Ministry
Ministry
Preparing for the Ceremony
About 8 weeks before the wedding the minister who is conducting the ceremony will get in touch with you and arrange a time for you to meet with her/him.
This is an opportunity to discuss the ceremony in more detail. It is also a time when any concerns you may have be mentioned. The minister is there to support you and will be someone you can contact in the future if you want someone to talk to.
Choosing your music will be something you do in consultation with Morris (the organist), but the minister will have a selection of hymns for you to consider - and you may have some ideas of your own too.
When you meet with the minister s/he will agree with you a suitable time and date for the wedding rehearsal. This is normally in the week before the wedding date. It is recommended that all those involved in the main bridal party should attend (including the ushers) if at all possible. This is an opportunity to 'walk through' the process of the ceremony so that you feel as relaxed as possible when it comes to the big day. The wedding rehearsal normally lasts no more than half an hour.
One of the best ways of finding out about the Abbey is to visit either during its opening hours or by attending one of the regular Sunday worship services (11.00am) which lasts about an hour.
Legal Requirements
The minister, Rev Jayne Scott or another Church of Scotland minister will conduct the ceremony.
Approximately 12 weeks before your wedding, one of our Co-ordinators will confirm with you the name of the Minister who will be conducting your marriage service. When you go to the Registrar you will need the name of the particular minister in order to have s/he name on the marriage schedule.
Also 12 weeks before, you will need to go to the Registrar to provide your details in order to register your intention to get married; additional you will have to provide the names and addresses of two witnesses who will sign the schedule on the day.
Marriage Schedule
In the week leading up to your wedding you will need to go to the Registrar's Office to collect the Marriage Schedule.
The wedding ceremony cannot go ahead unless you have the marriage Schedule.
When you come for the wedding rehearsal, please bring the Marriage Schedule and the order of Service with you and give it to the minister.
The Marriage Schedule is signing during the ceremony and the signed copy needs to be retuned to the Registrar within 3 days. Once the Registrar has received the signed schedule the marriage Certificate will be forwarded to you from the Registrar's Office to you home addresses.