Arranging for…  Weddings

This information will provide some guidance to ensure that your wedding will be a unique and beautiful event and a source of many joyous memories.

In Preparation

1. You should reserve the use of the Church Sanctuary with the Secretary for your wedding date as soon as possible.


2. Once you have scheduled your wedding date, the Minister will contact you and arrange an appointment with you to discuss the wedding details and your marriage.


3. Pre-marital counselling is available from three separate sources and this should be discussed at the first meeting.

Music for the Wedding Service

As soon as possible, prior to the wedding, you should contact the Director of Music and Organist, Mr. Roger Brown, through the office to discuss your choice of music. You also have the option of using a soloist and this should be discussed with the organist. If you wish to employ another organist, other than the present church organist, you must have approval of the organist and the minister. The church has purchased an expensive new Allen organ and it is important that the new organ be properly taken care of.

Music Choices

The present Director of Music will be happy to discuss your choices of music for your wedding. Usually, a selection is needed for:

1. The Prelude
2. The Entrance of the Bridal Party
3. The Signing of the Register
4. The Exit of the Bridal Party

A soloist may sing before the ceremony begins, just after the entrance, just after or before the vows and during the signing of the register.

Music selected for your wedding should be appropriate. Pop selections are usually better done at your reception. The minister and organist will be happy to help you make the appropriate selections for your wedding.

Decorations

1. Flowers: We are very proud of our beautiful church sanctuary and we are always pleased to see it decorated tastefully. Flowers, ribbons, and candles are all acceptable. We should caution you that if there is a wedding before yours, there may be only about 30 minutes in which to set up the decorations. Usually this is not a problem.
2. Candles: For use in candelabras, candles should be supplied by those who are decorating - i.e. the florist. Please ensure that there is some form of protection from dripping wax under all candles.
3. Pews: When placing ribbons or any other material on the pews, we ask that you please not use thumb tacks, masking tape, etc. Please use string, elastic bands, or ribbon mounts to fasten them over the pew ends.
4. Confetti: Because of environmental concerns we would ask you to advise your guests that confetti not be used.

Rehearsal

At your first meeting with the minister, you will schedule a wedding rehearsal. This is done to ensure all the details are in place and that all those involved are comfortable with what they need to do. It is important that you and your guests are on time, since there are many people involved taking time from their busy schedules to make your day special.

The wedding party and the bride’s parents should attend the wedding rehearsal. (While it may not seem essential, but it important for the the groom’s parents to also attend).

Bring to the Rehearsal

1. The wedding licence.
2. Any decorations which need to be placed.

Wedding Costs

• Use of Church Sanctuary $250


• Caretaker $65


• Organist $125


• Organist if rehearsal with soloist required $175


• Minister $200

During the Service

Although you will spend a great deal of time and money on flowers, gowns and the reception, your marriage vows are the heart of this occasion. We would ask that photographers and friends refrain from taking pictures during the service. Pictures may be taken during the processional and recessional and during the signing of the register. If there are other pictures in the Church you would like, they may be posed for after the service.

We would ask that, out of consideration for your guests, the service begin on time.

After the Wedding

The wedding ceremony will be over in less than one hour but we pray that it begins a marriage that will last a lifetime. Just as you have asked the Church to bless and participate in your wedding, we ask you to make the Church an important part of your married life. The Church is not just a quaint, traditional background for your wedding photos - it is a living, breathing body of people who seek to worship God and enrich the spiritual and physical lives of all people. We are a caring and friendly church and look forward to seeing you again after you return from your honeymoon.