Marriage
““This is my commandment: ‘Love one another, as I have loved you.’””
Marriage is the beautiful sacrament by which the spouses join themselves for life to the other in an unbreakable bond of love. As you plan for marriage, in the first instance you should contact your local parish to discuss the requirements for your marriage in the Catholic Church. If you don’t know your local parish the Cathedral Office can help with that information. Email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk with your name, postal address and location of your wedding.
To help you prepare for this wonderful sacrament, the Cathedral offers a marriage preparation course which seeks to explore the beauty of the Church’s teaching on marriage and sexuality, in order that the couple might more fully give of themselves to each other in marriage, after the example of self-giving love of Christ on the Cross.
Please make sure to contact the Parish Office at least six months prior to your proposed date of marriage to give sufficient time to complete the marriage preparation and the pre-nuptial paperwork.
Couples who live outside of the Parish but would like to get married in the Cathedral are welcome to do so, depending upon availability of the Cathedral. Please contact the Parish Office for more information.
COSTS
Church: There is no charge to receive the Sacraments. However, for those who are not parishioners of the Cathedral and St. Andrew’s, Ravelston, we ask that to offset the running costs of the Cathedral and St. Andrew’s, Ravelston, borne by its parishioners, a donation of £100 is made before the wedding at either church. If you are a UK tax payer, you may consider gift-aiding this donation.
Celebrant: It is also customary to give an offering for the Priest or Deacon who celebrates the wedding, the suggested figure is £100.
Organist: If you would like the Cathedral Organist to play at your wedding, please e- mail him directly: organist@stmaryscathedral.co.uk and he will be able to confirm his availability and fee with you.
If you wish to be married at the Cathedral, please call the Cathedral Office on 0131 556 1798 from 9.00am to 3.00pm, Monday to Friday.
Resources:
More Information About Getting Married in the Cathedral or Ravelston (pdf)