Please make contact with the Rector before dates are finalised with reception venues, to ensure that the celebrant and the building are available on your chosen date.

Traditional or modern? A copy of the 2002 Wedding Rite of the Scottish Episcopal Church can be found here . Read through the service carefully. It can look confusing at first, but it has been designed so that you have several choices you can make on the style of the service which will affect how the service feels. This is to help your day be as fitting for you as possible, to reflect how you feel and how you hope your relationship will continue

How do you wish to enter the church? Although it is traditional for the groom to await the bride at the front of the church, and for the bride to be escorted down the aisle by a (usually) male escort, this is not the only way. Some couples decide to enter the church together, as a sign of the continuity of their relationship, offering mutual support on this special but, for many, tense occasion.

Orders of Service This wedding service is more interactive than in previous years, so friends and family can pledge their support for the couple verbally. Various portions of text will need to be printed on your order of service alongside hymns, making it slightly longer than on previous occasions.

Readings A choice of readings is provided, grouped by theme. When choosing the readings think about what is important for you and for you relationship.  For example, is it a shared sense of faith, or the idea of journeying together, or the hope for lifelong companionship? Read the corresponding passages and choose one or two readings which you feel are most appropriate. Feel free to discuss this further with the Rector. Alternative readings to those listed can be used at the Rector's discretion

Prayers A time of prayer for the couple is included in the marriage service in the form or a litany, a set of phrases and responses, including the whole congregation in the prayers for the newlyweds. Two forms of the prayers are usually used either the long form or the short form. The third form is only used if communion is being administered at the service.

Music You may already have music in mind for entering/leaving the church. In choosing hymns, again, the words need to be read carefully: the wording of some hymns is not suitable for a wedding. If many of those attending the wedding are non-churchgoers, it is wise to pick hymns that have familiar, easy tunes. You can discuss this with the Rector or church organist

Flowers You may already have a florist in mind - a good wedding florist will take time to meet with you (possibly at the church) to discuss your exact requirements and explore the layout of the building, and also chat to the Rector to check what would be appropriate, and the availablity of pedestals etc. Alternatively, All Saints has experienced flower arrangers who will happily meet with you to discuss arrangements and costs. (Sample photos here.) Please contact us for further information

Wedding Schedule. About 2 months before the date of your wedding, you need to make an appointment with the Registrar to be given a form entitled Marriage in Scotland and an application form for a wedding schedule. It can also be downloaded here.  This has to be returned to the registrar with payment between 4-6 weeks prior to the wedding. The schedule is the legal document that must be signed by bride and groom, the Priest and the witnesses during the service. It is a good idea to nominate someone to return the schedule to the registrar for you after the wedding within 3 working days of the event.