Download St. Anne's Wedding Customary

In the Episcopal Church, we believe that Christian marriage is about more than just two people. It is about God’s love and how God has the power to transform all of us through that love. When two people enter into the covenant relationship of Holy Matrimony, they become an icon to us of the infinite love God has for all of God’s people, and their marriage has the capacity to teach us about the grace, forgiveness, trust, honesty, and redemption made possible in the love of God. For that reason, we believe marriage to be a sacrament.

Therefore, a wedding is an act of worship. Although the priest officiates and pronounces God’s blessing on the relationship, the bride and groom are the true ministers of the sacrament, for they are the ones who proclaim the covenant. It is in their lives that the sacrament is lived out. (For those who have no intention of regular involvement in the life of the Church, it would be more appropriate to be married in a different setting.)

While weddings at St. Anne’s are religious events of festive proportion and specific intention, they are, nonetheless, Episcopal worship services. At St. Anne’s, all weddings are performed in accordance with The Book of Common Prayer. Church wedding customs vary in detail from place to place, so the guiding principle to remember is that marriage in the Episcopal Church is first and foremost a sacramental act of worship and will be conducted accordingly. 

Our Wedding Customary is designed to guide you in planning your wedding at St. Anne’s and to offer explanations of the many particular customs we observe. Please read it thouroughly. You will find that things that are permitted – or even common practice – in other churches may not be appropriate here. If there are questions as to the permissibility of anything, it is always best to check with the Rector of St. Anne’s before making plans.

Thank you for considering St. Anne’s Episcopal Church as the location of your wedding. May God bless you as you make your plans, and may you never tire of the adventure of life shared in mutual companionship!