Your wedding day is among the most important and momentous in your life. It is worthy of a community of support, and the blessing of God and the church. At Christ Church Cathedral, we welcome people of every culture, sexual orientation and gender identity to participate fully in that blessing. While we have a beautiful facility, we are not primarily a venue — we are a house of worship and community. Cathedral staff guide the preparations for wedding ceremonies, and support couples in preparing for a ceremony that will begin your marriage. Our staff team includes:
- A priest, who will officiate your ceremony, and meet with you over a period of months for pre-marital counselling and reflection on the wedding rite. All marriages in the cathedral are officiated by clergy designated by the cathedral leadership, and all pre-marital counseling takes place under the auspices of the cathedral.
- A music professional who will advise you in choosing music that adds to your wedding day.
- An administrator, who attends to many of the logistics attached to your ceremony, including receiving your marriage license and preparing the printed order of service.
- On your wedding day a verger, who, in addition to the priest and musician, will ensure a smooth and beautiful execution of the ceremony in the cathedral.
If you are gathering preliminary information, please call 250.383.2714 or e-mail admin@christchurchcathedral.bc.ca to inquire about pricing or schedule a walk-through of the space. If you are closer to choosing to marry at Christ Church Cathedral, continue reading about our customs and requirements, and complete the application below.
Requirements
The wedding must be scheduled at minimum 60 days in advance, and it is often helpful to have more time to ensure availability and thorough preparation.
The wedding rite is based in The Book of Alternative Services, and we draw on our local best practices to carry out the rite in the cathedral space. The couple may choose processional and service music and readings from among recommended options, with the guidance of music and clergy staff.
Preparation includes pre-marital counselling, and separately, reflection on the service with officiating clergy. This is often 4-5 meetings in total. Marriage in the Anglican Church of Canada, of which we are a part, requires at least one member of the couple to be baptized. We recognize the baptisms administered in most Christian traditions. If you are not yet baptized, we offer an annual series in the spring. Learn more on our baptism page.