SOME SUGGESTIONS REGARDING YOUR PLANNING

There will be many considerations to be met in planning your wedding. At times, some of the details may seem too weighty and may cause you to lose sight of the deeper meanings of your plans. May we suggest that you endeavor to come to the day of your wedding physically strong, spiritually alert, and genuinely concerned that the event be both beautiful and meaningful.

 

We shall endeavor to do our part to assist you in your plans for your wedding.

 

USE OF THE CHURCH BUILDING

The Chapel (seats 150) and the Sanctuary (seats 700) are available without charge to members of the church for wedding ceremonies.

 

There is a charge for the use of the Chapel or Sanctuary to Inactive/Non-members (see fees below).

 

Length of the Sanctuary aisle is 79 feet. There are 52 pews (26 each side). There are 22 pews in the Chapel (10 & 12). Note: An aisle runner is not used in the Chapel.

 

POLICY REGARDING SMOKING AND ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS

The use of any smoking/oral tobacco or alcoholic beverages is PROHIBITED on church property. The officiating minister will insist on compliance of this church policy. If the presence or use of alcohol is detected, and if continued use of such products occurs after a warning, the ceremony will NOT occur, and no fees paid will be refunded. Food and nonalcoholic beverages must be provided by the wedding party, and must be cleaned-up immediately after consumption and are the sole responsibility of the wedding party. Church custodians are not available for this purpose. No food or beverages are permitted in the Chapel or Sanctuary.

 

DRESSING FACILITIES

A Bride’s Room, located at the east end of the Sanctuary narthex, is available for the bride and her attendants. Adequate closet space and restroom facilities

are included. The Minister’s Study is available for the groom and his attendants for dressing and/or last minute preparations.

THE DECORATIONS

Extravagant and wasteful arrangements of flowers are discouraged. One or two hampers or baskets of flowers are appropriate for use in the Chapel. More extensive floral arrangements may be used in the Sanctuary, provided that the Communion Table is not obstructed from view. Arrangements should be made with the florist for the removal of the decorations immediately after the ceremony.

 

Candelabra may be used in theSanctuary only. The church has two 7-branch candelabra (you must purchase the candles – dripless only!). If candelabra are desired at end of pews, you must secure these from your florist.

 

Candlesare not permitted to be used in the Chapel because of carpeting. Only the alter candles may be used in the Chapel. Candles may not be placed in the Church windows.

 

Decorating the pews is discouraged because care must be taken to avoid any damage to the furnishings by use of nails, tacks, and scotch tape.

 

WEDDING MUSIC

You should consult with the organist soon after the wedding has been scheduled – this, to secure the services of the organist and to make plans for the music. Ordinarily, the church organist or his designee plays for all weddings. (On occasion, couples will choose to have instrumental music other than organ music. In that event, the couple assumes all responsibility for engaging the musician or musicians.)

 

In addition to organ music, some couples choose to engage a singer and, perhaps, another instrumentalist such as trumpeter or flutiest. Normally, you should engage these musicians yourselves. If you need assistance, please ask the organist for suggestions. If a singer participates in the wedding, usually there are two songs presented – one during the prelude (perhaps at the seating of the mothers), and another at the time of the prayers. The singer or

instrumentalist will practice with the organist usually immediately before or directly after the wedding rehearsal.

The organist needs to know whether you want the “traditional” wedding marches – the Mendelssohn and Wagner transcriptions. If these familiar pieces are desired, the organist will use the familiar “Here Comes the Bride” only for the entrance of the bride; another organ piece of festive character will be played for the bridesmaids. If, on the other hand, you do not wish to use these pieces at all, then the organist will select other appropriate literature for the processional and recessional. The organist is pleased to consider requests from the classical repertoire for the organ; however, please know that you do not have to feel obligated to provide “titles”. If you are not all that familiar with the music for the organ, the organist will select music which is upbeat, festive, and joyous. Because the organist is usually present at the rehearsal, you will have a chance to hear the organ music prior to the wedding.

 

Music from movie sound tracks, Broadway show tunes, and popular love ballads are not generally used in weddings at First Presbyterian Church. We would suggest that these songs, some of which, understandably, acquire a special significance for couples during their courtship, be presented at the reception – where they may be heard to fullest advantage – rather than at the wedding itself. Any song, however, old or modern, the text of which either is drawn from the Bible, or is appropriate for a Christian wedding ceremony, we will be pleased to consider.

 

As a reminder, please make sure to call the organist to secure his services. The church does not engage the organist for your wedding; you need to do that. The best time to reach the organist, Kirby Koriath, at his home, is in the early evenings (not Thursdays) or on weekends, at 289-2894.

 

PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS  Since the wedding is a

service of worship, flash photography is prohibited during the service by either professional photographers or guests of the bride andgroom. The wedding couple is responsible for informing the photographer and guests of this guideline.

 

The photographer chosen by the bride and groom may take still photos, videotapes or movies from designated positions in the rear balcony, in the choir area and in the Narthex; in the Chapel. The minister will explain the areas in detail. If you are planning on having your wedding videotaped, call the Administrative Assistant, before you make a commitment with a video company or photographer.

 

Photographs may be taken before or after the ceremony. If taken beforehand, it is important that they be completed at least 30 minutes before the service since guests begin arriving by that time.

 

THE REHEARSAL

The wedding rehearsal is directed by the minister in consultation with the bride and groom. The rehearsal is usually scheduled for 6:00 p.m. the evening preceding the day of the wedding. All members of the wedding party are requested to be in the Chapel or Sanctuary (wherever the wedding is to take place) promptly at the appointed hour, ready for rehearsal. An hour is usually needed.

 

The purpose is to fix all the details in your mind before the wedding, so that you and the wedding party may conduct yourselves in the church with minimum confusion at the wedding itself.

 

Such detailed arrangements as instructions to the ushers, lighting of candles, seating of relatives, and many other matters which are part of a beautiful wedding ceremony, should be carefully planned in advance and worked out prior to the rehearsal.

 

ARRANGEMENT FOR USHERING AND CANDLE LIGHTING USHERS

Those who are serving as wedding ushers should be ready to usher thirty minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. They shall be responsible for greeting and seating the guests and family. Ushers will receive instructions for 

their duties, such as which family members and special guests are to be escorted to and from the Sanctuary or Chapel in assigned pews.

 

USHERING DETAILS

Please share the following information with those designated as ushers in order that your wedding service may proceed smoothly.

 

1.      The ushers are responsible for lighting and extinguishing the candles used in the service - Chapel weddings only have 2 on the communion table. Sanctuary weddings may include candles at the ends of the aisles.

 

Brass candle lighters, with additional tapers, will be made available for your use.

 

Candles should be lighted approximately thirty minutes before the start of the wedding, and extinguished after the last guests have left the Chapel/Sanctuary.

 

2.      The ushering task may be divided up as the bride and groom see fit. It is customary, however, to seat the bride’s family and friends on the left side of the Chapel/Sanctuary.

 

The front row is left for parents, (second row in the event that the bridal party itself is seated during part of the service).

 

The groom’s parents should be escorted to their seats after all other wedding guests are seated – save for the bride’s mother, who is escorted in just before the start of the processional.

 

3.      The aisle runner for use in the Sanctuary is pulled out at the appointed hour as the signal for the service to begin.

 

RECEIVING LINE

The following is offered as a suggested diagram for the organization of the receiving line:

Mother of Bride

            Father of Groom

                        Mother of Groom

                                    Father of Bride

                                                Bride and Groom

                                                            Maid or Matron of Honor

                                                                        Bridesmaid

                                                                                    Bridesmaid

                                                                                                Bridesmaid

 

The receiving line may go from left to right or from right to left, depending on which is the more convenient arrangement of space allowance and “inflow” and “outgo”. The orderly flow of traffic is of supreme importance at a wedding reception.

 

The best man and the ushers are not a part of the receiving line.

 

REGULATIONS FOR WEDDING RECEPTIONS

Wedding Receptions are normally held in the Fellowship Hall unless it is a very small wedding. The charge for Inactive members or Non-members is $200.00. This charge covers the use of the reception area, such equipment as punch bowls, dishes, silverware and kitchen facilities.

 

SCHEDULE OF FEES AND HONORARIA

It is not the policy of this church to look upon weddings as a source of revenue. However, certain charges are made for services and the use of facilities and equipment. As stated previously, the Church Chapel and Sanctuary are available without charge to members of the Church, but there is a charge for Inactive members and non-members. Receptions are normally held in the Fellowship Hall.

 It is customary that an honorarium be given to the Minister performing the wedding ceremony and for his services in marriage counseling. The suggested fee is $200.00. This gift is the responsibility of the groom. The best man 

usually makes these arrangements and sees that the honorarium is delivered to the Minister in person.

 

The organist fees are: $150.00 – playing the wedding and attending the rehearsal, as well as practicing with the singer or instrumentalist on day(s) apart from the evening of the rehearsal. This fee shall be paid directly to the church office or organist before the day of rehearsal.

 

The fee for printing wedding bulletins is $50.00. Material for the bulletins must be in the church office two weeks prior to the wedding.

 

The Sexton is to be paid for services in preparing the Chapel or Sanctuary and Reception Parlors. This fee shall be paid directly to the church office before the day of rehearsal.

 

PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE VEHICLES IN THE PARKING LOT OVERNIGHT (they will be towed)!

 

	MEMBERS	INACTIVE/NON-MEMBERS
CHURCH:
Use of Chapel	-	$500.00
Use of Sanctuary	-	$1000.00
Reception Lounge	-	$100.00
Fellowship Hall –seats 154	-	$200.00
Outside/Grounds	-	$100.00
SEXTON FEES:
Chapel	$50.00	$50.00
Sanctuary	$50.00	$50.00
ORGANIST:		$150.00
CLERGY CONSULTATION FEE: (Honorarium)	$150.00	$200.00
WEDDING BULLETINS:	$50.00	$50.00
BUILDING SET-UP FEE: chart provided upon request	-	$25.00 minimum $.25 chair - $1.00 table