Plan Your Wedding

Introduction

God’s blessings to you as you prepare for your wedding and for your marriage. Christian marriage is a covenanting (contracting) ceremony, in which two people make vows whereby they pledge to love each other.

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35 NIV)

As a couple lives and loves together, their marriage is a way for them to understand God’s love. As members of the body of Christ, the congregation rejoices with the couple and shows them their support by encircling them with their love and prayers.

A wedding service is a worship service. It is a gathering of people before God to celebrate and witness God’s blessing on two people who have decided to become one in marriage. These guidelines contain important information for your wedding. Do not hesitate to contact the Pastor with questions. We want to help make your wedding service both reverent and meaningful.

The First Step

After carefully reading through the wedding guidelines, an appointment should be made by the prospective couple for a conference with the Pastor of St. John Lutheran Church. The date, time, and place of the wedding should not be made public until they have been confirmed with the Pastor either by phone in advance of this meeting or after the meeting.

The Type of Wedding

A church wedding may be small or large, simple or elaborate, with or without the Lord’s Supper. It can be conducted with a minimum of expense. We want to help all of our members and friends to provide a worship service that glorifies God and fits the needs and desires of the couple and their families. Please be assured that we will do whatever we can to help you fulfill your hopes for a meaningful wedding.

Music for the Wedding

Unless no music is desired, you are responsible for scheduling an organist/pianist and or any other musicians/soloists. Please share this information with the Pastor. Because weddings are worship services, the music should give praise and thanksgiving to God for uniting a couple in marriage Suggestions for appropriate music will be given. Most secular music is better suited for the rehearsal dinner or reception rather than during the worship service. Should you desire an outside soloist or instrumentalist, please discuss this with the Pastor.

Pre-Marital Instruction

Pre-marital instruction is required. An instrument called Prepare/Enrich Study is used. It is a computer based inventory that must be done between the first and second session with the Pastor. The cost is $35 and is covered by the church.

Wedding Bulletins

Our church office has the ability to produce the wedding bulletin. We recommend them for all weddings. You will need to provide a list of names of all wedding participants identified exactly as the names are to be printed in the bulletin, including bride, groom, parents, all attendants, plus any other information you would like included. This is needed at least two weeks before the wedding.

Décor

The church is beautiful in and of itself. Floral decorations, candles, ribbons, and a center-aisle runner may be used if desired. We do not own any of these items and you would need to provide them. Nails, tacks, thumb tacks, staples, clamps, tape, etc may NOT be attached to furniture or walls. Only decorations that can be tied with ribbons or set on the floor are permitted. The couple will need to provide their own unity candle if one is used. Floral arrangements may be placed on the stands on either side of the altar but may not be placed on the altar itself. Sunday’s altar flowers will be available for Saturday weddings free of charge. The bride and groom will determine what is to be done with flowers they have provided. They may be left for Sunday worship or taken for use at the reception. The blowing of bubbles in celebration of the mariage outside the church as the couple disembarks is encouraged. Other methods of celebrating this moment (i.e. throwing rice, etc.) are not.

Rehearsal

If the wedding is small, a rehearsal may not be necessary. If it is larger, or has a center-aisle processional, a rehearsal will be needed. They are usually held the afternoon or evening before the wedding. The rehearsal will be scheduled with the Pastor during pre-marital instruction sessions. Please be sure that all participants arrive promptly at the time scheduled. All members of the wedding party should be present at the rehearsal. Depending on the number of persons involved, a rehearsal may take up to an hour.

Marriage License

Please provide the license material to the pastor at the rehearsal. Weddings will not be conducted without a license.

Photographs & Cell Phones

In order to preserve the dignity and reverence of the church service, the photographer will need to abide by church rules to be unobtrusive. Pictures may be posed before or after the service. Any questions related to photography should be directed to the Pastor. Cell phones should be silenced during the wedding ceremony.

Alcohol and Tobacco Use

For insurance liabiltiy reasons, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permitted on church property. Smoking is not allowed in the building or at the entrances.

Members for Wedding Guidelines only are defined as: Affiliated with St. John through

1) current active membership or
2) previous membership at Pastor’s discretion
3) parent’s or grandparent’s’ current active membership

A check should be made payable to St John Lutheran Church and given to the church one week before the rehearsal.