Arranging the Wedding

It is a pre-requisite for people getting married in St Peters to undertake a period of instruction of 5 consecutive weeks. This instruction is given twice per year in addition to which is a weekend for people to attend the other sessions. Individual instruction may be given but this is the exception rather than the rule.

St Peter's, being the original parish for the Leamington area, has the largest number of weddings per year of any other church. We place a strong emphasis on the importance of marriage preparation and we try to build up good relationships with the couples during the time of planning for their wedding. This is often their first contact with the Church for a number of years. We ask couples to allow at least 6 months for this planning, ideally allowing a year.

The first point of contact is Jan Ireson, who co-ordinates all that is required prior to the wedding. She meets with couples and during that discussion arranges with them which type of marriage preparation will best suit them, books the date of the wedding and begins the work on the Diocesan Pre-Nuptial Enquiry Form. She will also meet couples again before the wedding and will usually also speak by phone before the wedding date. Jan is also an Authorised Person for the parish and will be present on the day to register the marriage.

Peter and Margaret Dimambro and Jan and John Ireson have all been involved with the Marriage Encounter Movement, and work closely with it in organising the marriage preparation options within the parish.

Peter and Margaret have for some years delivered a parish based programme of 'Evenings for the Engaged'. This comprises four evenings and is run on a 'needs' basis, which usually means two programmes during the year. They work with the priests, who attend some if not all of the sessions.

Some of the couples from St Peter's also choose to attend one of the residential 'Engaged Encounter Weekends' in the region. This is an excellent opportunity for engaged couples and one which we actively promote. Those able to make the commitment invariably feel that it has been very worthwhile and helpful.

For further information or comments please contact info@stpeterapostle.org