Weddings
Photo by Robin + Andie
Any one of our six historic churches in Akaroa and the Bays would be a beautiful venue for your marriage. We are delighted when any couple wishes to pledge their love, trust, and fidelity to each other before God and in the presence of their friends and family.
As part of the hospitality of our parish it is possible for ordained ministers / pastors of other Christian faiths to officiate. However, we will require a letter from the governing body of the denomination that verifies that the minister is in good standing with their denomination. The Vicar will need to meet with the officiating minister and a copy of the service to be used must be available. We understand the value of using one’s own pastor/minister.
The dedicated Register of each church must be used to record the marriage. This is not to be removed from the church.
Civil marriage celebrants are not permitted to preside in any church in the Christchurch Diocese or Alpine Presbytery.
To help you begin to think about your ceremony we offer A New Zealand Prayer Book which contains three versions of the marriage service. All three services can be adapted if you wish and you can mix and match sections from each as you prefer. If you choose to write your own service, the prayer book services are a useful outline for what needs to be in it.
This is your day and we are here to help you along the way. To discuss any of these details, please use the Contact page on this website.
Fees and Booking
COMBINED PARISH OF AKAROA BANKS PENINSULA
SCHEDULE OF WEDDING FEES
1. Required fees
Standard wedding fee | $600 |
Deposit required $120 |
|
2. Optional fees
Organist fee $100.Organ fee $50. Total $150 | $150 |
Organ fee only (if you supply your own approved organist) | $50 |
Flowers, standard service | $150 |
Arrangement only (you supply the flowers) | $50 |
Use of St Peter’s Hall for reception | $150 |
We recommend you confirm your booking as soon as possible because there can often be several requests for the same day and time. A non-refundable and non-transferable deposit of $120 will confirm the date and time of your booking. The remaining outstanding balance is due to be paid 7 days before the wedding day.
In the event of financial hardship please contact our Vicar.
Dates
We do not conduct wedding ceremonies during Holy Week (the week before Easter), the week before Christmas or
on public holidays.
Seating
St Peter’s and Trinity Churches hold about 120 people each. The Bay’s Churches hold quite a lot fewer. You should check that the seating capacity is suitable before making a booking.
Music
- You are welcome to have your own singers, musicians. Visiting musicians may need to bring their own sound system.
If you would like to use our Bechstein grand piano there is a fee of $145. - Our sound system can play music from a CD or most other electronic devices (no USB drives, please). If you need to use our sound system to play recorded music, you should check some days beforehand that your device is compatible, and can be plugged into the system
- If you choose to have pre-recorded music playing during the Signing of the Register, please allow 8 minutes of playing time.
- Nevertheless, nothing is as enjoyable as live music.
Decoration
For the fee shown above, we provide two flower arrangements.
You may bring in additional flowers. You are also welcome to bring in your own ribbons or flowers to tie to the ends of the pews (please do not tape, glue or pin to the wood).
We do not allow confetti (paper bombs etc) of any type inside or outside the church.
Fresh or dried rose petals are an acceptable alternative for confetti. Rice may be used outside the church.
Helium balloons and artificial petals may not be used inside the church.
Please arrange for any decoration (including petals), boxes, discarded material including hymn sheets to be removed at the end of the ceremony. Thank you.
Photography
All photographers and video camera operators must speak to the officiating minister before the service. This is a courtesy to both the minister and the bridal party. Guests are very welcome to take photos. As a further courtesy to the photographers, please let your guests know not to post any photos on social media until the official photos are released.
Refreshments
If you would like to conclude your ceremony with refreshments you may use the church lounge (maximum capacity is 35). Alcohol is acceptable in the lounge only. NB The church may not be used as an extension of the lounge.
Church assistant
Subject to availability, a member of the church congregation will attend your rehearsal, open the church, arrange and light the candles, take care of the sound system, and generally ensure your special day proceeds as smoothly as possible.
Marriage Licence
You will need to apply to the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages (https://marriages.services.govt.nz) for a marriage licence around four weeks before your wedding day. The licence is valid for three months, and it takes three days to be prepared. If you have previously been married, you will need to show the Registrar the legal papers relating to the dissolution of that marriage.
To complete an on-line form choose Type of Ceremony: Personalised ceremony
You will need to have these details before you start:
- full address of the ceremony location . Please see the Contact Page for the address of each Akaroa and Bays church: ie Trinity, St Peter’s, Little Akaloa, Le Bons Bay, Pigeon Bay, Duvauchelle
- the name of the minister you have arranged
- personal details of you and your partner
Please note that we cannot conduct a legal marriage without a licence. It is your responsibility to ensure that the licence is completed correctly and delivered (in hard copy) to the vicar (please see Contact Page) on your rehearsal day or earlier so that the church’s register can be completed.
To discuss a wedding in any of the churches in the parish, please contact us using the Contact page of this website.