1. A note from the officiating minister indicating his/her intention to perform the ceremony, the date and place of the ceremony.
2. Both parties should apply during normal working hours with a photo ID, if divorced, originals of the decree absolute. Residents /citizens (either one or both parties) are required to pay a fee of BDS $45.00 plus a BDS $10.00 stamp.
   In the case of neither party being a citizen or resident of Barbados a fee is required in the respect of BDS $200.00 cash and in addition a  BDS $25.00 stamp.
   
   The Marriage Licence MUST be produced to the minister BEFORE the date of the wedding.   

2.         WEDDING CEREMONY GUIDELINES

Our Order of Service for weddings is taken from the Book of Common Prayer for the Church in the Province of the West Indies. As such, we are not permitted to allow the participants to write their own vows. However, we try to be as flexible as possible within the frame work of the Marriage Service. In this regard, a ceremony may be as short as ten minutes or as long as one hour depending on a mutually agreed format.

Choices may include music, hymn singing, choir, sermon, nuptial mass, solos, Ceremony of the Unity Candle or none of the above.

The average traditional ceremony may have three hymns and a Psalm (which is sung) or four hymns and a Bible reading. Our suggested hymn selection is taken from the hymnal which we use, Hymns Ancient and Modern: Standard Edition, but we are willing to consider other suggestions which are appropriate and known to our organist and choir.

THE HYMNS
Here are the first lines of our hymn suggestions: -
Lead us Heavenly Father, lead us.
Be Thou my Guardian and my Guide
Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost.
The voice that breathed o’er Eden
How welcome was the call
Love Divine, all loves excelling
O perfect Love, all human thought transcending
O Father all creating.
Please note that there may be variations in lines and words and it would be best to have them carefully vetted before printing.

If you are unfamiliar with the above, you may find them on the internet at the following sites which may also share the music: http://www.cyberhymnal.com  or http://www.hymnsite.com/

THE PSALM
The Psalms are as follows:
23, 67, 128 and 150
(Psalms should be printed from a Psalter or from Hymns Ancient and Modern and NOT the Bible.

THE LESSON
A Bible lesson may be selected from one of the following:
Genesis 1:26-31
1 Corinthians 13: 1-13
John. 2:1-11

ORDER OF CEREMONY - (Sample)

Musical Preludes

Bridal Procession

Hymn 520: Love Divine All Loves Excelling

The Introduction

Reading of the Lesson:  1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Hymn 281: Lead Us Heavenly Father

The Marriage Ceremony – Exchange of Rings & Vows

Psalm 128

The Prayers

Ceremony of the Unity Candle

Signing of the Register

Interlude of music (Solo)

Presentation of the Couple

Recessional

A COPY OF THE ORDER OF SERVICE MUST BE PRESENTED TO THE MINISTER BEFORE PRINTING.

 N. B. It is expected that provision will be made for two counselling sessions of approximately one hour each (more if the need arises) and one rehearsal.

Canon De Vere Murrell