Marriage banns are a traditional announcement of intent to marry, read in many Christian churches. They may be used instead of a marriage license and must be read three times before the wedding. They indicate formal approval of the marriage by the church and have been used to prevent illegal marriages. Some consider them restrictive, but others see them as an important step in the rite of passage of marriage. Non-church couples may also need to have them read out if they wish to marry in a specific parish or cathedral church.
Marriage banns, also called banns of marriage, serve as a formal announcement of intent to marry. By tradition, they are called to many Christian churches, including those administered by the Church of England and Roman Catholic churches. Depending on the country, the publications may be used in lieu of a marriage license, a loophole exploited by some same-sex couples, and many churches require them to be read before entering into a marriage. This practice is rooted in centuries of Christian tradition and, for many devoted couples, is an important part of the wedding process.
To be considered valid, the marriage banns must be read or pronounced during the liturgical services on the three Sundays preceding the wedding in the parish church of the spouses. If the wedding is held outside the parish of the bride and groom, they must also be read in that church. The publications are considered valid for three months from the last reading. Typically, they state the name and parish of both bride and groom, and indicate that persons with objections to the marriage should make those objections known prior to the wedding day. The church official who calls the publications will also indicate how many times they have been read.
In the early church, marriage between members had to be approved by both the parents of the prospective couple and by the church itself. The publications indicated formal approval of the marriage by the church. They have also been used to root out illegal marriages, such as those between people who are too closely related or already married. The practice of reading the publications in all relevant parishes ensured that anyone objecting to the marriage would have ample opportunity to do so before the actual wedding day.
In general, marrying without calling the banns makes a marriage illicit, but not invalid. Some sects have considered eliminating marriage banns in an effort to encourage couples to marry in church, as modern couples sometimes find banns restrictive. Others see them as an important step in the rite of passage that marriage represents and insist that the publications be read before couples marry. Non-church couples wishing to be married in a specific parish or cathedral church may be required to have these read out, so the couple should ensure they inquire about this when planning their wedding.
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