The Church Ceremony

Thinking of a church wedding? Congratulations! You’re welcome to marry in church whatever your beliefs, whether or not you are christened and whether or not you regularly go to church. And, marrying in church has never been easier. If you would like your wedding or your wedding blessing to take place at St Nicolas church’, Come and speak to a Marriage Clerk at St Nicolas’ Church on aThursday evening between 6.30 and 8.00 pm. Saint Nicolas Church Also offers a service of Renewal of Vows for married couples and a blessing following a civil ceremony.

Your marriage in the Church of England

Getting married in church is a sign to your friends, family and most importantly to each other that you are ready to make a public declaration of love and commitment in front of those who love you and are part of your life together, including God.
During the service you will make vows promising to love each other throughout your lifetime and stick together through thick and thin. The priest will ask for God’s blessing on your marriage and there will be readings, hymns, prayers and a short talk.
All you need to plan your church wedding, from the legal aspects of marriage to a ceremony planner, and including frequently asked questions, visit www.yourchurchwedding.org

The Civil Ceremony

Since July 2009, Saint Nicolas Place has been registered for Civil Weddings and Civil Partnership Ceremonies. We are now the southern-most ‘Approved Premises’ under the jurisdiction of Birmingham Register Office, and are proud that spaces which have seen so many human stories unfold over the last 500 years will continue to play a magical part in people’s lives for the future.

Booking Civil Ceremonies

If you think Saint Nicolas Place is the right venue for your Civil Ceremony and Reception, we will provisionally hold the date for you while we confirm the availability of a Registrar. Once they have confirmed your date and time the Register Office will invite you to an interview. You will need to present them with a signed form from Saint Nicolas Place to demonstrate our availability. If the ceremony is less than 12 months ahead, you will need to take along your Birth Certificates with photographs and other forms of identity. (We can help you with the list of approved forms of identity.) The Register Office will issue you with form BM2, sending a copy to Saint Nicolas Place too.

Registrar

The Registrar will interview you at the Register Office in advance of your wedding to discuss the finer details with you. For example you can discuss any formalities, reading or music styles you would wish to include. Law also requires a fifteen minute interview with each of you separately (or together if you wish) immediately prior to your wedding ceremony, in order to ensure everything runs smoothly through your service.

Charges

There is a fee to be paid to Saint Nicolas Place for the hire of the various licensed rooms for your service. The fee varies with the size and capacity of the room. We also offer a discount for weddings that do not take place on a Friday or Saturday. The fee covers the use of your requested rooms at Saint Nicolas Place for three hours, including the ceremony. The Register Office will also charge a standard fee for the services of a Registrar.

Room Layout

Birmingham Register Office has certain requirements we must adhere to regarding the general layout of the room and we are happy to discuss these with you, as well as any individual touches you may request.

Music

Music for the ceremony can add the perfect finishing touch to the proceedings. It could be pre-recorded on tape or CD, or live using the services of a singer, harpist or ensemble etc. Whatever you choose, classical or contemporary, you will need four pieces of varying lengths for the key moments in the ceremony:

• Assemble: 30 minutes, while your guests are arriving and taking their places before your entrance.
• Bride’s Entrance: 1½ minutes, a powerful piece for the entrance of the Bride.
• Signing the Register: 10 minutes, while the Register is being signed and while official guest photos are taken.
• Retreat of Bride and Bride Groom: 1½ minutes, another powerful piece as the couple and members of the receiving line leave the ceremony.

Readings

It is customary to include one or two readings in the ceremony, although you may prefer music. As the ceremony must remain secular in nature, the Registrar will advise you of what type of material can be included.