Getting married at Cockpen and Carrington Parish Church
Many congratulations on your engagement. Getting married in Church is in the context of a Christian service of worship. It is a joyful and serious occasion, as you make a commitment to each other and seek God’s blessing upon your marriage and future life together.
- The Church and Contact Information
- Costs
- Legal Requirements
- Planning your Wedding
- Outline Order of Service for Weddings
- Possible Hymns
- A small scale Wedding Ceremony?
- The Church and Contact Information
Cockpen and Carrington Parish Church is a historic Church of Scotland parish church built in 1820 (and is a Grade A listed building). Photographs of the inside of the Church are available on the website.
Please contact the Minister, the Reverend Matthew Ross, to make arrangements (telephone 0131 663 6392). Saturdays in summer tend to be popular for weddings and can get booked up many months in advance.
- Costs
- Legal Requirements
- Planning your Wedding
- Outline Order of Service for Weddings
- Possible Hymns
- A small scale Wedding Ceremony?
Many people are concerned that getting married in Church will be very expensive. A Church wedding can actually cost remarkably little; the fee to the Church is one of the smallest costs – it is the other things that can soon mount up. If you are worried about the costs of a “big wedding” the Minister can give useful tips on planning your special day without breaking the bank.
There is a fee of £250 to cover the cost of the organist, church officer, heating, lighting and the upkeep of the church building, but in circumstances of hardship this can be reduced. The Church Hall is available for hire for a reception (for a small fee). Donations to the Church are always welcome.
To get married in Scotland you must contact the local Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. If you want to get married at Cockpen and Carrington Parish Church, then you must contact:
Registrar’s Office
Midlothian Council
2-4 Buccleuch Street
DALKEITH
Midlothian
EH22 1HA
Telephone 0131 271 3281
You should contact the Registrar’s office as early as possible (several months in advance); the Registrar will advise you exactly what you need to do. Do not leave this to the last possible date (15 days before the wedding) – if there are any problems with your paperwork then you may be too late.
The Registrar will issue you with a Marriage Schedule – this is the document which is signed at the wedding by the bride, groom, minister and two witnesses. The bride or groom will need to collect this in person during the week before the wedding. The current fee (subject to change) for a Marriage Schedule is £69.
Remember: No Schedule = No Wedding!!!
If you are not a British citizen and/or are not a British resident, or are divorced, you may require additional documents. The Registrar can advise you.
Most Church weddings have many guests. Alternatively, it is also possible to have a very small number of guests. The legal minimum is two people to act as witnesses, plus the bride, groom and Minister.
For more information regarding marriage law in Scotland, please see the website of the General Register Office for Scotland: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk
You should come to Cockpen and Carrington Parish Church to attend a Sunday service (11.30 am). You’ll be able to see inside the church and meet the Minister (Rev Matthew Ross) and Organist (Mr Graham Burnside). Mr Ross personally conducts most of the weddings, but occasionally another Minister will substitute.
Most couples like to arrange a rehearsal, usually a day or two before the wedding. Please bring your Marriage Schedule and the fee (totalling £250) to the rehearsal.
Here are the vows that are exchanged at a traditional Church of Scotland wedding:
“In the presence of God and before these witnesses I, [A]... give myself to you, [B]..., to be your wife/husband and take you now to be my husband/wife. I promise to love you, to be faithful and loyal to you, for as long as we live.”
You have a choice: whether to memorise them, repeat line by line (prompted by the Minister) or to respond “I do”. But think about them seriously; they sum up the deep commitment you will make to each other on your wedding day.
You may wish to make arrangements for flowers and photographs, etc. It is customary to leave flowers in place for the following Sunday service. Prior access for florists should be arranged through Mr Dyer, the Church Officer (tel 0131 663 2302). Photographers are welcome (including for video), but it is preferred that photographs are not taken during the service. Photographers must not walk around during the service. No flash photography is permitted during the service – either by an official photographer or by guests. Posed photographs may be taken (including flash or video) after the service.
Confetti or rice must not be thrown inside or outside the Church.
Guests coming to the wedding should park in the new Cemetery Car Park (first turning on the left after Cockpen Road Roundabout, in direction of the Church).
Please note that the gate to the church from the road (used by wedding limousines) is narrow and the entrance is tight. It may be too narrow for some very wide limousines; this should be checked in advance.
If you are not already a member of Cockpen and Carrington Parish Church, please do consider joining. The Minister would be delighted to hear from you about this.
If you have any requests or questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Minister.
Items for you to choose are listed in bold text:
Entrance of the Bride to Organ Music (the congregation stands)
Welcome & Call to Worship (Minister)
Hymn
Statement (Minister)
Prayer (Minister)
Exchange of Vows (you have a choice: whether to fully memorise the vows, to repeat the vows line by line, or to respond “I do”)
Giving and Receiving of the Rings
Declaration of Marriage (Minister)
Blessing of the Marriage (Minister)
Opportunity for additional music if desired (possibly a singer, organ or quartet)
Bible Reading (read by the Minister or a relative or friend – the Minister can advise on a choice of readings). Possible readings include: (a) St John 2: 1-11, (b) I Corinthians 13, (c) Ephesians 3: 14-21 or (d) another of your choice
Short address based on the Bible reading (Minister)
Prayer (Minister)
Hymn
Benediction (Minister)
Signing of the Marriage Schedule with Organ Music
Exit of the newly-married couple to Organ Music (the congregation stands)
You should speak with Mr Burnside (the Church Organist) who will be happy to advise you on choices of hymns and other music.
Here are some of many possible hymns:
63 – All people that on earth do dwell (Psalm 100)
115 – Love is the touch of intangible joy
124 – Praise to the Lord
127 – O worship the King
132 – Immortal, invisible, God only wise
147 – All creatures of our God and King
153 – Great is thy faithfulness
159 – Lord, for the years
160 – Praise, my soul, the King of heaven
166 – Lord of all hopefulness
167 – Guide me, O thou great Jehovah
181 – For the beauty of the earth
182 – Now thank we all our God
189 – Be still, for the presence of the Lord
200 – Christ is made the sure foundation
212 – Morning has broken
462 – The King of love my shepherd is
519 – Love Divine, all loves excelling
528 – Make me a channel of your peace
555 – Amazing grace
562 – Through the love of God our Saviour
598 – Come Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire
696 – We come, dear Lord, to celebrate the love our friends have found
697 – Let’s praise the Creator who gave us each other
698 – The grace of life is theirs who on this wedding day
699 – God beyond glory, gracious and holy
700 – As man and woman we were made
715 – Behold! The mountain of the Lord
It is also possible to have a wedding service on a very small scale, with only the couple, the minister and two witnesses (plus a few guests if desired). Please ask the Minister for more information; two witnesses can be arranged if necessary.