The Covenant of Marriage
Costs
Common Questions
The Covenant of Marriage
Marriage in the United Church of Christ is a covenant between two equal and independent people that is blessed by God and the church. In the simplest terms, the covenant is an agreement to live in relationship with each other, recognizing that the relationship will grow and change as the people in it walk through life. And, also in the simplest terms, the blessing is that God and the church will be there for the couple in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want, and all of the rest of the time, too.
In light of that covenant, we have two basic expectations for anyone hoping to have their wedding at First Congregational United Church of Christ:
First, we are a Christian church, and that means that wedding ceremonies at this church are Christian religious services. That said, we are very flexible, and our pastor is happy to work with you to create a service that reflects your personalities and relationship.
If you want to see what our worship services look like, we recommend visiting us on Sunday mornings or checking out the recordings of our services on our YouTube channel.
Second, our pastor recognizes that, once you’re searching for wedding venues, you have probably settled into a good relationship. He would still like to meet with you two or three times before the wedding to get a sense of you and your relationship, and to help you plan the ceremony itself.
If you would like some additional help thinking about your marriage—not just your wedding—our pastor is a certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator, and would be happy to lead you through that process for a small additional fee.
Costs
Our wedding fee is designed to be simple. The fee pays for:
Pastoral services, including pre-marital counseling, help planning the ceremony, coordination during the rehearsal, and officiating the wedding.
Use of our musical instruments and sound system, including our piano and organ.
Use the Sanctuary and Narthex for up to three hours on the day of the rehearsal, including one hour for the rehearsal itself (although the rehearsal usually takes less than an hour).
Use of the Sanctuary, Narthex, Fellowship Hall, Kitchen, and the two wedding party rooms for up to five hours on the day of the wedding, including an hour for the wedding itself (although weddings usually take less than an hour).
Use of storage space for up to three days, including the day of the wedding.
The fee for active members is $600. Additional hours may be purchased for the wedding day, if they are available, at a rate of $100 per hour.
The fee for all others is $1,200. Additional hours may be purchased for the wedding day, if they are available, at a rate of $200 per hour.
A non-refundable deposit of $200 is required to reserve the date and is paid toward the fee. The balance is due at the rehearsal.
Commonly Asked Questions
Who can officiate our wedding?
All weddings at our church are officiated by our pastor. If you have other people who you would like to have involved in your ceremony, he is more than happy to work with you to include them. In extraordinary circumstances, and with the pastor’s consent, another person may be allowed to officiate the wedding, but that is very rare.
What musicians can play at our wedding and what music can they play?
We are between music directors right now, so you are welcome to bring any musicians that you would like!
We are fairly open about musical selections and music may be sacred or secular. However, we reserve the right to refuse certain music if we feel that it would be inappropriate for a church setting.
Can we decorate?
You are free to decorate most of the sanctuary, the narthex, and fellowship hall as you see fit, provided that you take care not to damage anything (no nails, tacks, etc.).
The one area that we ask you not to decorate without the pastor’s approval is the chancel (the raised area in the front of the sanctuary). Traditionally, this area is decorated in white for weddings, but you may consult with the pastor if you have another idea in mind.
Do you perform same-sex weddings?
Yes we do! We are an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ. That means that no matter who you are, and no matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!