Guide for Couples Planning to be Married
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at The People’s United 302-674-4177 |
The Wedding Service at People’s Church
By asking our pastor to perform the ceremony you are requesting a religious service. You are saying, “We wish to take our vows before God and our friends. We seek God's blessing in our life together.”
Because a church wedding is a worship service, the liturgy shall be
that of a worship service such as “The Order of Worship for Marriage” in the Book of Worship of the United Church of Christ, or as directed by the church’s pastor.
Schedules and Communication
In order to avoid the embarrassment of announcing your wedding date only to find either the pastor or the church unavailable, you should consult with the pastor before publicly announcing the date and time for your wedding.
When you contact the pastor, you will arrange for you and your fiancé to meet with him. Both the church and the pastor have a standing rule that couples married in People's Church will have four pre-marriage counseling sessions with the pastor. These conversations should be held well before the wedding date.
It is expected that our pastor will officiate at all weddings at People’s Church. If you wish another minister to assist, the etiquette and ethics of this request are as follows. You inform the pastor of the church, and he will invite your guest minister to assist.
Fees and Costs
There are many people involved in providing you the service of a beautiful and meaningful wedding. You should designate someone in the wedding party to deliver the fees and donations to the pastor on the night of the rehearsal.
ITEM MEMBERS NON-MEMBERS
1. The People's
Building Usage
Wedding Ceremony $ 0 $ 500.00
Dining Room $ 0 $ 150.00
2. Rev. Dan Griggs
Pastor’s Honorarium (your discretion) $ 200.00
3. Mr. Philip Betts
Organist $ 100.00 $ 150.00
4. Mrs. Phyllis Tarburton
Wedding Coordinator $ 65.00 $ 100.00
5. Mr. Henry LaSalle
Custodian
Wedding $ 50.00 $ 100.00
Dining Room Coordination $10.00 per hour
6. The People's
Printing programs $ 20.00 $ 50.00
(if asked to do programs: does not include the price of bulletins)
Pastor’s Discretion: Non-member weddings will only be performed if both the bride and groom agree to the fees, to counseling, and to a Christian marriage. It is at the pastor’s discretion whether to accept or refuse a non-member wedding. Four pre-marriage counseling sessions with the pastor are required. These will cover: 1) planning, 2) the meaning of a church wedding, 3) the vows and the covenant, and 4) communication.
Wedding Coordinator
Mrs. Tarburton is the church's wedding coordinator. You may call on her for assistance with building tours, decorations, details, and direction as the ceremony begins. If you have chosen someone as your personal coordinator, that person will be in charge of everything outside the church, and planning.
Music
All music at People’s Church is under the direction of the Choir Director and the Organist. Unless the church organist is unavailable, he will be expected to play for all church weddings for which music is desired. However, if you prefer to include a guest musician for a part of the service, arrangements must be made with our organist before such a person is permitted to participate. Our Organist is Mr. Philip S. Betts, 678-8659.
Since the wedding ceremony is a religious service, not a secular gathering, all music shall be approved by the pastor or the organist so that the selections will be appropriate for a Christian ceremony.
Photography
Flash pictures may be taken during the processional and recessional, but not at any time during the worship service itself. If you want photographs of the wedding party at the front of the chancel, the party may re-pose them after the wedding. Professional photographers may set up flash equipment in the Bride's Room if pictures are desired before the service.
Video tapes may be made during the service as long as no additional lighting is used. We ask that video equipment be set up in the balcony so that it will not be in anyone’s way. Not cameras of any kind are permitted in the chancel area during the service.
Decorating the Church
Kneeler The church has a kneeler for use during the wedding ceremony. The pastor will discuss with you whether or not to use it in your wedding. One consideration will be how cumbersome the bride's wedding gown will be if she kneels.
Flowers: You may select a florist of your choice. If the family wants to provide and arrange the flowers, you may do so. However, since the altar symbolizes the presence of God, any flowers placed on the altar should enhance its simple beauty and not dominate it. The altar candles should be visible, and so only one floral arrangement is permitted on the altar. Other flowers need to be placed in other parts of the nave.
Candles: With candles and other decorations, please be careful to avoid any damage to the furnishings of the church. The two altar candles are provided by the church. Two black wrought iron candelabra are available for your use, but you must provide the (14) candles and other decorations for them. Dripless candles are required.
Aisle Runner: The church does not provide the “crash.” You may purchase a disposable aisle runner from your florist, if you want one. The fabric runner is superior to the plastic one. It needs to be 100 feet long. Many weddings here do not use an aisle runner at all.
Rehearsal and Ceremony
You will need to schedule a rehearsal if others are participating in the ceremony. Since the wedding is a worship service, the pastor is in charge of the rehearsal. To avoid discomfort or indecision, the couple should make all the decisions about the ceremony in the pre-wedding conferences, before the rehearsal. The wedding service ritual is similar to that in all Protestant churches. It includes several elements which are at the discretion of the couple. Please consult the pastor regarding the variable elements of the service.
Wedding Programs
If you wish, the church office can print a wedding bulletin. The cost may vary depending on your selection of the cover. All details and information for the bulletin are handled by the church’s Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Hotchkiss.
Your Marriage License
The pastor will
not perform the wedding without a valid Delaware Marriage License in hand before
the service. To avoid unnecessary
embarrassment, please bring the license to the rehearsal
and give it to the pastor. You may also
give him the rings and candles at this time. The license must be used within 28 days. In
The State of
Contact Numbers
People’s Church - 302-674-4177
Admin. Assist. 302-674-3423 (fax)
Mrs. Hotchkiss peopleschurch@dmv.com
Rev. Griggs - 302-674-5454 (home)
Pastor DanGrigx9@aol.com
Mr. Betts - 302-678-8659
Organist
Mrs. Tarburton- 302-730-0975
Wedding Consultant
Mr. LaSalle - 302-674-4177
Sexton