There are some requirements for being married at the Cathedral. These are set by the Dean and Chapter (the governing body of the Cathedral) in accordance with the guidelines of the Anglican Church of Australia and the Commonwealth of Australia:

• The bride and/or the groom is a baptised Christian and preferably a member of the Anglican Church. Both are encouraged to become regular worshippers.
• The Archbishop’s permission is required if the bride or groom has previously been divorced. This permission is preferably sought by the priest in the parish where the bride or groom resides or worships, or otherwise by the Cathedral clergy.
• There are restrictions on the availability of the Cathedral for weddings on Sundays and special days in the Church calendar. In particular, no marriage may be celebrated throughout Holy Week from Palm Sunday to Easter Day inclusive, but weddings are permitted on Saturdays and weekdays during Lent.
• Weddings may only be conducted by licensed Anglican clergy. Ministers of other denominations may assist at the wedding at the discretion of the officiating priest.
• The Anglican Order of Service must be used, although there are variations within the service that allow couples to make it personal to their wedding. The priest officiating at your wedding will be happy to advise you on your options.
• While it is advisable to book the Cathedral as soon as you begin making plans, the legal notice of intended marriage must be given to the celebrant of your wedding more than one month and not more than eighteen months before the ceremony.
• The attire of the wedding party must be consistent with the solemnity and dignity of the occasion.

In addition to these requirements, all couples are encouraged to participate in marriage preparation with a member of the Cathedral staff, or through other relationship counselling organisations.

This may involve completing an inventory/questionnaire, attending group information sessions, or receiving individual counselling. Cathedral clergy can help you choose the most appropriate form of marriage preparation for your needs.

The Cathedral uses the Prepare-Enrich materials for marriage preparation. More details are available from the Prepare-Enrich (Australia) website: www.prepare-enrich.com.au

Download the order of service (50.50 Kb)

Some suggested Bible readings for weddings (537.40 Kb)