About a Church Wedding

Congratulations!

Let us take this opportunity to congratulate you on your engagement, pending wedding ceremony, and the incredibly enriching and ongoing process of “Becoming Married.”

We are pleased to be a part of the “newness” continually created and offered by God. This booklet has been designed especially for you! Please take a few moments to read over carefully all it contains. Don’t hesitate to call or email us with any questions about scheduling procedures, available staff and space, or anything we have to offer that will make your ceremony precede as smoothly as possible.

About a Church Wedding

The wedding ceremony in a church is a service of worship. The people who gather do so to worship God and, in the process, to give witness to marriage.

Christian marriage finds its unique meaning in the fact that it is patterned after the covenant relationship which God has established with the church. God has promised to love the church in joy and in sorrow, in plenty and in want, in sickness and in health. In Christian marriage you will promise before God to do the same for one another.

Marriage ceremonies may be held during the regular Sunday worship service or at a special service at another time. Regardless of when you decide to schedule it, we ask that, as you plan, you think of this time as a worship service directed toward God.

General Information

Our church is available to all members. Normally, the sanctuary is not available for use by non-members. However, a non-member may request special consideration by contacting our church office. Our Pastor, the worship committee, and the Session will review your request.

Reservations for Membersare accepted within one year from the day of the wedding. Non-member reservations, if approved, will be accepted no earlier than six months from the date of the wedding. Upon receipt of a refundable deposit of $200, the reservation will be placed on the church's calendar.

In addition to the refundable $200.00 reservation/damage fee, a non-refundable $400Building Feewill charged to non-members. This fee covers use of the sanctuary and two classrooms in the Family Life Center for the bridal party, the Church Wedding Liaison Fee and the Sexton (custodial) Fee. It is due at the time of your reservation. (See Fee Schedule Insert)

We believe that couples preparing for marriage should be provided every possible opportunity to prepare themselves for their forthcoming marriage. Therefore, you are required to participate in marriage counseling sessions with our pastor. Please contact the Pastor, by calling the church office (502-241-4326) as soon as you have been notified that the marriage ceremony and date have been approved.

It is the normal practice that the Pastor of this church conducts the wedding ceremony. If you have a minister whom you would like to be part of the service, please discuss this with our Pastor. If you want a minister other than our Pastor to conduct the service, our Pastor will contact your minister and invite him or her to conduct the service. A guest minister must be approved by our Pastor.

Our Sanctuary has a piano and a Johannus-Pilcher organ, with 68 ranks, 55 voices and 4divisions. Two matching candelabrum are available for use.The communion table must remain in its normal position in the sanctuary with the cross and candles in their normal positions. You may add flowers and/or a unity candle to the table with a protective covering under them.

The Wedding Rehearsal

Please inform the Pastor and the Church Wedding Liaison of the beginning time of the rehearsal. The church will be unlocked and ready at that time. Since the church must be locked after the rehearsal, please be

advised that only an hour is allotted for the rehearsal. Make sure all of your attendants are on time. We also ask that people attending the rehearsal dress appropriately. Beverages and food are NEVERallowed in the sanctuary at any time, except for communion.

Church Wedding Liaison

The Church Wedding Liaison will provide the following services:

•Contact the bride and groom to schedule the wedding and answer questions.

•Provide the wedding planner (if there is one) with a copy of the Wedding Guidelines.

•Arrive and unlock the Church 15 minutes before the scheduled rehearsal time, and lock the Church after the completion of the rehearsal.

•Provide advice regarding protocol.

•Be present before and after the wedding, unlocking and locking all doors.

•Provide assistance to the presiding Minister and the wedding party.

Reception

Receptions may be held in the Family Life Center gym. If a reception is desired, arrangements must be made by contacting the church office. There are additional Fees for use of the Reception areas. Please

see the fee schedule for amounts. Also, please note: No alcoholic beverages or smoking are allowed on the church's property.

Music

Music is a very important part of a wedding and MUST be appropriate for a church setting. Our organ must be played by our church's organist. His services may be obtained by calling the church office for his contact information. His fee is $500.00 which includes a one-hour consultation, one-hour rehearsal and the wedding. A guest pianist may play for your ceremony.

Photography

Pictures are an important part of the wedding. However, we consider the wedding a worship service; therefore, NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHS OR VIDEOTAPING REQUIRING A FLASH OR SPECIAL LIGHTING MAY BE USED DURING THE CEREMONY. Flash pictures of the wedding party may be taken in the sanctuary prior to, or after, the ceremony. Out of respect for the reverence of the worship service, the photographer and videographer must remain unobtrusive during the ceremony. Please inform them of these policies when they are hired.

Marriage License

You must have a marriage license BEFORE the ceremony can be performed. It is your responsibility to deliver the license to the minister at the rehearsal

Wedding Bulletin or Program

Many brides and grooms choose to have a wedding bulletin or printed order of worship for their wedding service. This helps the congregation participate in the service by providing either words or identifying numbers in the hymnal for hymns, prayers, or responsive readings. It can identify by name all of the participants in the ceremony. It also becomes a remembrance of this special worship service for all of the guests. If the bride and groom desire a program, they are responsible for the preparation, printing and distribution of the wedding bulletin.

Important Do's and Do Not's

•No rice or confetti may be used on the premises. Birdseed may be used inthe parking area only. Please remember we must have the sanctuary andgrounds ready for worship following your wedding.

•Alcoholic beverages or smoking are not allowed on church property.

•During the Advent (Christmas) and Lenten (Easter) seasons, Christian decorations may not be removed.

•No Wedding may be held at the church during Lent (Palm Sunday through Easter).

•No decorations may be hung or suspended from the walls, lighting fixtures orthe pipes of the organ. Do not use thumbtacks, nails, screws, or tape of any.kind on any furniture or in any part of the building.

•Any candles, including Unity Candles, must be dripless, with a protectivecover beneath.

•All decorations must be removed immediately after the wedding. Any flowersor greenery not removed immediately will be discarded.

•If flowers or decorations are placed on the communion table, you must use aprotector. If you would like to leave a flower arrangement for the followingWorship Service, please let the Church Wedding Liaison know in advance.

•Please note the church does not assume responsibility for any clothing orpersonal items of the bridal party or guests which may be lost, stolen, ordamaged. All personal items must be removed from the Sanctuary andFamily Life Center immediately after the wedding. Please assign someone to attend to this task.

•Our Sanctuary is 150+ years old. Please be careful of furnishings and the floors. You will be responsible for any damage to the sanctuary or the Family LifeCenter and your deposit will be withheld if deemed necessary.

Service of Christian Marriage – Order of Worship

Prelude

Processional

Statement of Purpose

Prayer

Declaration of Intent

Optional Music

Exchange of Vows

Exchange of Ring(s)

Prayer of Blessing and the Lord’s Prayer

Pronouncement of Marriage

Benediction

Recessional

Postlude

CHURCH STAFF(for wedding needs)

Telephone: 502-241-4326

Reverend Joel WeiblePastor

Extension 111

Mrs. Marie FleddermanBookkeeper

Extension 112

Mr. Matt KillionChurch Organist/Accompanist

Worship TeamChurch Wedding Liaison

Mr. Toby Magruder Church Custodian

Fee Schedule, at a Glance

BUILDING FEES:

MemberNon-Member

Refundable Deposit:($200.00)($200.00)

**Refunded after the wedding if no damages are assessed. Cancellation of the wedding with less than two weeksnotice will result in forfeiture of the deposit.

Building Usage Fee$150.00 (Liaison and Sexton Fee)$400.00

**Includes: Sanctuary and Two rooms in the FLC for Wedding Partiesfor two hours prior to and including the wedding ceremony($250); Church Wedding Liaison fee ($75), and; Sexton (Custodian) fee ($75)

ADDITIONAL FEES (For member or non-member):

Organist (Consult with Organist)$500.00$500.00

Pastor*An honorarium is suggested

Receptionin Family Life Center*Call Church Office for Building Usage Rates

Additional Sexton Fee$25 / hour

About a Church Wedding

About a Church Wedding

Receptions may be held in the Family Life Center gym. If a reception is desired, arrangements must be made by contacting the church office. There are additional Fees for use of the Reception areas. Please

You must have a marriage license BEFORE the ceremony can be performed. It is your responsibility to deliver the license to the minister at the rehearsal

Wedding Bulletin or Program

Suggested Scripture Readings

CHURCH STAFF(for wedding needs)