ARRANGEMENTS
All arrangements to be married at St. John's must be initiated with the Rector. Following that meeting, one of the clergy from St. John's will be assigned to you. All liturgical arrangements are to be made with the assigned priest. Our wedding consultants will assist you with all hospitality arrangements.

REQUIREMENTS
The following requirements must be met before you can be married at St. John's:

• At least one of the parties is a member of record at St. John's

• At least one of the parties has received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism

• The couple shall receive instruction as specified by the priest as to the nature of Christian marriage

• Thirty (30) days notice shall be given to the Rector.

• If either party has been married previously and the former spouse is still living, the priest must receive the permission of the Bishop. The approval process generally takes 4-6 weeks.

BANNS OF MARRIAGE
When requested by parishioners or children of parishioners, the Banns of Marriage will be published in the Sunday bulletin/announcements prior to the wedding date.

MARRIAGE LICENSE
Your marriage license must be brought to the Parish Office at least seven days prior to the wedding. Bring the license, the mailing envelope, full given names and complete mailing addresses for your witnesses (normally, the Best Man and Maid/Matron of Honor). There is a part of the license which must be filled out by the Church; this is to be done in the office during normal working hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00AM to 3:00PM).

HOLY WEEK
Weddings will not be performed during Lent

MUSIC
The music for all services in the Church must conform to the standard set by the parish organist, who must be consulted before any music is selected.

The music used should be related to the occasion: a sacramental rite of the church, and should be free from secular and sentimental associations. The so-called traditional wedding marches are not permitted.

The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer of the people and should be said or sung by the people.

Should you wish a soloist or instrumentalist to participate in the wedding service, please discuss this with the parish organist at the time of your meeting. Generally, a rehearsal is necessary when a soloist and/or instrumentalist is scheduled.

The $200 organist fee includes the initial consultation, as well as both the rehearsal and wedding. Additional fees for soloists or instrumentalists should be paid directly to the individual musician. These fees will be explained by the organist at the consultation. Please be aware that additional fees will apply if additional rehearsal time is required for the organist to coordinate with additional musicians.

If you wish to employ an organist other than St. John's organist, that person must be authorized by our organist. The $200 fee must still be paid to our organist, as it is his/her responsibility to coordinate music and liturgical issues. Any additional fees must be worked out directly with the alternate person selected.

FLOWERS AND DECORATIONS
Due to the natural beauty of our parish garden, artificial extras and bows on the pews are generally unnecessary. Should you desire an exception, be sure to discuss this with your wedding consultant.

To help coordinate effectively, please inform the wedding consultants of the name of the florist you are using. The wedding consultants will be happy to review with you the appropriate floral arrangement locations in the Nave.

AISLE RUNNER
You will need a 50’ runner for the center aisle, which must be ordered from your florist.

CONFETTI & RICE/GUEST BOOKS
For environmental and safety purposes, only bird seed or grass seed may be thrown outside the building. Guest books for signature are appropriate for a reception and hence, not encouraged for use at the church.

PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER
Please advise your wedding consultant of both your photographer’s and videographer’s names. Photographers should confer with the priest no later than one hour before the ceremony. Video taping is permitted. Talk with the priest regarding appropriate video camera placement. Again, no special lights may be used for these cameras during the service. Two letters will be provided by your consultant, which you are to give to your photographer and videographer. It is very important that your photographer understand that you have only 45 minutes from the conclusion of the wedding to complete any photo session.

FLASH PICTURES ARE NOT ALLOWED DURING THE SERVICE.
PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR FAMILY, GUESTS, AND PHOTOGRAPHER.

NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ON CHURCH PROPERTY
No drugs or alcohol of any kind are allowed on Church grounds or within Church buildings at any time during the rehearsal or wedding. This includes the parking lots. There is NO SMOKING within the Church buildings. Smoking is permitted outside the building.

FEES
Nave:
There is no charge for use by members who are regular worshippers and regular contributors of record.
All others: Building use fee is $150 payable upon initial scheduling of date.

Sexton:
The Sexton’s fee is $125. The Sexton arrives two hours before the wedding to unlock the Church, prepare the bride's room, and assist with flowers; she remains at the church throughout the wedding service; and during the hour after the wedding, cleans up and secures the church facility for closing. There is an additional cost of $50 per hour or any portion of an hour if the sexton requires more than one hour after the wedding to complete closing procedures.

Pre-Marital Counseling/Instruction:
This is a requirement for all couples being married at St. John's. Discuss specific scheduling with your priest.

Clergy Honorarium:
Many people ask about the proper honorarium amount. You may discuss this with your wedding consultant if you desire (Note: the usual and customary range is between $200-$300). The normal honorarium for participating in a wedding at a location other than the church is $300.

WEDDING RECEPTIONS AT THE CHURCH
We do not have the staffing to host receptions at the church. If you wish, you may speak to the Rector regarding any possible exception.

PLEASE NOTE: Receiving lines are most appropriate at the reception

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
The bride’s family is customarily responsible for all fees except the honorarium for the clergy, which is traditionally taken care of by the groom.

The parish has facilities for the bride to dress at the Church. There is no charge for this. A wedding consultant can show these facilities to you.

The groom and all groomsmen should be ready at least 45 minutes before the start of the wedding. The ushers should be on duty in the Narthex at least 25 minutes before the start of the service and begin seating people as they arrive. The bridal party should be at the church at least 45 minutes before the wedding. Please notify your consultant of your planned arrival time. Also notify your photographer of your timetable. Weddings start on time at St. John's!

Rehearsals are scheduled with your priest.

Wedding services at St. John's are performed from the Book of Common Prayer.

St. John's clergy are honored to officiate at your wedding and will be assigned by the rector. The participation of other clergy is welcome, in consultation with the rector.

Wedding consultants are parishioners at St. John's whose ministry is to assist you in your wedding planning. Consultants are generally available at the wedding rehearsal as well as the wedding. We ask that you extend every courtesy to your consultants as they are here to help you.