Marriage Information
Marriage
Thinking of Getting Married at Our Lady and St John The Baptist in Ellon?
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If you have lived within the boundaries Our Lady and St John The Baptist Parish for at least six months and you are planning to get married, you need to contact the Parish Priest first no matter the location you are intending to get married. It is important to contact the parish priest before you confirm any other wedding plans, including booking a venue for the reception.
A minimum period of SIX MONTHS notice is required by the Church to allow for preparation of the documents required, arranging marriage preparation course, and planning the ceremony with you. If you and your partner are residing in different countries a longer period of notice may be required.
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If you are getting married outside Scotland you still need needs to contact your local priest parish in Scotland.
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As a matter of legal requirement it is important to contact the civil Registrar too.
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If you are a Catholic then you will need the following:
A NEW BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE from the parish where you were baptised (issued within the last 6 months preceding the date of your proposed marriage and must not be a copy or scan). The certificate should include details of your confirmation and any previous marriage (if you have not been married before then the certificate should state that there is no record of a previous marriage). This will not be an issue for any parish priest as such a request is routine.
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A LETTER OF FREEDOM stating that you have not been married before (Letter must not have been dated longer than 6 months preceding the date of your proposed marriage and must not be a copy or scan). This document should be such as would stand up to scrutiny in a court of law. It ought to be provided by a priest/parents.
If you have been married before, please kindly speak to the parish priest and ask about the possibility of an annulment.
A COPY OF YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT. (The information page)
A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION OF MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE.
If you are not a Catholic and you are getting married to someone who is a Catholic, then you will need the following:
If you have been baptised/christened:
A BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE (the original is sufficient) or YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE with the details of your baptism on the reverse side from the time of the event (If you are not baptised, please speak to the priest).
A LETTER OF FREEDOM as indicated above. This ought to be provided by a person of equivalent legal standing or your parents.
A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT.
All of these documents need to be obtained within six months of your of the date of your proposed marriage.
when you have obtained all the above documents, please contact the parish priest of Our Lady and St John The Baptist, Ellon to arrange a marriage preparation course for you.
Donations for Marriage and Documentation at Our Lady and St John The Baptist, Ellon.
The minimum donation for the church for a marriage preparation course is £50.
The minimum donation for sending your marriage documents to any location outside the diocese of Aberdeen is £10.
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The minimum donation for the officiating priest at the wedding is £100.
The minimum donation for the use of the Our Lady and St John The Baptist Parish Church for wedding is £100 (if you are a regular member of the parish, you are not expected to make the donation, but you can give an offering if you so wish.)