LANSING UNITED CHURCH

 

WEDDING INFORMATION

 

Last updated February 1st, 2009

 

 

The following information is provided to assist you in planning your wedding at Lansing United Church. We are concerned to help you in terms of preparations for “the wedding” and also with planning for “marriage” because we want both your wedding day and your continuing marriage relationship to be filled with love and joy and meaning!

 

The Christian Church is involved in marriage because we believe that the commitment of marriage and the love and trust learned in the family relationship is of critical importance in our development as mature individuals.  Furthermore, it is through our self-giving love and commitment to one another that we appreciate the depths of God’s love and care for us as revealed though Jesus Christ.

 

It should be remembered that the Marriage Service is an act of Christian Worship.  Everything about it, therefore - words, music, symbols, etc., should be consistent with a service of worship.

 

Whatever the details or arrangements to be made, we want every bride and groom to remember that at the heart of Christian marriage lies a life-long commitment and promise made in the presence of God and in the light of Christian understanding of love.

 

“I, ____________ take you, ____________, to be my wife (husband); to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish and to be faithful to you alone, as long as we both shall live.”

 

1. ARRANGING THE DATE

The first step in arranging a marriage to take place at Lansing United Church is to consult with the minister regarding the date and the hour you have in mind.  This will, of course, be a tentative booking, for all weddings are subject to meeting with and being prepared for marriage by our minister.

 

It is the policy of Lansing United Church that only the minister of Lansing United Church may conduct weddings in our church.  Our minister may invite another minister to assist in a marriage service.

 

 

2.  INTERVIEWS WITH THE MINISTER

An interview with the minister should be arranged as soon as possible; until this first pre-marital interview has been held no wedding plans can be considered confirmed.  In this and subsequent interviews, details of the ceremony will be explained and worked out under the guidance of the minister, as well as allowing the minister and bride and groom to share together in discussions about the Christian understanding of Marriage.

 

3.  PREPARATION COURSES

From time to time Marriage Preparation courses are held in the area.  These classes are provided under an ecumenical sponsorship.  Skilled resource people are brought in to share in discussions about such subjects as: personal development, marriage law, money management, sexuality, communication, family life, etc.  We urge every couple considering marriage to participate in such a course, when in the local community.

 

4. LICENCE OR BANNS

In Ontario, a couple may be married by either Licence or Banns.  You are entitled to be married by Banns if “The parties are in the habit of attending worship at the same Church….or in different Churches”.  (The Marriage Act, #15)

 

If you are to be married by Licence, please arrange to obtain it well in advance of the date of marriage. 

 

A Marriage Licence is obtained at any City Hall, and once issued is valid for 3 months.  We would appreciate having it delivered to the Church office at least one week before the ceremony.

 

5. FEES

The schedule of fees relating to weddings at Lansing United Church is as follows:

 

a)      A fee of $200.00 is charged for the use of the facilities of Lansing United Church.

b)      There may be a fee for the secretary, depending on the complexity of the marriage ceremony        planned.  This fee would be $50.00 and is applied at the discretion of the minister.

c)      The fee for the Organist is $150.00.

d)      The fee for the custodian is $75.00

 

Adjustments in any of these fees may be made through consultation with the minister.

 

The services of the Minister are to be recognized with a minimum honorarium of $225.00.

 

Note: All of the above fees and Honorarium should be placed in envelopes indicating the person for whom they are intended.  A note of thanks would be appropriate.  These should be delivered to the minister with your marriage license no later than a week prior to your wedding rehearsal.  Please ensure the cheques are post-dated one week prior to your rehearsal.

 

6.  MUSIC

All music in connection with a wedding must be appropriate to a Christian service of worship.  Generally speaking, this means that music in its entirety expresses faith in God and the implications of that faith in our human relationships.  (The instrument which we normally use for worship in Lansing Church is the organ and it should be remembered that music selected ought to be appropriate to the organ.)  When a wedding date has been set and has been confirmed by the first interview with the minister, then the bride and groom should arrange a consultation with the music director to discuss all aspects of the service music. This should be done some weeks before the wedding because all music, either vocal or instrumental, must be discussed and meet the approval of the music director. The music director can suggest suitable music and be happy to share ideas with you.  Our music director may give approval for other competent musicians to play the church organ.

 

 

7.  PHOTOGRAPHS (including video recordings)

Any photographer desiring to take pictures or any aspect of the wedding is asked to clear instructions through the officiating minister. NO photographs may be taken during the actual marriage ceremony, but there are other appropriate times in which pictures may be taken.  (A picture may be taken of the bride and her escort as they begin the processional, during the recessional and during the signing of the register.)  We are concerned that everyone, photographers included, remember that the wedding is a service of worship and must not be disrupted.

 

Tape recorders may be used to record the service provided they are in place and running well before the wedding begins.

 

 

8. FLOWERS, ETC.

The sanctuary of our Church is really quite beautiful and further decorations tend to distract rather than add anything to the Christian symbolism of the Church.

 

However, if you wish to have some flowers, please arrange to deliver them to the church approximately one hour before the time of your wedding and we will see that they are appropriately placed.

 

Please, no confetti in the Church or on the grounds!

(Remind your enthusiastic friends.)

 

 

The minister and those associated with the minister are anxious to help make your marriage a meaningful and significant Christian celebration.  Please feel free to discuss any matters that relate to your marriage and/or the details of its arrangements.  We want it to be an event enjoyed by all who participate!