Weddings
The Marriage Ceremony
You are about to enter the highest of all human relationships, Christian Marriage. Your coming to the Church presupposes that you desire a ceremony to be conducted in the spirit of Christian worship. In Christian Marriage, Christ is the apex of a triangle, the closer you come to Him, the closer you will become to each other.
Christian marriage is the establishment of a covenant between two people in the presence of God. When you seek to be married in the Church, you recognize that marriage is a relationship ordained by God and best experienced in Christian love.
“Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. So faith, hope, love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13
Contact the church office for more information.
Church Facilities Available for Weddings
The Worship Space, which seats 300, is used for weddings and rehearsals. There is a Bride’s Room in the Lower Level for use by the bride and her attendants, prior to the wedding. The Conference Room is available for the groom and groomsmen.
The Worship Space is opened for a 1-hour rehearsal and 1 ½ hours before and 1 hour following the conclusion of the ceremony. Any other arrangements must be approved by the Wedding Coordinator.
Reserving a Wedding Date
Membership in St. Mark’s Lutheran Church by either the bride or groom, or the parents of either the bride or groom entitles them to use of the Worship Space for the wedding. No wedding date is reserved until the following are done:
1. The church office confirms the date & staff are available
2. The office manager receives the information sheet back from the couple and contacts the Wedding Coordinator.
3. A deposit must be paid at the time a reservation is made. Payment of the deposit secures the reservation date. The remainder is due 4 weeks prior to the wedding date.
Deposit: $350
* These arrangements should be made directly by the bride or groom, not by other family members.
* We do not book weddings more than a year in advance.
Cancellation Policy: In case of cancellation, your deposit is refundable up to 60 days prior to the wedding date, but no part is refundable after that date.
Reserving a Wedding Rehearsal Date
The wedding rehearsal is directed by the Wedding Coordinator and normally takes one hour. The Sanctuary will be opened 15 minutes before the start of he rehearsal. It will close promptly following the rehearsal.
The time of the rehearsal should be determined when reserving a wedding date, so schedules can be checked for conflicts.
The Pastor
Our Pastor is to be used for weddings in our church. Contact the Pastor to set up appointments for required premarital counseling. If the bride wishes to invite another pastor to also take part in the ceremony, the proper procedure is to ask our current pastor for his/her approval and to invite the guest pastor.
Wedding Coordinator
The Wedding Coordinator will contact the Bride/Groom to discuss arrangements. The Wedding Coordinator is responsible for directing the rehearsal, coordinating the wedding, answering any questions concerning the wedding.
Music
Music, both instrumental and vocal, will add a special meaning to the wedding ceremony. The Organist of this church will be used when organ or piano music is desired.
The Organist can guide you in choosing music for your wedding (ultimate decisions of the suitability of any music played or sung at the wedding is left to the Organist and Pastor).
Flowers and Decorations
The bride and groom are responsible for making arrangements for flowers.
Sanctuary decorations should be discussed with the Wedding Coordinator.
Flowers should be delivered one hour before the wedding unless other arrangements have been made.
It is up to the bride and groom to arrange for removal of flower arrangements. If flower arrangements are left behind, they will be used for the church worship services and given away to shut-ins or the Chula Vista Veterans Home.
The information you will need to know in talking with your florist about flowers and decorations include:
Floral containers: 4 white wicker baskets, which must remain in the Sanctuary. They may not be borrowed for the reception. Let the Wedding Coordinator know if the florist will be using them.
Pew bouquets, greenery, or bows can be attached using a plastic clip (no tape or wire of any kind is allowed). There are a total of 10 pews per side of the aisle.
Pew ribbons/ropes may be draped between pews on either side of the center aisle. Pew ribbons restrict guests from using the center aisle.
Candles
The Church does not have candle holders nor candelabras. The bride and groom supply their own candles and holders.
The Custodian
The custodian’s fee is included in the wedding fees. These include his work the night of the rehearsal and before & after the wedding ceremony.
Audio Technician/ Sound System
An audio tech will be supplied to operate the sound system at the rehearsal and the ceremony.
Photographer and/or Video Operator
On such a memorable occasion in a couple’s life together, it is customary to take time to document the ceremonies and festivities for future enjoyment. At the same time, we must be aware that a Christian marriage ceremony is a time of worship. Therefore, there are guidelines we require of any photographer and/or video operator:
* The wedding ceremony begins when the pastor begins speaking (after the processional) and ends when the pastor introduces the couple (beginning of the recessional).
* No flash photography during the ceremony.
* Be as unobtrusive as possible. Do not move around the Worship Space.
* Do not stand on pews to take pictures.
(It would be advisable for the photographer to visit the church and see the sanctuary due to possible lighting concerns.)
Bride’s Room
The Bride’s Room is another area where photos can be taken. There are places to hang dresses, mirrors, electrical outlets, counter space, a small table, and an adjoining bathroom.
Please leave the room as you found it.
Please assign someone to clear the Bride’s Room of any personal items before leaving the church grounds on the wedding day.
Groom’s Changing Area
There is a Conference Room through the double doors at the left side of the altar/chancel area.
Please assign someone to clear the conference room of any items before leaving the church grounds on the wedding day.
The Rehearsal
It is expected that the wedding party will be prompt.
Members of the wedding party should refrain from the use of alcoholic beverages immediately prior to the rehearsal and the wedding.
The Worship Space will be open 15 minutes before the start of the rehearsal and close promptly after the rehearsal.
The Wedding Day
The Worship Space is opened 1 ½ hours before the ceremony. It is closed 1 hour after the ceremony ends. Any other arrangements must be approved by the Wedding Coordinator.
No smoking is permitted in Church buildings. Please go out to the parking area.
Because of risk of personal injury and liability, the throwing of birdseed, rice, confetti, and sugar pellets is prohibited.
There is no child care provided. Parents are expected to supervise their own children. Infants can be changed in the women’s bathroom located in the entry area.
Reception using Jacobson Hall
Please see the “Building Use Guidelines” for information regarding using Jacobson Hall for a wedding reception.
Wedding Fees
Membership in St. Mark’sLutheranChurchby the bride or groom, or the parents of either the bride or groom entitles them to use of the Worship Space for the wedding ceremony.
It is required that the couple pay all remaining church fees four weeks before the wedding. Please pay with a check made out to “St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.”
Member Notes
Pastor $500 counseling, rehearsal & wedding
Organist $200 rehearsal & wedding
Coordinator $200 rehearsal & wedding
Custodian $75 church set-up & clean-up
Sound Tech $75 rehearsal & wedding
Church Use $750 (non-members) rehearsal & wedding
**Reminder: Half of the fees are due at the time a reservation is made with the remainder due 4 weeks prior to the wedding.
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