Weddings at St John's

St John's is a popular venue for weddings because our

• City location
• Restored heritage church with centre aisle
• Fine pipe organ, Steinway piano, church bell in the tower
• Garden adjoining the church
• Ceremonial conduct of weddings
• Experience in performing weddings
  promise a perfect day.
  
  If you choose St John's for your wedding, we shall do all we can to make the day as you would want it. If you have any particular requests, please do not hesitate to discuss them with us .

The Setting

• The church and grounds underwent a major restoration several years ago. Most original features were kept intact and the colour scheme was keyed to the original. The result is a light and airy interior.

• Weddings are celebrated in front of the central altar, and the marriage register is signed at an adjacent table, in view of all present.

• At the side of the altar is a fine pipe organ, with a Steinway grand piano in the nave or body of the church. Of interest for weddings is the broad central aisle. Whilst the church does not look empty with smaller numbers, it can seat about 150 people comfortably. More can be accommodated with temporary seating.

• There are 23 pews, 12 on one side and 11 on the other.

• A feature of St John's is the lawn and garden area, framed on three sides by the church and the bluestone hall and priory, and with a circle of crepe myrtle trees.
  
  
• These provide a beautiful backdrop for your photos and for mingling with guests after the service with optional champagne and nibble).

Legal Requirements

Both Church and civil law have requirements which apply to all marriages:

The Commonwealth Marriage Act requires that:

• Both parties to the marriage must be at least 18 years old.

• You complete a Notice of Intended Marriage form and give it to the celebrant less than six months and more than one month before the wedding day . This is available from the celebrant or at
  http://www.ocba.sa.gov.au/bdm/marriages/requirements.html

• You supply to the celebrant copies of your birth certificates, or passports if you were born overseas.

• You sign a Declarations form, supplied by the celebrant, before the wedding day.

The Anglican Diocese of Adelaide requires that:

• Divorced persons who wish to remarry in the Church apply to the Archbishop for permission. We are happy to conduct marriages where one or both partners is divorced.

St John's Requirements

All are welcome. Normally the bride or groom lives within the parish or regularly worships at the church. We realise, however, that many people share a variety of links with St John's and welcome all who wish to be married here, regardless of denomination.

• Rehearsal. The bridal party should arrange to be available for a rehearsal of the marriage service several days before the marriage. The couple will be able to sign the Declarations form mentioned above at the same time.

The Wedding Package at St John's

The fee for the Wedding Package at St John's covers everything including:

• Our priest
• Our organist and use of the organ
• The verger to assist with the ceremony and ring the bell
• Flower arrangement for the church
• Use of the lawn and garden area for an hour

after the ceremony

• All legal requirements
• Cleaning the church

      Also:

• The fee is not subject to GST.

• Reductions are not made for choosing an alternative clergy, musician or florist.

• Cheques should be made out to Fr C Myers. (Sorry, we cannot take credit cards.) Fees are usually paid at the rehearsal.
  

Other Clergy

• We are also happy to host weddings celebrated by another clergy.  This person does not have to be Anglican.

• You will need to reimburse them yourself.

• The visiting clergyman should contact the Priest-in-Charge at least one month before the date of the marriage.

Marriage Preparation

Some form of marriage education is highly recommended for all couples. Courses usually cover aspects of the relationship which can build or undermine a healthy marriage, such as expectations for marriage, effective communication, conflict and resolution, intimacy, family values and keeping love alive.

• Anglicare SA (08 8305 9674) run Positive Choices, a program for couples who are about to get married.  Other counselling organisations offer similar programs, for one couple or in groups.

Music

• St John's is noted for its fine acoustics and has a renowned pipe organ, a chamber organ and a Steinway grand piano. Dr Greg Crawford, our organist, is available to play for your ceremony. Please contact him about six weeks before the wedding to discuss your music. He is happy to help you with your choice.

• The Director of Music must give permission to visiting musicians to play St John's piano or organ.

• While we consider that traditional music works best in our Church, you are free to choose your own style. However the church does not have a sophisticated sound system. If you choose electronic music, please consult our sound engineer, Mr Michael Cant to ensure compatibility.

• You are welcome to organise an additional instrumental or vocal soloist or group to perform during the ceremony. We can suggest names. The cost will be in addition to the Package.

Flowers and Pewbows

A large arrangement of white flowers is included in the Package.  This remains in the Church for the service on the following Sunday.  We can manage colours, but there may be a small extra charge.

• Our florist is Robyn May Flowers, Malvern.  Robyn will also organise your bouquet, posies and corsages if you wish.

• We can also hire and tie our own pewbows at a standard price.

Confetti

• Confetti may not be used inside or outside the Church. St John’s Church opens directly onto Halifax Street, and it is an offence under the Litter Act to throw confetti outside the Church.

• As an alternative fresh or dried rose petals, rice or bubbles are environmentally friendly and you are welcome to use them in the garden (but NOT inside the church building!)        

 Photography and Videorecording

• You are welcome to have a photographer and/or video photographer at your wedding. 

• Good professional photographers are able to record the service unobtrusively. We leave it to you to give clear instruction and/or to invite them to attend the rehearsal.

• We ask that if possible no additional lighting be used and that flash photography be kept to a minimum.

The Ceremony

At our weddings, the bride's arrival at the church is heralded by the verger ringing the bell in the entry porch in Halifax Street.

• The bridal procession, to the accompaniment of organ or other stirring music, moves down the central aisle to the altar.  Usually the bride and groom face each other in front of the priest, with the bridal party in a semicircle behind.  This way all participants are in full view of the family and guests.

• The priest begins the ceremony by welcoming everyone.  Hymns, readings and a prayer usually precede the consent of the couple to marry, followed by the exchange of their vows and rings.  The legal signing of the register is done at a table at the side of the altar, again in full view.  The priest gives his blessing and the newlyweds, followed by the bridal party, move down the aisle, again to music, through the other porch and out into the garden.

• The ceremony lasts about 35 minutes, depending on your choice of readings, hymns and other music. We usually follow the traditional Anglican service, but are open to variations.  You choose what hymns, songs, readings and additional music you include in the ceremony.  Some couples choose to have none!  We can help with suggestions, and also with orders of service. You are also welcome to write variations on the traditional vows if you wish.

• We feel that this is your wedding ceremony, rather than ours, and encourage your participation in its content and expression.

The Garden

• You are welcome to use our garden at no additional cost for approximately an hour after the service.
• This presents a stunning setting for formal and informal photos of the wedding party and guests against the background of our historic stone buildings.

Champagne Service

• Our Champagne Service for a further hour is an optional extra to the Wedding Package.  This is a special opportunity to relax and mingle after the ceremony. It is especially appreciated by families and guests who have come from interstate or overseas and have not previously met the Adelaide family.

• We provide tables set with a white cloth and decorated with flowers and a wedding bow, glasses, silver trays, ice containers, plus staff to set up, serve and clear up afterwards.

• You provide ice and the drinks  - champagne, orange juice without pith, beer, and spring water, and perhaps nibbles.

• Our Events Manager helps you choose types and quantities to suit the number of your guests, accounting for weather conditions.

• Drinks are delivered to the Priory before the rehearsal.
  

Wedding Times

• While Saturday afternoons are the most popular times, some couples prefer Sunday afternoons as being more relaxed.  Saturday morning weddings are another option, and we occasionally hold weddings during the week.  We do our best to accommodate you.

• We may have more than one wedding on the same day, but require an interval of two hours between, to avoid any possibility of overlap. 

• However, we do ask brides to try and be on time.  Late arrivals give rise to anxiety and church staff may have other commitments.

Booking Confirmation

• We hold temporary telephone bookings for one month.

• On the return of your booking form, we send you a letter of confirmation and suggest a rehearsal time.

Interview

• Please contact the Priest-in-Charge, Father Christopher Myers, six weeks before your wedding to complete the Notice of Intended Marriage form and to finalise details.

Reminder

• Please designate one member of the wedding party or guest to check that any items you have brought to the church are removed afterwards, on the day of the ceremony.   These may include pew bows, orders of service and baskets, as well as any unused drinks, food, drinks, trays, etc.

• While we make every effort to ensure that these are put aside, we cannot guarantee their safety.