Weddings

Its always a pleasure to take a Wedding at All Saints. We hope that the information below is of help as you seek to plan this very important day. And because a healthy marriage is much more than just a wedding day, we offer each couple the opportunity for several sessions of marriage preparation. For more information please contact the Chaplain.

Helpful information for couples getting married in Switzerland.

Before the service in All Saints can take place, the couple must first have been through a civil ceremony of marriage in the local community in Switzerland or elsewhere, and be able to provide a marriage certificate indicating so.

In the Church service we ask for God's blessing on the marriage the couple have already made in the eyes of the state. This is reflected in some differences in the service compared to what happens elsewhere. However the intention to celebrate the start of a married life together with God's blessing is exactly the same.

Under the discipline of the Church of England, at least one of the partners should be baptised in the Christian faith (though not necessarily as Anglicans). The nature of what takes place in the wedding ceremony here presupposes that at least one partner is committed to the Christian Faith.

If either of the couple are Roman Catholics, the blessing of their marriage can only be celebrated according to Anglican rites if the Roman Catholic party has obtained a "Certificate of Dispensation from Canonical Form", required by the Roman Catholic Church for the recognition of the validity of a marriage ceremony performed in a non-Roman Catholic Church.

Such a certificate is obtainable from the diocesan administration centre of the home parish of the Roman Catholic partner, and is issued after the couple have met with the local Parish Priest concerned.

The blessing of a marriage where one (or both) of the partners has been divorced and has a partner still living, can take place at the discretion of the Chaplain, but only after he has satisfied himself of the couple's Christian intentions through preliminary interviews. A Church wedding date should not be planned until this process has been completed.

Before going too far with your wedding plans, you will need to make sure that both the Church and the minister are available. So, first ask the Chaplain if the date and the time you want is possible. He will usually be able to confirm a date within twenty-four hours, and will expect you to make an appointment to see him as soon as possible afterwards, so that the formalities can get started.

It is quite usual here in Vaud to have parts of the service (readings, prayers or hymns) in different languages, to allow participation in the ceremony by all members of the congregation.

Cost

All Saints' & St. Peter's only source of financial support is the generosity of those who share in its worship, and those who ask for the ministry of its Chaplain for the special occasions in their lives. Fees reflect the costs that must be covered by the Church in order to maintain its staff and building for the service of the English speaking community in the region.

The charges as of January 2006 are as follows, but you should check with the Chaplain that they remain valid.

Contribution towards heating and lighting - CHF 150.
The fee for the Organist's should be agreed personally with the organist used.