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Weddings What is a Wedding? A church wedding is, first and foremost, a service of worship. The community gathers to join the couple in worshipping Christ and giving thanks for God’s blessings. The couple share their vows in this worship setting, and present their marriage as an offering to God. The church is a house of prayer, a sacred space. Having a church wedding only because it is a beautiful place and has a center aisle is not appropriate. A church wedding is a congregational event. Church weddings grow out of a history of being a part of the life of a congregation. A wedding is most meaningful when the bride and/or groom have been involved in the life of the church and know the community. If you or your partner are not active members, the pastor will suggest that you take part in the worship life of the congregation so that you may be a part of the faith community. What is the “Rite of Marriage” The service is based on approved resources used in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Questions like “who gives this woman to this man?” and “do you promise to obey” are not used in ELCA marriage liturgies. The celebration of Holy Communion is offered if the couple wishes, with participation open to all who are gathered. In the case that friends or relatives are ministers, other clergy are welcomed to help in the service upon consent of the Pastor from Immanuel Lutheran Church. Location All weddings conducted by a pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church are to be held in the Sanctuary of Immanuel Lutheran Church. In rare circumstances, a wedding may be held at another location. The Pastor Scheduling a wedding will guarantee a service on the church calendar for that date. The Pastor will then plan to meet with the couple for logistical and pre-marital consulting. Counseling is a way of addressing issues such as communication, conflict resolution, finances, religion, parenting, etc., which are a part of any relationship. Pre-marital counseling does not necessarily mean that your relationship is in trouble, but is a great way to strengthen your relationship. The Date The date of your wedding should be set well in advance. To schedule a wedding, fill out and turn in a “TO DO” REGISTRATION which is available in the church office. The church does not conduct weddings during Lent, Holy Week, Vacation Bible School or the second weekend of December through New Year’s Day. Rehearsals Everyone taking part in the ceremony should be present at the rehearsal, including the organist. The rehearsal takes about one hour and should be scheduled between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the evening prior to the wedding. Organist/Musician Contact the church office to arrange for an organist, who will meet with you to discuss music for the ceremony. Office staff may also provide contacts for special music, such as soloists, pianists, or the praise band. All other music arrangements should be approved by the pastor. The Marriage License State law requires that you have a marriage license. Your license may be obtained from the county where you are a resident. As a general rule of thumb, you can start the process of getting your license one month prior to your wedding date. Remember, there is a waiting period between the time you apply and the time you may pick up your license. Immanuel requires you to bring your license to the rehearsal. You will receive two copies of the signed license immediately after the wedding service. The church will mail the license in for you. Other Policies Smoking is not allowed in the building. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the building or on the premises. Consumption of alcohol prior to the wedding will automatically exclude that person from the service. The throwing of rice, bird seed, etc. is prohibited on premises, but bubbles may be used outside. General Wedding Fees Please make out separate checks to each individual (see below), with fees due at the time of rehearsal. Member Fees*: (*To be considered a member, you or your parents must be members of Immanuel as set in our Constitution.) There is no set fee for the Pastor, however, it is customary to give an honorarium in appreciation of the time the Pastor devotes to meeting with the couple. Organist fees vary by individual. There is no set fee for the Custodian, however, it is customary to give an honorarium for the extra time spent in church as needed. Non-Member Fees: $500.00 $200 honorarium to the Pastor. Organist fees vary by individual. $100 honorarium to the Custodian.
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