Wedding Policy
| st_johns_wedding_policy_-_revised_january_7_2010.pdf |
St. John's Lutheran Church Wedding Policy
Marriage Statement
As Christians, we believe that marriage is a gift from God.
Whether we are really fully conscious of it or not, when a man and a woman promise
lifelong faithfulness to each other, something of the Holy is made known to us humans.
In marriage, God offers human beings the chance to participate in something sacred.
In marriage we are given a glimpse of God and the love God revealed to us in Jesus Christ
… Marriage highlights the good news that God has created human beings to enjoy the gift
of relationship, the gift of community…
A marriage is one of those relationships – one in which two people are drawn uniquely
together. At its best, a marriage is a place of trust, intimacy, a place where a man and a
woman know each other as no one else does, where they learn to sacrifice and compromise,
forgive and love, with all their being.1
The celebration of the service of marriage, then, is a worship event where those gathered give
praise and thanks to God for the union of two special people in marriage, pledge to support them
in their marriage, and ask God’s blessings on their union.
Who may be married at St. John's?
While a wedding is most certainly about the engaged couple - a bride and groom vowing to love
and honor each other all the days of their lives - a marriage, by its nature, goes beyond the two
individuals who have committed themselves to each other. At the very least a marriage cannot
help but involve a couple’s family and friends. And, for people of faith, a marriage also includes
the involvement and support of a faith community.
Marriages have everything to do with the larger community, with the whole Body of
Christ, the whole people of God. Marriage is a relationship where we are empowered to
live out our baptism, where we are nurtured for our mission to be disciples of Christ…
Before anything else, we are chosen by God to be God’s very own – and in that act,
chosen by God to abide in God’s great love with one another…. Our relationships are
lived out in a larger community… we all have important things to offer this incredible
network of intertwined life. .. In grace God gives us the gift of community.2
We expect therefore, that the bride and groom will both be (or become) active members of our
faith community (*see notes for exceptions) so their marriage can be cared for and nurtured by
the pastors and people of St. John’s on an ongoing basis. More importantly, active participation
in the worship life of a faith community provides opportunities for the Word of God and the gift
of the Lord’s Supper to spiritually nourish couples so they may be strengthened in their promise
to live a “faith-filled” marriage.
*Notes:
1. If either the bride or groom is already an active member of another congregation, or of a
different faith tradition, then please speak with the pastors about your particular situation.
1 Now Bring Your Joy To This Wedding: Couples in Premarital Preparation; Norma S. Wood and Lisa M. Leber,
(Lima, Ohio: CSS Publishing Company, 2002); 9-10.
2 Ibid., 11.
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2. Special circumstance requests by non-parishioners, who are active members of another
ELCA congregation, to hold a wedding at St. John’s may be brought to the pastors for
consideration. The requesting couples’ pastor will also be contacted and it would be
expected that the couple would attend premarital counseling sessions with their home
congregation pastor. Please understand that permission will be given at the discretion of
the pastors of St. John’s.
3. Other requests to hold a wedding at St. John’s by those who are not currently active in
a church may also be brought to the pastors for consideration. If approved, premarital
counseling sessions with the pastors will still be required.
Preparation for Marriage
Premarital Counseling Classes
Getting married is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Too often marriage
is entered into casually, or without a couple openly and honestly thinking through all aspects of a
marital relationship, with very sad results. The United States has one of the highest divorce rates
in the world. Divorce causes lifelong pain for those it touches, especially if children are involved.
In the church we are deeply committed to doing all that is possible to see that the marriage vows
a couple makes “before God and Church” are able to endure the tough times, so their relationship
might rejoice in the good times. It is our hope that couple will share a long, healthy, happy and
holy life together. Therefore, we require all couples preparing for marriage at St. John’s to
participate in premarital counseling with the pastors (this also applies to those for whom this is
not a first marriage).
The procedure for premarital counseling is as follows:
1. Once your requested wedding date has been approved by the pastors, you will be
informed of the date of the next Premarital Counseling Group Session. These sessions
are held twice a year and include an informal introduction to the pastors, the wedding
coordinator, and the premarital counseling program, as well as an opportunity to ask
questions about St. John’s wedding policy. It is also a wonderful opportunity to meet
other couples who are at the same place in their journey and perhaps to begin some
lasting friendships. Finally, at the end of the session, the pastors will meet with each
couple to schedule their first premarital counseling couple’s session (between the
couple and the pastors).
2. Each couple will meet with the pastors three times (in addition to the group session).
An additional class may be held for couples who have children from a previous
marriage/relationship or at the discretion of the pastors. Please Note: While the
Pastors make every effort to be flexible, it is expected that the couple will make
adjustments to their schedule as needed to ensure these sessions are able to be held
in a timely manner.
3. Discussions about the wedding service itself will begin during the second meeting,
and will be completed at the final meeting. Please Note: The couple will also need
to contact/meet with the organist & the wedding coordinator to plan the music and
additional details of their ceremony.
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Fees
For those who are members of St. John’s there are no fees for the use of the church. If you would
like to make a thank offering to the Pastor(s), you may give it directly to the Pastors, or send it to
the Church Office.
Other people are involved in your wedding who also give of their time and share their ministerial
gifts. We ask you to honor their service by giving a check for $350.00 to Mrs. Bonnie Spellman,
Wedding Coordinator, who will distribute it at the time of your wedding. Fees are as follows:
$150 for the organist, $100 for the wedding coordinator who helps plan and rehearse the
wedding, $50 for premarital counseling materials, and $50 for the sexton/custodian who cleans
the sanctuary. The $350 is due when you meet with Mrs. Spellman (410-661-5351) and will
secure your date for the ceremony.
(Please Note: Additional fees are required for non-parishioners. Information regarding
these fees will be provided during your initial contact with the Wedding Coordinator.)
Important Items to Consider:
Wedding Date – We recommend that you call the office at least six (6) to eight (8) months prior
to your desired wedding date to be sure your date is available, both on the Pastors’ and the
church calendar. Please do this before making any other arrangements. (Note: many reception
locations require more advance bookings, please be sure to call the Church Office to be sure that
the Pastors’ schedule and the Church schedule are open before you book your reception hall.)
Wedding Reception – The Pastors are sensitive to the high cost of wedding receptions and
want you to know that it is neither required nor expected that they be invited to your reception.
If an invitation is extended, the Pastors will attend as their schedule allows.
Wedding Rehearsal – Your rehearsal date must be coordinated with/approved by the pastors
and the wedding coordinator.
Wedding Coordinator – St. John’s is blessed to have trained wedding coordinators. You will
find that they are invaluable when it comes to the detailed plans for your wedding ceremony,
as well as being present to lead the wedding rehearsal. Please contact St. John’s Senior Wedding
Coordinator, Bonnie Spellman, at 410-661-5351, soon after you have received approval for your
wedding date. Note: We do not work with off-site “wedding planners.”
Music
• Type of Music - Instrumental and vocal music are appropriate. There are, however,
certain types of music which are not appropriate. A wedding is a worship event, so music
should contribute to our worship of God. St. John’s organist will work with you to help
ensure that the God-centered nature of worship is honored.
• Organist - It is required that you use our organist who normally plays for all services.
There are many reasons for this requirement, the most important being that organs are
very expensive and require instruction on operation. We cannot allow anyone to use these
instruments unless our organist is contacted and gives her approval. Please contact Music
Director, Martha Requard (410-838-5256), at your earliest convenience to discuss music.
• Soloist - If you desire a soloist and do not have one in mind, please contact our Music
Director, Martha Requard. She will be glad to help. An additional fee will be required
for the soloist. If any rehearsals are needed involving the organist, an additional fee will
be required for her as well. Fees will be set by the organist and/or soloist.
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• Hymns - One or more hymns may be included if the couple desires. Hymns should be
selected from Evangelical Lutheran Worship Service Book and Hymnal, in consultation
with the organist. This avoids any concern regarding copyright infringement.
Communion - Should you desire a Communion Service, bread and wine will be provided at
no cost. The Altar Guild will set up, and the Wedding Coordinator will do the clean up.
Bulletins – Depending on the Parish Administrator’s workload, the church may be able to print
your bulletin. However, in order to do so, you must notify the office of your request and have all
necessary information to the Parish Administrator at least 3 weeks prior to your wedding.
Flowers - For a Saturday wedding, the flowers purchased for our Sunday service may be used –
if the couple so desires - at no cost. However - given the flowers are ordered for a particular
worship service - special requests for color or style cannot be considered. Additional flowers
and/or church decorations will be the responsibility of the couple. Please consult with the
wedding coordinator prior to making any plans to be sure they will be appropriate in this setting.
Candles – Our altar candles are lit at wedding ceremonies. If additional candles are requested,
St. John's is able to provide three tiered candelabras at no cost. Due to fire regulations, there
will be no carrying of candles, or candles in the aisle. Wedding Coordinators are responsible for
lighting and extinguishing all candles.
• Unity Candles - St. John’s has a unity candle consisting of three single candles and a
holder that can be loaned to the couple for their wedding day at no cost. However, if a
couple desires a special unity candle to keep, it needs to be provided by the couple.
Use of bird seed, bubbles, etc. - The church does not permit the use of confetti, bird seed, rice,
balloons or sparklers for the departure of the bride and groom. The use of bubbles or doves is
permitted at the discretion of the wedding party and at its expense.
Photography/Videography - Most professional photographers/videographers will be familiar
with the procedures for shooting a church wedding; however, it is requested that they speak with
the wedding coordinator prior to the Service. Photographers are asked to keep the photo session
following the Ceremony to no more than 20-25 minutes; this allows the wedding party to join
their guests at the reception, and is considerate of the wedding coordinators and sexton who stay
behind to clean and set up the church. See the attached photography policy for additional details.
Marriage License – Please note that the State of Maryland requires that your marriage license
be issued in the County or City where the wedding is going to take place. To be married at St.
John’s, your marriage license must be obtained in Baltimore County.
Decorum - The members of St. John's consider our worship space to be holy in the sense that it
is set apart for worship. Our sanctuary is where we gather each week to worship and praise God,
to give thanks for the gifts we have received, and to ask for God’s forgiveness and guidance.
Since we consider this a holy place, we ask that you, your wedding party, and your guests respect
our church as we do.
If you have further question or concerns, please call the church office at 410-665-1234.
God’s blessings to you in this time of anticipation and preparation!
May your days together be filled with love and joy!
Revised January 2010
