We would be delighted to talk with you about celebrating your marriage at Wesley Uniting Church. Wesley is a beautiful, historic church with a wonderful pipe organ and capacity for seating more than 250 people.
A wedding at Wesley is a service of Christian worship, conducted by a minister associated with Wesley Church, following the rites of the Uniting Church in Australia. Wesley Church is accepting of all couples, regardless of sexual orientation, religious beliefs or previous marital status.
Ministers
A minister associated with Wesley Church will be assigned to preside at your marriage service, which will be conducted according to the rites of the Uniting Church in Australia.
Requests for participation by a visiting Uniting Church minister will be at the discretion of the Ministers of Wesley Church, and considered on an individual basis.
We respectfully advise that Ministers from other denominations will not be able to conduct weddings at Wesley Church, but may be able to participate in an aspect of the service in negotiation with the assigned Minister.
Making the Arrangements
To enquire about being married at Wesley, please follow the link below and fill out our wedding enquiry form. We will get back to you within two working days.
Church members please enquire directly with the church office.
After we receive your enquiry, we will check whether the Church is available on your desired date and get in contact with you. The Minister will then make an appointment to meet with you. The date and time requested for the marriage service remain provisional until the Minister has met with you and a deposit of $350 is received.
Deposit
A non-refundable deposit of $350 is required to confirm the date of the marriage service, collected after the first meeting with the Minister.
The balance payment is required one month before the service.
Please note that cancelling within two weeks of a wedding will incur full cost, apart from church hire which can be refunded on request.
Meeting with the Minister
The Minister will meet with you three times, not including the day of the marriage service itself.
First meeting: take down details, discuss options, address initial questions, and sign the Notice of Intention between eighteen months and one month before the proposed day.
The Minister will need to see:
Proof of date and place of birth
- A full Australian Birth Certificate (not an Extract) if you were born in Australia.
- If you were born overseas and have become an Australian citizen, your birth certificate from that country.
- If you were born overseas and are still a citizen of the country where you were born, your passport is sufficient evidence.
Proof of Identification
The government requires us to see one of the below forms of identification.
- a driver’s licence
- a proof of age/ photo card
- a passport
- an Australian citizenship certificate along with photographic evidence, and
- if you have been married before, a copy of the Decree of the Divorce or Dissolution of the Marriage; or the Death Certificate (as appropriate).
We will begin discussing the service itself.
Second meeting: We will focus on your hopes for your marriage.
Wesley Church does not offer a full program of marriage guidance counselling. However, the Minister will discuss with you why you believe you are right for each other, and how you plan to address any challenges that may arise.
We will also finalise the marriage service itself.
Third meeting: A rehearsal in the Church, involving all people with tasks if possible, in the last few days before the marriage service.
Music
Wesley has a long tradition of fine music for its services. The Director of Music, Mr Geoffrey Urquhart, is an excellent musician and can accommodate most music requests.
The music chosen for the marriage service should reflect both the joy of the occasion, its Christian meaning, and the venue in which it takes place. We can suggest a range of suitable music.
The pipe organ and a grand piano are available for use during services. The organ dates from 1842. It is older than the Church building, which was opened in 1858.
When selecting music for your marriage service, please bear in mind copyright laws.
Flowers
The cost of flowers for the church is included in the comprehensive fee. Flower arrangements are provided by Evan’s Florist on Exhibition Street.
Some Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I hire the church building as a venue for my wedding?
The Church is not for hire, as such. In requesting to be married at Wesley Church, couples are not ‘booking a venue’, but rather seeking a wedding in the context of a Christian worship service.
Could our Minister from another church conduct the marriage service?
A Minister of Wesley Church will preside at your marriage service, according to the rites of the Uniting Church in Australia.
Any requests for participation by a visiting Uniting Church minister will be at the discretion of the Ministers of Wesley Church, and dealt with on an individual basis.
We respectfully advise that Ministers from other denominations will not be able to conduct weddings at Wesley Church, but may be able to participate in an aspect of the service in negotiation with the assigned Minister.
What is the minimum period of notice?
Generally at least three months. While the law requires at least one month’s notice, three months is the least to allow adequate time for the various arrangements and meetings that need to happen to make your marriage service a great occasion.
Could we have a marriage service on a Sunday?
No, because there are four services in the church every Sunday.
Can we be married in the Church if we are not baptised?
Yes, you can. The Uniting Church does not require baptism before a marriage service can happen in the Church.
Can we be married in the Church if we are divorced?
Yes, you can. The Minister will still want to discuss why you believe you are right for each other, as with any other couple.
How many people can the Church seat?
The downstairs seating capacity is about 250 people. If needed, there is more seating in the upstairs gallery.
Can we serve refreshments in the Church after the service?
Refreshments cannot be served in the Church, however, if you would like a venue near to the Church, please reach out to info@reedhousemelbourne.com (located in the historic manse next to the Church).