Weddings

Weddings

A small number of weddings take place at St Paul’s each year – find out if you and your partner would be eligible to join us. 

Each year, around thirty couples make their marriage vows at St Paul’s, with weddings taking place on Saturdays in January and February, and from April to October.  

Marriages are conducted according to the rites of the Church of England – usually in the Chapel of the Order of the British Empire located in the Crypt.

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Who can get married at St Paul’s?


 

As St Paul’s is not a parish church, there are conditions on who can be married here and all weddings require the granting of a Special Licence of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

We are able to marry members of:

  • the Order of the British Empire, and their children
  • the Order of St Michael and St George, and their children
  • the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor, and their children
  • the Cathedral Community (staff and volunteers, including Cathedral School, subject to length of service), and their children.

We are also able to marry those who hold a British Empire Medal, and their children. 

I am divorced. Can I get married again?

We understand without judgement that marriages can end for all sorts of reasons. If you have been married before, you are welcome to apply to marry here. You and your partner will need to have an open and honest conversation with one of our clergy about your previous marriage, and there are some legal processes to work through, but we are committed to helping you move forward.

I am in a same-sex relationship. Can I get married at St Paul’s?

Unfortunately, the Church of England is currently prohibited by law from conducting weddings of couples of the same sex.

Do I have to be a Christian to get married at St Paul’s?

It is not a requirement that you are baptised or a regular churchgoer in order to get married at St Paul’s. However, the service will be conducted according to the rites of the Church of England, and you will be making promises in the sight of God and taking part in prayers of a Christian nature. Couples are always warmly welcome to attend services at St Paul’s, or their local church. It is not possible to have a service of another faith or Christian denomination at the Cathedral.

How long is the waiting list?

Currently, there is a high demand for weddings. Following an initial enquiry, it can take between 2-3 years for a wedding to take place at St Paul’s. Normally, dates for weddings are booked in the spring of the preceding year. Dates are offered on a first-come-first-served basis and there is no precedence favouring any particular order or award.

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Can I have my wedding reception at the Cathedral?

Yes – St Paul’s Cathedral is also an events venue, and our event spaces can be transformed for private hospitality following marriage ceremonies. We work with some of London's most prestigious caterers, florists, lighting and production companies to offer a bespoke service and great attention to detail. 

For information on reception costs, event caterers, florists, availability and anything else, please do not hesitate to contact our Events Manager, Nicholas Salmon, at nsalmon@stpaulscathedral.org.uk or on 020 7246 8346.

How do I enquire?

Please complete our online application form. We will aim to respond to your application within two weeks – though this may be slightly longer in busy periods. 

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