Ideas

Quite a lot of my couples already had children, and we wanted to have a resource that would help children think through the day and feel involved

The Pastoral Services Diary is an online administration tool to help you keep on top of tasks and dates relating to the occasional offices

I have used the following wedding blessing prayer at the reception of a civil wedding

I use the wedding candle after the proclamation and before the blessing of the marriage as a symbol of the two becoming one

If the couple already have children, involve them in one of the preparation sessions

Make a point of welcoming the children in your introduction before the entry of the bride

Every year our church organises a Valentines quiz on one of the weekends just before or after Valentines day itself

When a couple have older children I have invited them to stand during the service [just before the vows in the traditional ‘giving away’ spot] and slightly adapted the words provided in the notes to the Marriage Service in Common Worship

One good way in which you can keep in touch with people who you meet through the occasional offices is by sending a regular email newsletter

I take a photo of the couple when they have signed their banns application form.