etting Married? MARRIAGE & WEDDING PREPARATION GUIDE NORTHLAND A CHURCH DISTRIBUTED

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1 etting Married? MARRIAGE & WEDDING PREPARATION GUIDE NORTHLAND A CHURCH DISTRIBUTED

2 Marriage & Wedding PREPARATION GUIDE The Northland elders, pastors and staff want your wedding day to be a wonderful and memorable event. We trust that this information will help you plan your special day. OUR PRAYER FOR YOU is that God will bless your marriage for life, as you place Him first, and that your marriage will reflect and communicate Christ s love to the world around you. Please read through this guide in its entirety before you complete the appropriate forms or register online. Northland, A Church Distributed 530 Dog Track Road Longwood, FL (407)

3 PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE AND YOUR WEDDING Congratulations! You are at a very important crossroads in your life, whether you are contemplating marriage or planning your wedding. The elders, pastors and staff at Northland value marriage and want your wedding day to be a wonderful and memorable event that sets the stage for your lifelong commitment. The following pages will guide you as you make your decisions.* PLANNING PROCESS FOR YOUR WEDDING In an effort to help you build a foundation for a successful marriage, the steps below have been carefully and thoughtfully arranged. Please read through this information before submitting the forms and worksheets required. 1. Complete and submit the Wedding Information Form and the Facilities, Services and Fees Worksheet. 2. Return them in person or via to the Pastoral Services coordinator. Receipt of this form is considered the start of wedding scheduling and planning. 3. Please allow up to a year, and no less than four months, for scheduling your wedding and minister. Couples indicating a wedding date less than four months from receipt of these forms may not be able to secure their wedding services through Northland. 4. Upon receipt of the Wedding Information Form and Facilities, Services and Fees Worksheet, the Pastoral Services coordinator will contact you and connect you with a minister. 5. Have an initial meeting with your minister to confirm your marriage preparation and wedding plans. During this first appointment, the minister will communicate a plan of action for the months ahead. 6. The Pastoral Services coordinator will confirm your minister, wedding day, time and location with you. You will then be assigned a wedding coordinator to work with you on the wedding logistics. 7. Register for and complete one or more marriage preparation courses, agreed on by your officiating minister. *The wedding services described here are available to couples that regularly attend Northland. THE MINISTER / OFFICIANT We understand that every couple s situation and preferences are unique. In light of this, we ve addressed some commonly requested arrangements for ministers. In each case, couples will need to follow these guidelines in completing adequate marriage preparation.

4 Northland ministers for Northland weddings Northland has a team of gifted ministers who are equipped and ready to guide you through your preparation and officiate your wedding. You may request a specific minister or the Pastoral Services coordinator will help you select one. Northland Ministers are always willing to perform weddings for couples previously married in a civil ceremony. Northland ministers officiating off-site weddings Northland ministers are willing to officiate your wedding at a facility other than at a Northland facility, as their schedules allow. Be sure to talk through and confirm these arrangements with the minister at your initial appointment. Non-Northland ministers officiating at Northland If you would like a minister from another church to officiate your wedding at Northland, please indicate this on your Wedding Information Form. These situations are considered on an individual basis, and the Pastoral Services coordinator will discuss them with you. INITIAL MEETING WITH A MINISTER Most couples choose to get married through a church because of their desire to seek God s blessing on their marriage. In an effort to help you achieve a godly marriage, you can expect any Northland minister to discuss these relevant topics with you during your initial conversation: 1. God s plan, design and intentions for marriage 2. The importance of having a growing, personal relationship with Christ 3. Resolution of areas of potential conflict 4. Sexual purity 5. Building relationships with other couples 6. Wedding ceremony details When meeting with you, your Northland minister will not only focus on your wedding day, but will work to help you lay the groundwork for a solid, lasting relationship. He/ she will seek God s intentions for your relationship prior to your wedding. While it is common today for couples to live together prior to marriage, Northland s position and understanding of Scripture is that couples honor God s intentions for the best marriage possible by living apart and remaining sexually abstinent until marriage (Hebrews 13:4). This may require changes based on your own current relationship. Before ending your initial conversation, be sure to take the opportunity to schedule the future appointments needed with your minister. If you have any questions after your initial visit with your minister, the Pastoral Services coordinator is available to assist you.

5 PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE Statistics tell us that most divorces occur within the first five years of marriage. Yet, most engaged couples spend far more time preparing for their wedding day than preparing for a lifetime together. No other human relationship can approach the potential for intimacy and oneness that can be found within the context of marriage. Yet no other relationship can bring with it as many challenges. Because of our desire to help you build a strong foundation for this lifetime commitment, a formal marriage preparation process is required if you are being married through Northland. In order to get the most out of this process, we recommend that you begin this process at least six months before your wedding date. If you have been through a divorce, a recovery process is very important. Our recommended option for you is to go through DivorceCare prior to beginning marriage preparation. Information about DivorceCare can be found on northlandchurch.net. MARRIAGE PREPARATION OPTIONS Northland s Marriage Preparation Class Northland offers a thirteen-week Marriage Preparation Class twice each year beginning in January and August. We invite any couple, engaged, not engaged (but seriously considering engagement) or married without the benefit of premarital counseling, to take this class. Check the monthly RESPOND paper or northlandchurch.net for starting dates, time, location, application, deadlines and fees. Other Marriage Preparation Options Other marriage preparation courses are offered by Northland that will help you build a strong and healthy marriage. Check the Northland website and the RESPOND paper for those options, and discuss your plan with your officiating minister. Marriage preparation courses offered by other churches Many other churches in the community offer marriage preparation courses. If there is one that you would like to pursue, confirm this with your officiating minister. Premarital counseling Many counseling centers and churches around central Florida offer premarital counseling. If there is a counselor that you want to work with, confirm this with your officiating minister.

6 FACILITIES The Rink at Longwood, formerly the sanctuary, is available on a limited basis for weddings. It seats up to 1,200, but can be arranged for smaller groups. The Northland sanctuary can be used as available, but due to the Saturday evening services, there can be difficulties reserving it. Fees are listed on the relevant forms. WEDDING COORDINATOR After your wedding date is confirmed, you will be assigned a Northland wedding coordinator who will be your primary contact regarding Northland s resources as you plan your wedding. Your coordinator will: 1. Have an initial meeting with you. 2. Give you a tour of requested facilities. 3. Review wedding ceremony and venue logistics. 4. Answer your wedding planning questions pertaining to Northland s resources. 5. Discuss event setup and cleanup times. 6. Coordinate your wedding rehearsal. 7. Advise you about cleanup and building care actions that are your responsibility. 8. Act as liaison with your professional coordinator/director if you have one. (Please take it upon yourself to introduce the two and ensure that she/he cooperates fully with the Northland wedding coordinator and minister.) 9. Convey your wedding ceremony needs to the Northland technician assigned to your wedding. TECHNICIANS A technician will take care of any sound and stage arrangements at your rehearsal and wedding. FACILITIES AND SERVICES FEES Refer to the Wedding Facilities, Services and Fees Worksheet in the back of this guide.

7 CARING FOR THE FACILITIES As Northland is not primarily a wedding venue, and only minimal staff is employed for event cleanup, we appreciate your help in leaving the facilities as you found them. 1. Please ask your florist to protect the carpet by placing plastic under any plants used. 2. Please protect the carpet by only dropping silk flower petals in the sanctuary. 3. When planning your departure from the wedding, we recommend you provide bubbles to be used outside by your guests. Please refrain from throwing rice or birdseed inside or outside the building.. 4. In reserving the building for your wedding, allow one hour after the ceremony for picture taking. 5. Please respect our no smoking and no consumption of alcoholic beverages guidelines in all Northland buildings and on all Northland property. 6. Please take all décor and flowers which you brought, with you when you leave. 7. Northland cannot guarantee that anything left in the chapel or other rooms will be found and returned. If anything is found, attempts will be made to contact you. SUMMARY We are excited for you in this season of your life and are committed to working with you to build a strong foundation for this important lifelong commitment you are about to make. We pray God s blessing on you and that He would give you wisdom, discernment and a deep desire to reflect Christ in your marriage.

8 530 Dog Track Road Longwood, FL WEDDING FACILITIES, SERVICES AND FEES WORKSHEET BRIDE GROOM WEDDING DATE: NOTE: Northland ministers do not have fees. It is appropriate, but not required, to give your minister an honorarium for officiating your wedding ceremony. BASE RENTALS PLEASE INDICATE FACILITIES AND SERVICES YOU WILL NEED: Venue/Room Seating Fee Totals [ ] The Rink at Northland s Student Ministries and Care Center 1,160 $800 [ ] Worship Center/Sanctuary 3,150 $1200 TOTAL BASE FEES $ ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND FEES The services indicated below are available for additional hourly fees with a three-hour minimum charge. # Needed Hours Estimated/Actual Totals [ ] Traffic Control ($30/hr. per officer, 3-hr. min.) [ ] Parking Attendant ($15/hr. per attendant, 3-hr. min.) [ ] Setup/Takedown Assistance ($15/hr. per assistant, 3-hr. min.) [ ] Additional Tech video and/or lighting ($30/hr. per tech, 3-hr min.) [ ] Additional Cleaning ($25/hr. each cleaner) TOTAL ESTIMATED FEES $ To hold your requested facilities, please submit your Wedding Information Form, this form and a $150 deposit (check or money order) made payable to Northland, A Church Distributed, to the Pastoral Services coordinator. Payment in full is due no later than four months prior to your wedding date. If, for some reason, you do not need to use the facilities or services for which you paid, we will issue you a full refund, including your deposit. Deposit Amount Balance Amount Due Date Deposit Submitted Balance Due Date (4 months before wedding) The above selections reflect the needs we have for our wedding at this current time. We understand that any fees in addition to the base rental fees are an estimate and will be open to adjustments by us and by Northland based on actual needs and services as agreed upon by both us and Northland. Bride s Signature Groom s Signature Date Please keep a copy of this completed form for your records. OFFICE USE ONLY Form Received Deposit $ Ck # Date Pymnt $ Ck # Date Pymnt $ Ck # Date

9 NORTHLAND A CHURCH DISTRIBUTED 530 Dog Track Road Longwood, FL