All Saints Lutheran Church 4325 SW Green Oaks Blvd. Arlington, TX (817)

Transcription

1 Planning Your Christian Wedding or Renewing Your Wedding Vows All Saints Lutheran Church 4325 SW Green Oaks Blvd. Arlington, TX (817)

2 All Saints Lutheran Church 4325 SW Green Oaks Blvd. Arlington, TX (817) APPLICATION FOR CHURCH FACILITY USE Requestor Home Phone ( Member Non Member) Cell Phone Street Address / Appt # Work Phone City & State Zip REQUIREMENTS WEDDING: Date: Worship Center Atrium Time: From to Cry/Bride Room Choir Room (for Groomsmen) REHEARSAL: Date: Worship Center Fellowship Hall Time: From to Atrium Kitchen / Narthex RECEPTION: (100 people maximum) Date: Fellowship Hall Narthex Time: From to Kitchen Atrium 2

3 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS (Use of decorations, serving/preparation of food, Arrangement of furniture, etc.) I have read and agree to the rules and regulations set forward in the All Saints Lutheran Church Wedding Planning Booklet. Responsible Person Date Approved Pastor Not Approved Date Approved Office Manager Not Approved Date Total Deposit Received ($250 Security Deposit due for a reception) Office Manager Deposit Amount Returned Office Manager Date Date Returned Date 3

4 WEDDINGS AT ALL SAINTS LUTHERAN CHURCH Those who come to be joined in Christian marriage do so because of their conviction that marriage is far more than a legal contract; it is a blessing instituted by the Lord. All Saints Lutheran Church and its staff desire to make your wedding a worship event. The wedding celebration is meant to be joyful and meaningful. The policies set forth here are intended to be appropriate to our facilities and the most helpful for those being married. Also, they reflect a pastoral concern for each couple and can be discussed in full with the minister involved. In order to help you in planning your wedding and to acquaint you with the accepted customs of our church, the following information concerning weddings is offered. It is also requested that you fill out the attached wedding forms and return them to the Office Manager for Approval. SCHEDULING THE WEDDING AND REHEARSAL Your wedding and rehearsal must be approved by a Pastor and entered on the church calendar at least eight weeks prior to the date of the wedding. One of the pastors of All Saints Lutheran must be the officiating pastor at your wedding. Your date may be placed on the calendar up to a year prior to the date you have chosen. Before the date of your wedding is set, clear the wedding rehearsal, wedding and reception dates and times with the Pastor and then the Fellowship Director in order to avoid any conflicts. Also, clear with the Pastor the times of the pre-marriage counseling appointments. The Pastor conducting the wedding ceremony wants to be helpful in all aspects of a wedding with counsel and advice. Do not hesitate to ask him about any matters that concern you. The Pastor who will be conducting the wedding will initially meet with the couple to discuss this policy and answer questions regarding wedding plans. Weddings will not be conducted on the following dates: New Year Eve or Day, Holy Week, Easter Sunday, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Eve or Day, Christmas Eve or Day. PRE-MARRIAGE COUNSELING It is our practice that each couple being married participates in a program of pre-marriage counseling. Our Pastor(s) who is trained to be helpful with the various aspects of pre-marriage counseling will conduct this counseling. A couple frequently finds that there are areas of understanding they never thought to explore together. It is our experience that some adjustments and compromises are more easily made before marriage than afterward. Above all, a couple will grow together in their understanding of what the Scripture teaches concerning the meaning and purposes of marriage. Arrangements for pre-marital counseling need to be made early enough so that there is every opportunity to take advantage of it as a marriage preparation resource. Please contact the Pastor who will be officiating at your wedding for assistance with the appointment schedules. 4

5 WEDDING COORDINATOR The role of the Wedding Coordinator is to familiarize the wedding party and other wedding participants with the rules and regulations of our church, open the church for the rehearsal and wedding, to make arrangements for the required personnel (Sound Tech, Custodian, Set-up), and answer specific questions about decorating. The Coordinator will assist at the rehearsal and at the wedding itself. After your date has been confirmed, the Wedding Coordinator will contact you. The bride and her family will want to consult with the Wedding Coordinator early in the process of planning for a wedding. The Wedding Coordinator is required for all weddings and is compensated according to the Wedding Fee Schedule on Page 10. SOUND TECH The role of the Sound Tech is to move all chancel furnishings & instruments that can be moved and to operate the sound system. The Sound Tech Coordinator will arrange the Sound Tech after being contacted by the Wedding Coordinator. A Sound Tech from All Saints is required for all rehearsals and weddings. It is not an option for the wedding party to provide their own sound tech. The Sound Tech is compensated according to the Wedding Fee Schedule on Page 10. CUSTODIAN The role of the Custodian is to prepare the facilities for the rehearsal, wedding and reception, to clean up following the wedding/reception and to close the facilities following the rehearsal and the wedding/reception. It is not an option for the wedding party to provide their own clean-up crew. Custodial service is required at the rate on Pages 10 and 11 of the fee schedule. REHEARSALS For an orderly wedding, a rehearsal is imperative. A time that is mutually satisfactory to all parties should be set. Past experience has shown that the pastors of the church are in a better position than outside consultants to determine what will be practical as to the arrangements of the wedding party. For this reason, it is recommended that bridal consultants not be present for the rehearsal. The hour and date of the rehearsal is set with the Pastor. Ordinarily, a rehearsal is scheduled for the evening preceding the wedding ceremony. Suggested time is 6:00 or 6:30 p.m. Promptness in beginning a rehearsal is a must. Rehearsals will last approximately one hour. The entire wedding party, all musicians, all ushers and all participants should attend. Attendance by participants in the service (i.e., Pastor(s), musicians, etc., and their spouses) at your rehearsal dinner and/or reception should not be assumed, nor do they expect that you have to invite them. WHAT DO USHERS DO? 1. Ushers should arrive at the church at least one hour before the ceremony. 2. Be friendly and pleasant. Give wedding bulletins (if used) to guests. Offer your right arm to female guests as you usher them to their seats. Always keep hands at your sides, never in your pockets. 3. Ushers light any designated candles 13 minutes before the ceremony. 4. Usher the parents and grandparents of the bride and groom down the center aisle. 5

6 5. Usher in the bride s mother after ushering in the groom s parents. Exit. Close the doors of the Worship Center. Close any doors as needed. If you are also an attendant, go immediately to prepare for the procession. 6. If you are not in the wedding party, stay near the rear of the Worship Center to seat latecomers. Seat them near the rear of the Worship Center. 7. After the wedding ceremony, ushers will escort the mothers and grandparents of the bride and groom from the front of the Worship Center. (Fathers follow the ushered mothers). MUSIC The Christian wedding is a worship celebration. The music selected for this worship should be appropriate to Christian worship, giving honor to the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Arrangements should be made directly with a Music Ministry staff person. Music used in a Christian wedding celebration should reflect the belief that we are celebrating in a worship celebration. The music should express praise and thanksgiving to God for his love for us, and who sanctifies marriage, rather than simply expressing feelings of love and romance between the couple. Therefore, some forms of music are inappropriate and will not be used as part of the marriage service. The pastor must approve all music. As a guideline in selection, the couple should ask themselves: Does the music direct attention to God who sanctifies marriage? Does the music communicate God s concern for the marriage relationship? What does it mean for us as Christians to be waiting for a life together in faith? Under normal circumstances, an accompanist from All Saints will play for the service. The couple must contract directly with the accompanist. This provides a musician familiar with our church and our instruments to serve at the wedding. If a guest musician is desired, approval must be secured from the Director of Music. All music arrangements must be made through the Director of Music to ensure correct usage of equipment. VOCAL MUSIC; Vocal music performed during the wedding should enhance the worship experience. The couple selects their own vocalist. If a vocalist is desired, the church musician may make suggestions. HYMNS: It is proper to have a hymn sung by a soloist, choir or congregation. Congregational participation in worship is encouraged. WEDDING BULLETIN/UNITY CANDLE A wedding bulletin truly enhances the wedding service. It includes the order of service, hymns and the names of those participating in the service. Our Office Manager requires four weeks advance notice if she will be ordering the bulletins. She needs all music and wedding participants two weeks before the wedding. There is a $35 charge for printing the wedding bulletins, plus the cost of the bulletins if ordered through the church. Unity candles may be secured through your florist. 6

7 PICTURES AND PHOTOGRAPHS Photographs serve as a lasting treasure of this special day. However, in order to preserve the spirit of reverence and so as not to disturb the participants and guests, no flash photographs shall be taken during the ceremony. Your photographer may take photos with available light during the ceremony provided he or she remains behind all guests and does not become a focus of attention. The photographer is not permitted in the chancel area during the wedding celebration. Photos may be taken of the wedding party either prior to the service or after the ceremony. If you take pictures prior to the ceremony in the worship center, you will need to be out of the worship center one-half hour prior to the wedding. VIDEO TAPE RECORDING Some wish to record the ceremony using videotape equipment. Clearance for such videotaping needs to be made in advance and coordinated with the Pastor. Recording shall be done in a manner, which minimizes disturbances and distractions (floodlights are not permitted). The Pastor is willing to wear a remote microphone if requested, and must be contacted by the video photographer in advance to make such arrangements. RECEPTIONS The Fellowship Hall is available for receptions for groups no larger than 100 people upon arrangement with the Fellowship Director. All receptions must end by 9:00 pm. If the kitchen is used for the reception, it must be returned to the same condition that it was in prior to the event. All kitchenware used during the reception must be washed and returned to their original locations. The wedding party must provide all paper products, dishtowels and table coverings. The stove & oven are not available for use. A security deposit of $250 is required at the time the Application for Church Facility Use is submitted when a reception is planned at the church. FLOWERS AND DECORATIONS Floral arrangements and other decorations should enhance and never distract from the worshipful atmosphere of the chancel area. Live flowers and greenery or artificial flowers and greenery may be used. No flowers are permitted on the altar. Festival decorations and banners placed by the church will remain in place during wedding ceremonies as these are usually placed in commemoration of the date. The altar colors for the wedding service will be those representing the liturgical day or season. If the bride wishes to keep the floral arrangements provided by the florist, she must arrange to have the flowers picked up immediately following the wedding service. If the bride wishes to leave the flowers for worship the following day, this is permitted. The church office should be notified, and the flowers should be picked up immediately following worship the next day. The flower girls may drop flower petals provided a cloth runner is used to cover the carpet. Only dripless candles are permitted for decorating. When a candelabra and/or a unity candle are used, the wedding party is required to provide protective rug cover sheets of non-flammable plastic or equal material. The florist providing the candelabra should be informed to pick up the arrangements immediately following the service. If pickup cannot be done immediately, arrangements must be made to have these removed prior to congregational worship on Sunday morning. All Saints is not responsible for candelabra or flower arrangements left following the service. 7

8 If ribbons, bows, or other decorations are to be placed on the ends of the pews, please be careful to attach them in a way that will not damage the wood. No tape is allowed. The wedding party will pay for any wood damage. No latex balloons are permitted in the building. Someone in the wedding party should be designated to be sure all clothing items, wedding items and other paraphernalia are removed from the building prior to departing. Again, All Saints cannot be responsible for items left in the building following the service. The Wedding Coordinator is available to answer your specific questions regarding decorations. USE OF THE FACILITIES Only professional piano movers at your own expense can move the grand piano. All other chancel furnishings & instruments can be moved, but only by a member of the Sound Tech Team. The Fellowship Hall and kitchen facilities are available for rehearsal dinners and receptions. The capacity of the Fellowship Hall is approximately 100 people. Larger anticipated attendance cannot be accommodated. All weddings and receptions must be completed no later than 9:00 pm. An Application for Church Facility Use is included in the front of this book and must be filled out & submitted at the time the wedding is placed on the church calendar or not less than six months prior to the date of the wedding. The security deposit of $250 is required at this time if a reception is held at the church. The seating capacity of the Worship Center is approximately 450. Weddings with a larger anticipated attendance cannot be accommodated. The custodian will prepare the facilities for the rehearsal, wedding and reception, clean up following the wedding/reception and close the facilities following the rehearsal and the wedding/reception. The set-up crew will see to it that the Fellowship Hall is set in a special arrangement provided it is given one week in advance. The building should be left clean and neat. Clothing, hangers and other items brought for the wedding and reception should be removed prior to the family departing the church no later than 9 pm. Bridal parties can dress in the Bride/Cry Room prior to the wedding and may have access to that room as much as three hours prior to the wedding. The groomsmen often dress prior to arrival at the church, but are welcome to dress in the Choir Room. Birdseed may be thrown outside the building only. Rice is not to be used. No alcoholic beverages may be used for any purpose other than for Holy Communion and are not permitted in any of the buildings, park or associated property of All Saints Lutheran Church. No rehearsal or wedding ceremony will be conducted when any member of the wedding party is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A toast at the reception may be offered with non-alcoholic beverages. There is no smoking permitted in any of the buildings that make up All Saints Lutheran Church. 8

9 THE LICENSE The bride and groom are reminded that they are responsible for securing a valid Marriage License no earlier than 30 days and at least 72 hours prior to the wedding. A license from any county in Texas is legal for the Pastor to honor. For a couple over the age of 18, both must present a driver s license or a certified copy of his or her birth certificate, and a Social Security number. Locally, the license may be secured at the County Courthouse at 100 Weatherford St., Room 180 in Ft. Worth, or at the sub-courthouse in Arlington on Border Street. Be sure to bring the license with you no later than the night of the rehearsal so that you do not need to worry about it the day of the wedding. The Pastor cannot conduct the ceremony without the license. Witnesses do not sign Tarrant County licenses. Witnesses may sign Dallas County licenses. Following the ceremony, the license is signed by the Pastor, returned to the Courthouse for validation and mailed back to you. 9

10 WEDDING FEE SCHEDULE Members FACILITIES Worship Center - There is no rental charge for using the Worship Center; however, a $2O/hour (1 hour minimum) fee is required for the custodian to cover the services provided to prepare the Worship Center for the wedding Fellowship Hall - There is no rental charge for using the Fellowship Hall for a reception; however, a fee of $20/hour is required to cover the cleaning service fees. A fee of $25.00 is charged for a set up crew to set tables and chairs. Security Deposit - If the reception is held in the Fellowship Hall, a security deposit of $ is required. The deposit will be refunded in full if no additional cleaning or repairs are necessary. You will be advised if it is necessary to make deductions from your deposit. WEDDING COORDINATOR There will be one coordinator for each wedding. The coordinator receives a fee of $110. She/he will familiarize the wedding party and other wedding participants with the rules and regulations of our church and be available to open the facilities for the rehearsal and wedding. SOUND SYSTEM TECHNICIAN - The fee is $ For Pastors This is usually the responsibility of the groom. It is an expression of gratitude for Pastor s services, including four pre-marital counseling sessions, the rehearsal and wedding ceremony. Recommended is $200.00, depending upon the circumstances of the wedding arrangements. For Accompanist For the basic wedding ceremony, planning session, and rehearsal the fee is $ If there are additional vocal and/or instrumental rehearsals, the fee is $30.00 each. For Soloist/Instrumentalist Is $45.00 each. WEDDING BULLETIN Cost of the bulletins (if ordered through the church) plus $35 for printing. PREPAYMENT FOR WEDDING All fees must be given to the Wedding Coordinator the night of the rehearsal to be distributed to the appropriate people for you. Checks should be made payable to the participants. 10

11 RECEPTIONS Receptions in the Fellowship Hall or Atrium will need to be approved by the Fellowship Director who will be happy to assist you with decisions on catering. A Kitchen Manager will then be assigned to you so that we may keep the kitchen in code with the city of Arlington. You will have the choice of outside catering or catered in house. A reception in house will require a minimum of a two servers with a $10.00 an hour per server charge for food setup, serving and cleanup. RENTALS Chocolate Fountain - $25.00 plus the cost of chocolate Fountain - $25.00 for setup, and takedown 11