Wedding Policy – St. Stephen Presbyterian Church

WEDDING POLICY & PROCEDURE

S STEPHEN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

2700 McPherson Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76109

(817) 927-8411 (817) 927-8221 (FAX)

Darlene Housewright, Wedding Coordinator

(817) 924-2683 H – (817) 257-7798 W

[email protected]

WEDDING POLICY & PROCEDURE

Call the Church office, Wedding Coordinator or Assistant Wedding Coordinator and speak about wedding policies, procedures, dates and forms.
The wedding date will be secured and placed on the Church calendar when:

You have submitted a letter to the Pastor requesting permission to use the Church for your wedding;
The Pastor has approved the wedding and the date of the wedding;
You have completed and returned a Wedding Information Form to the Church office; and
You have paid the refundable deposit.

Complete a Wedding Information Form (attached) and give it to the Church staff, Pastor, Wedding Coordinator or Assistant Wedding Coordinator, along with payment of a refundable deposit equal to 50% of all wedding fees.
The Church staff, Pastor, Wedding Coordinator or Assistant Wedding Coordinator will send copies of the completed Wedding Information Form to the appropriate personnel.
The Wedding Coordinator or Assistant Wedding Coordinator will be the principal point of contact for the wedding party.

The Pastor will contact you to schedule a time for a first meeting.
You should contact and schedule a time to meet with the Organist and Director of Music Ministries.
The remaining balance of all wedding fees is due and payable no later than two months prior to the date of the wedding.
The rehearsal time shall be scheduled for no later than 6:00 p.m. on the agreed-upon day (typically a Friday). The wedding time shall be scheduled for no later than 7:00 p.m. on the agreed-upon day (typically a Saturday).

Regarding the wedding service, itself, and the use of the facilities:

The Church staff will provide a template and assist in the preparation of an exemplar Wedding Bulletin/Program, which must be approved by the Pastor. Once approved, you are responsible for providing, printing and paying for Wedding Bulletins/Programs, as the Church will not provide, pay or charge for Wedding Bulletins/Programs.
No decorations are allowed in the Chancel of the Sanctuary or in the Chapel other than the single floral arrangement permitted, g., no arches, bows on candelabras or anything obscuring the view of existing Christian faith symbols.
The Church is a non-smoking facility. No smoking is permitted anywhere in the Sanctuary, Chapel, Parish Hall or Education Building.
Cloth runners may not be used down any of the aisles.
Flowers or petals of any kind or facsimiles thereof may not be thrown down the center aisle or anywhere else in the Sanctuary or Chapel.
Pictures and videos taken before the service may be taken in any area of the Church, but must be completed at least one hour prior to the beginning of the wedding ceremony. During the wedding service, the previously designated wedding photographer and/or videographer may take pictures and videos without flash or additional lighting from the gallery area in the choir loft and other specified areas of the Sanctuary or Chapel that have been pre-approved for the previously designated wedding photographer’s and/or videographer’s use by the Pastor, Wedding Coordinator, Assistant Wedding Coordinator or Sexton.
Wedding guests should refrain from taking pictures or videos in the Sanctuary or Chapel until the ceremony is completed.
Two podiums are furnished for a guest book(s). No other tables are permitted.
No birdseed, rice, petals, etc., may be used inside the Sanctuary, Chapel, Education Building, Parish Hall or on Church grounds.
Gifts need to be removed from the Sanctuary, Chapel, Education Building or Parish Hall immediately following the service/reception.
All personal belongings must be moved to the Parish Hall or Education Building immediately after the wedding pictures are taken.
No furniture in or outside the Sanctuary or Chapel may be moved.
The only alcohol which may be served is wine, to be consumed only by those of legal age. All responsibility and liability for serving alcohol is on the wedding party. No visibly intoxicated person may be served.
Stephen Presbyterian Church is not responsible for any personal property brought or left on the premises.

THE CHRISTIAN WEDDING

Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family. Marriage involves a unique commitment between two people to love and support each other for the rest of their lives. This sacrificial love that unites the couple sustains them as faithful and responsible members of the Church and the wider community. In civil law, marriage is a contract that recognizes the rights and obligations of the married couple in society. In the Reformed tradition, marriage is also a covenant in which God has an active part, and which the community of faith publicly witnesses and acknowledges.

PREPARATION FOR MARRIAGE

In preparation for the marriage service, the Pastor shall counsel with the couple. If the Pastor is unavailable for counseling, the couple may counsel with staff at the Brite Divinity School’s Pastoral Care Center, Texas Christian University, regarding:

the nature of their Christian commitment, assuring that at least one is a professing Christian;
the legal requirements of the State of Texas;
the privileges and responsibilities of Christian marriage;
the nature and form of the marriage service;
the vows and commitments they will be asked to make;
the relationship of these commitments to their lives of discipleship; and
the resources of the faith and the Christian community to assist them in fulfilling their marriage commitments.

Counseling is required. It is equally important whether a first marriage, a marriage after the death of a spouse, or when one or both parties are divorced.

After counseling the couple, if the Pastor feels that the commitment, responsibility, maturity, or Christian understanding are so lacking that the marriage is unwise, the Pastor shall assure the couple of the Church’s continuing concern for them, but shall not approve the wedding. In making this decision, the Pastor may seek the counsel of the Session. Should this be necessary, the utmost confidentiality shall be maintained at all times by all parties.

THE ROLE OF THE PASTOR

Christian marriage should be celebrated in the place where the community gathers for worship. As a service of Christian worship, the marriage service is under the direction of the Pastor and the supervision of the Session. In the event that a pastor, other than a pastor of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, is desired to perform the wedding ceremony, permission must first be obtained from the Pastor of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church. Further, the Pastor of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, or the Pastor’s appointee, must be present to ensure that all policies herein are followed. The visiting pastor’s fee is not included in the fees paid to the Church, nor shall they be paid by St. Stephen Presbyterian Church; i.e., you must make separate arrangements to compensate the visiting pastor conducting the wedding service.

TIME AND PLACE OF THE SERVICE

The marriage ordinarily takes place in a special worship service that focuses upon marriage as a gift of God and an expression of the Christian life. The Sanctuary (seating 1,400) and the Chapel of the Holy Trinity (seating 68) are available for weddings.

The Parish Hall or the Eastminster Room may be used for a rehearsal dinner prior to or a reception following the wedding.

It is essential that reservations for the exact times of both the wedding and the rehearsal be made as early as possible with the appropriate Church personnel. A rehearsal time should be selected when all members of the wedding party can be present. The betrotheds must take part in the rehearsal, i.e., stand-ins are not permitted. Rehearsals shall begin no later than 6:00 p.m.

Ushers should be present and ready to perform their duties one hour before the wedding ceremony.

If the reception is held at the Church, a designated representative of the wedding party shall make complete arrangements for decorations, refreshments and service, including basic cleanup of the Parish Hall/Eastminster Room and kitchen. Further, the Sexton of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, or the Sexton’s appointee, must be present to ensure that all policies herein are followed.

Rooms are made available for the wedding party to dress at the Church, if desired. All clothing and belongings must be removed from the Sanctuary, Chapel and rooms after the wedding.

The order of worship that shall be used for the marriage at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church is found in the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship.

No announcements will be made about the time and place of the reception before, during or after the service in the Sanctuary or Chapel because the wedding is a service of worship.

MUSIC AND APPOINTMENTS

It is both the custom and tradition of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church that the music used during worship services be consistent in text and musical score with the Christian faith, as it is understood within the faith and order of the Presbyterian Church.

Music suitable for the marriage service directs attention to God and expresses the faith of the Church. Only music that may be used for a Service for the Lord’s Day may be used in a wedding ceremony at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church. This applies to all music, whether instrumental, vocal or choral, used before, during or after the service.

This specifically prohibits the use of the “Bridal Chorus” from Wagner’s tragic opera, Lohengrin, the “Wedding March” from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as popular secular music or songs. The singing of appropriate hymns by the assembled congregation is encouraged as an expression of faith and is an effective way to involve those present in an active manner in this corporate worship service. The use of a vocal soloist is not encouraged. The Organist and Director of Music Ministries or designated assistant will play for all weddings at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church. It is the responsibility of the Organist and Director of Music Ministries to carry out the Session’s policy on weddings relative to music. A conference with the Organist and Director of Music Ministries must be arranged at the earliest possible convenience to select music appropriate for the Christian wedding service. The Organist and Director of Music Ministries maintains a large selection of acceptable music from which to choose from.

Effective: 06/2016

– WEDDING INFORMATION FORM –

Please Complete and Return to St. Stephen Presbyterian Church

2700 McPherson Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76109

817-927-8411/817-927-8221 (fax)

Wedding date: ________________ M T W T F S S Wedding time:______________

Rehearsal date: ________________ M T W T F S S Rehearsal time:_____________

Bride/Party 1:____________________________________________________________

Phone: _______________________ Alternate Phone: ___________________________

Address: __________________________ City, State, Zip: _______________________

Communicant of St. Stephen? YES NO E-mail Address: _____________________

Groom/Party 2:___________________________________________________________

Phone: _______________________ Alternate Phone: ___________________________

Address: __________________________ City, State, Zip: _______________________

Communicant of St. Stephen? YES NO E-mail Address: _____________________

Wedding to be in SANCTUARY CHAPEL

Pastor: _______________________

Conference with Pastor scheduled for:

Date: ________________ Time: ____________

Conference with Organist and Director of Music Ministries scheduled for:

Date: _________ Time: _________

(Fill out only if Pastor requested is not a member of the St. Stephen staff.)

Pastor’s Name: ______________________ Denomination: ______________________
Mailing Address: ____________________ City, State, Zip: _______________________

Phone Number: _________________

Wedding Policy Provided to Pastor on (date:) __________

Photographer: ___________________________________ Phone: _________________

Has the Photographer signed an acknowledgment of Church policy concerning

wedding photography? YES NO

Videographer: ___________________________________ Phone: _________________

Has the Videographer signed an acknowledgment of Church policy concerning

wedding videography? YES NO

Total Number of Attendants: _________ Female: ___________ Male: _____________

Ring bearer: ____________ Flower girl: ____________

Number invited to wedding: ________

Wedding party to dress at Church? YES NO

Number of Ushers: ____________

Reception to be held at church? YES NO If yes: PARISH HALL EASTMINSTER

Reception Caterer: ________________________________ Phone: _______________

Has the Reception Caterer has been informed of Church policy concerning

wedding receptions? YES NO

If not at the Church, reception location: __________________________________________________

Florist: _________________________________________ Phone: _________________

Has the Florist has been informed of Church policy concerning décor? YES NO

Wedding Party’s Designated Representative/Consultant:________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________ Phone: _________________

Has the Wedding Party’s Designated Representative/Consultant has been informed of

the Church’s Wedding Policy? YES NO

Do you want an audio recording ($10 each)? YES NO Number desired: _____

Fees Due For:

WEDDING $_____________

RECEPTION $_____________

AUDIO RECORDING $_____________

OTHER $_____________

Amount Due: $__________________

Refundable Deposit (50% of Amount Due): $_______________

Refundable Deposit Received on (date): ____________________

By your signature below you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by the Wedding Policy of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church. Any violation of this policy could result in your use of the Church being denied, without refund.

Today’s date: _________ Signature: _________________________________________

St. Stephen Staff Person’s Signature: _________________________________________
Effective: 06/2016

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Bride/Party 1: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Groom/Party 2: _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

CENTER AISLE ESCORTS:

Names of parent/guardian(s) and/or grandparent(s) to be escorted down the center aisle:

Bride/Party 1’s Side:	Ushers:
1.	1.
2.	2.
3.	3.
4.	4.
5.	5.
6.	6.
Groom/Party 2’s Side:	Wedding Party:
1.	1.
2.	2.
3.	3.
4.	4.
5.	5.
6.	6.

Effective: 06/2016