"Let marriage be held in honor by all." (Hebrews 13: 4a)
Heritage Presbyterian Church - Wedding Guide
Policies & Guidelines: Your church wedding is a special and sacred occasion. It will be most meaningful to you, your families, and your friends when there is careful planning. A wedding at Heritage Presbyterian Church is a service of worship and is to conform to the Book of Order and Book of Common Worship of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Our pastor, Reverend Mark Plunkett, is available to conduct and officiate the wedding. The pastor’s fee for officiating any wedding is $200 (more may be negotiated in case of out-of-town travel).To read some of our pastor's thoughts on weddings, please read the following posting in his blog:
http://markaplunkett.blogspot.com/2013/04/weddings-marriage-and-pastor-marks.html
Please note that we do not currently own a church building. Therefore, each wedding must take place in an alternate location.
Premarital Counseling: At least two hours of premarital counseling is required before any service of marriage. Reverend Mark Plunkett is available for this counseling. It can also be done by another minister or a professional counselor, but proof of counseling - in the form of a letter signed and dated by the person who performed the premarital counseling - must be given to the pastor no later than 30 days prior to the date of the wedding. These arrangements need to be discussed with the pastor of Heritage Presbyterian Church.
During that counseling time, the pastor will NOT seek to challenge the couple; rather, the couple will be encouraged to closely and honestly examine their relationship and how it will move forward in their married lives. An important point to consider is listed in this website: http://www.familyshare.com/Marriage/the-most-overlooked-characteristic-of-who-you-want-to-marry
A marriage license from the state must be obtained 72 hours (3 days) before the service of marriage. The license is valid for 90 days (3 months) after it is obtained. This is the responsibility of the couple to be married.
Church Liaison: Your liaison with the church will be present for both the rehearsal and the wedding. The liaison is not a wedding planner - but will work with you to assist the wedding party and to ensure that church policies are understood during the planning process. Because we do not currently have a church building, a church liaison is NOT required (but it is still a good idea!).
Wedding Music: Your marriage ceremony is a worship service. Music suitable for your marriage ceremony directs attention to God and expresses the faith of the church. All music should be appropriate to the place of worship, enhance the worshipers’ consciousness of the reality of God, and reflect the integrity and simplicity of Christian life.
The Presbyterian (U.S.A.) Book of Order, states that, “Worshipers respond to God by offering to him their particular gifts and abilities.” The musicians in your wedding are offering their gifts to you and to God. If you want our music director to play/sing for your wedding, those arrangements and any fees involved are done separately from those described here. All music must meet the approval of the minister. Appropriate song titles can be provided for you.
Photography: During the wedding service, no flash photography shall be allowed once the service itself has begun. No one is to move around to get a photograph once the wedding ceremony has begun. Professional photographers must check with the Pastor as to what is appropriate or inappropriate in the way of videography or photography.
Decorations & Flowers: All decorations and/or flowers are the responsibility of the couple to be married.