Hi Jo,Marriage banns are announced in church two or three Sundays prior to the marriage.What it is is that the names of the prospective bride and groom are read aloud informing the congregation that they will be marrying.� This way, if someone knows of any reason why they should't be married, they can speak up.� Notes are sometimes made in the church books as to when the banns were announced.� Today, many times it will be written in the service leaflet that is given out.� Once they are announced they are considered published.Bobbi