Registration and Payment Options:
WEDDING POLICY & PROCEDURE
Effective: 06/2016
Contact Anne Barrett
(817) 927-8411 • admin@ststephenpresbyterian.com
THE CHRISTIAN WEDDING
Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family. Marriage involves a unique commitment between two people to love and support each other for the rest of their lives. This sacrificial love that unites the couple sustains them as faithful and responsible members of the Church and the wider community. In civil law, marriage is a contract that recognizes the rights and obligations of the married couple in society. In the Reformed tradition, marriage is also a covenant in which God has an active part, and which the community of faith publicly witnesses and acknowledges.
PREPARATION FOR MARRIAGE
In preparation for the marriage service, the Pastor shall counsel with the couple. If the Pastor is unavailable for counseling, the couple may counsel with staff at the Brite Divinity School’s Pastoral Care Center, Texas Christian University, regarding:
Counseling is required. It is equally important whether a first marriage, a marriage after the death of a spouse, or when one or both parties are divorced.
After counseling the couple, if the Pastor feels that the commitment, responsibility, maturity, or Christian understanding are so lacking that the marriage is unwise, the Pastor shall assure the couple of the Church’s continuing concern for them, but shall not approve the wedding. In making this decision, the Pastor may seek the counsel of the Session. Should this be necessary, the utmost confidentiality shall be maintained at all times by all parties.
THE ROLE OF THE PASTOR
Christian marriage should be celebrated in the place where the community gathers for worship. As a service of Christian worship, the marriage service is under the direction of the Pastor and the supervision of the Session. In the event that a pastor, other than a pastor of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, is desired to perform the wedding ceremony, permission must first be obtained from the Pastor of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church. Further, the Pastor of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, or the Pastor’s appointee, must be present to ensure that all policies herein are followed. The visiting pastor’s fee is not included in the fees paid to the Church, nor shall they be paid by St. Stephen Presbyterian Church; i.e., you must make separate arrangements to compensate the visiting pastor conducting the wedding service.
TIME AND PLACE OF THE SERVICE
The marriage ordinarily takes place in a special worship service that focuses upon marriage as a gift of God and an expression of the Christian life. The Sanctuary (seating 1,400) and the Chapel of the Holy Trinity (seating 68) are available for weddings.
The Parish Hall or the Eastminster Room may be used for a rehearsal dinner prior to or a reception following the wedding.
It is essential that reservations for the exact times of both the wedding and the rehearsal be made as early as possible with the appropriate Church personnel. A rehearsal time should be selected when all members of the wedding party can be present. The betrotheds must take part in the rehearsal, i.e., stand-ins are not permitted. Rehearsals shall begin no later than 6:00 p.m.
Ushers should be present and ready to perform their duties one hour before the wedding ceremony.
If the reception is held at the Church, a designated representative of the wedding party shall make complete arrangements for decorations, refreshments and service, including basic cleanup of the Parish Hall/Eastminster Room and kitchen. Further, the Sexton of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, or the Sexton’s appointee, must be present to ensure that all policies herein are followed.
The Church will open 2 hours prior to the ceremony. The holding rooms for the Bride
and Groom are available for their use 2 hours before the wedding and 1 hour following the
ceremony. The bride’s maids and groom’s men should dress before coming to the church due to
limited space.
A designated person should ensure that all clothing and belongings of the wedding party
are removed from the Sanctuary following the wedding ceremony.
The order of worship that shall be used for the marriage at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church is found in the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship.
No announcements will be made about the time and place of the reception before, during or after the service in the Sanctuary or Chapel because the wedding is a service of worship.
MUSIC AND APPOINTMENTS
Music for the Wedding Ceremony
The wedding ceremony is a service of worship, and music for the service must be appropriate in
expressing gratitude and praise to God for the gift of marriage (secular or popular songs of special
meaning to you should be reserved for the wedding reception). Music for the service is under the
direction and supervision of the Director of Music and Organist, who is expected to play all
weddings. After your initial meeting with the pastor, plan to make an appointment with the
Director of Music and Organist to discuss (in person or by phone, whichever is most convenient)
the music for the service, including any hymn to be sung by the congregation.
Alternate Organist
If the Director of Music and Organist is not available to play at the wedding, he will arrange for a
substitute. If our organist is available, but you desire a guest organist or other musicians, we follow
the policy of the America Guild of Organists: a guest organist or other musicians must meet with
our organist, who will assess the musicians’ competence and experience. If approved for the
service, it will be your responsibility to arrange for and pay the musicians’ fees, as well as our
Director of Music/Organist’s standard fee.
Instrumental and Vocal Soloists
Vocal and instrumental soloists are encouraged and can add great beauty to a wedding ceremony.
The Director of Music and Organist coordinates the hiring of any additional musicians, and will be
happy to be in contact with you about these musical possibilities. A variety of instruments (the
most common being trumpet, violin, cello, harp, and bagpipes) are effective in our church setting
and are also popular choices among couples. If you wish to have a friend or family member sing or
play at the service, arrangements must be made with the Director of Music and Organist as soon as
possible.
– WEDDING INFORMATION FORM –
Please Complete and Return to St. Stephen Presbyterian Church
2700 McPherson Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76109
817-927-8411/817-927-8221 (fax)
Wedding date: ________________ M T W T F S S Wedding time:______________
Rehearsal date: ________________ M T W T F S S Rehearsal time:_____________
Bride/Party 1:____________________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________ Alternate Phone: ___________________________
Address: __________________________ City, State, Zip: _______________________
Communicant of St. Stephen? YES NO E-mail Address: _____________________
Groom/Party 2:___________________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________ Alternate Phone: ___________________________
Address: __________________________ City, State, Zip: _______________________
Communicant of St. Stephen? YES NO E-mail Address: _____________________
Wedding to be in SANCTUARY CHAPEL
Pastor: _______________________
Conference with Pastor scheduled for:
Date: ________________ Time: ____________
Conference with Organist and Director of Music Ministries scheduled for:
Date: _________ Time: _________
(Fill out only if Pastor requested is not a member of the St. Stephen staff.)
Pastor’s Name: ______________________ Denomination: ______________________
Mailing Address: ____________________ City, State, Zip: _______________________
Phone Number: _________________
Wedding Policy Provided to Pastor on (date:) __________
Photographer: ___________________________________ Phone: _________________
Has the Photographer signed an acknowledgment of Church policy concerning
wedding photography? YES NO
Videographer: ___________________________________ Phone: _________________
Has the Videographer signed an acknowledgment of Church policy concerning
wedding videography? YES NO
Total Number of Attendants: _________ Female: ___________ Male: _____________
Ring bearer: ____________ Flower girl: ____________
Number invited to wedding: ________
Wedding party to dress at Church? YES NO
Number of Ushers: ____________
Reception to be held at church? YES NO If yes: PARISH HALL EASTMINSTER
Reception Caterer: ________________________________ Phone: _______________
Has the Reception Caterer has been informed of Church policy concerning
wedding receptions? YES NO
If not at the Church, reception location: __________________________________________________
Florist: _________________________________________ Phone: _________________
Has the Florist has been informed of Church policy concerning décor? YES NO
Wedding Party’s Designated Representative/Consultant:________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________ Phone: _________________
Has the Wedding Party’s Designated Representative/Consultant has been informed of
the Church’s Wedding Policy? YES NO
Do you want an audio recording ($10 each)? YES NO Number desired: _____
Fees Due For:
WEDDING $_____________
RECEPTION $_____________
AUDIO RECORDING $_____________
OTHER $_____________
Amount Due: $__________________
Refundable Deposit (50% of Amount Due): $_______________
Refundable Deposit Received on (date): ____________________
By your signature below you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by the Wedding Policy of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church. Any violation of this policy could result in your use of the Church being denied, without refund.
Today’s date: _________ Signature: _________________________________________
St. Stephen Staff Person’s Signature: _________________________________________
Effective: 06/2016
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Bride/Party 1: _____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Groom/Party 2: _____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
CENTER AISLE ESCORTS:
Names of parent/guardian(s) and/or grandparent(s) to be escorted down the center aisle:
| Bride/Party 1’s Side: | Ushers: |
| 1. | 1. |
| 2. | 2. |
| 3. | 3. |
| 4. | 4. |
| 5. | 5. |
| 6. | 6. |
| Groom/Party 2’s Side: | Wedding Party: |
| 1. | 1. |
| 2. | 2. |
| 3. | 3. |
| 4. | 4. |
| 5. | 5. |
| 6. | 6. |
Each February, on Super Bowl Sunday, the youth of St. Stephen coordinate our congregation’s participation in the annual Souper Bowl
Opportunity to provide cookies, snacks, coffee and lemonade – along with a few words of gratitude to our veterans each
