, for example having been baptised or confirmed here, or having a parent or grandparent who was married here. Where no such connection exists, it’s easy to build one by attending services here for six months. After an initial conversation to explore your eligibility and legal right to marry, couples meet with Fr Simon or another member of clergy for two or three conversations in the run up to the day. As a first step in planning your wedding here, please contact us .

Marriage and Civil Partnership Blessings

If you’ve recently celebrated a wedding or civil partnership, or are approaching a significant anniversary, we’d be pleased to host a service of blessing and prayers to celebrate your relationship with family and friends. Please contact us to begin planning a service of blessing for a marriage or civil partnership

Same-Sex Couples and Weddings

We’re pleased to offer services for same-sex couples who have recently celebrated a wedding or civil partnership. Our church council supported introducing services of prayer for love and faith unanimously, and we have a proud tradition of LGBTQIA+ welcome and inclusion. Whilst we’re not yet able to marry same-sex couples in the Church of England, Fr Simon would be pleased to help couples to find a local church community who are able to offer marriage, or to discuss a service of prayer and blessing after a civil marriage or civil partnership here at St Mary-le-Bow. Please contact us to begin planning your celebration.

Marriage after Divorce

Many people who have experienced marital breakdown are not sure whether they are able to get married in Church as they embark on a new relationship in marriage. We understand that these conversations are often difficult and we’re pleased to explore the possibility of marriage after divorce. Couples for whom one or either have been married before will meet with Fr Simon. The only bar to marriage in church is where a relationship was itself the cause of a breakdown of marriage. In these circumstances we’re not able to offer marriage in church, but can explore the suitability of a service of blessing after a civil marriage. Please contact us to arrange a conversation to explore what might be possible and how we might be best placed to help.

Music at Weddings and Blessings

Our wonderful Director of Music will work with couples to plan music and hymns to accompany your service of marriage or blessing. Our repertoire includes a range of organ and piano music, and it’s possible to hire soloists or choral accompaniment for the day. Please contact us to begin discussing musical possibilities!

Wedding Bells

Our historical bells may be available to be rung at the beginning and end of your service, depending on the availability of ringers. Bell ringers expenses apply. Bell-ringing at services of wedding and blessing is by arrangement with our Steeple Keeper.