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Parish Handbook - Wedding
Guidelines and Procedures
1. Scheduling: A wedding service may be scheduled on the Church calendar
only after the couple has personally consulted with the Rector or
Assistant Rector, and received hls/her approval. (In the case of
remarriage following a divorce, final approval must come from the Bishop
of the Diocese before the date can be confirmed.) Wedding services are
not scheduled during Lent, except for urgent cause, and never during
Holy Week.
II. Pre-Marital Counseling: The couple must have several meetings with
the priest for instruction and counseling. Appointments for these
meetings must be scheduled through the Office Manager/Executive
Secretary.
III. Officiant: Good Shepherd clergy will normally officiate at all
wedding services. An Episcopal priest from outside the parish may
officiate with the Rector's permission. An ordained minister from
another denomination may assist at the wedding service with the Rector's
permission. .
IV. Marriage License: It is the couple's responsibility to obtain a
legal marriage license from the State of Texas. The priest cannot
perform a marriage without this license, which should be given to
him/her at the time of the rehearsal.
V. Rehearsals: The wedding service rehearsal is usually scheduled the
evening before the wedding. All participants in the wedding service,
including musicians, ushers, parents, and clergy, are expected to attend
and be on time. All aspects of the rehearsal and wedding service are
under the direction of the Wedding Chairman. A professional Wedding
Consultant may observe but not direct the rehearsal or the wedding
ceremony.
VI. Wedding Chairman: A Wedding Chairman, appointed by the Altar Guild,
will be assigned to each wedding. She should be contacted when the
wedding service is scheduled to arrange the time for a consultation at
the Church. She will assist the bride and be present at the rehearsal
and wedding service. The Office Manager will provide the name and phone
number of the Wedding Chairman.
VI. Music:
A. When music is desired at a wedding, the family should make
arrangements with the Director of Music Ministries.
B. The Canons of the Episcopal Church require that wedding music be
religious in nature, such as a hymn, psalm, or an anthem based on Holy
Scripture. All music and/or outside organist must be approved by the
Director of Music Ministries or the Rector.
C. The Good Shepherd Organist reserves the right of first refusal.
In the event that the Good Shepherd Organist is available, but the
wedding party elects to use another, the Good Shepherd Organist is still
entitled to compensation at the rate below. Current fees, which are
comparable to fees charged in this area by members of the American Guild
of Organists, are listed below:
Organist's fee for weddings
See Wedding Coordinator*
Organist's fee if working with a soloist
and/or
choir
(does not include soloist's fee)
See Wedding Coordinator*
*For Good Shepherd Organist. If an outside organist is
used, the fee is at the individual discretion of the outside organist.
Checks for the organist should be made payable to the organist, not Good
Shepherd Church, and delivered one week before the wedding.
D. The availability of the choir and/or instrumental ensemble
groups is subject to the discretion of the Director of Music Ministries
after consultation with the members. Should the choir sing; a donation
to Good Shepherd in the amount of $250.00 is deemed appropriate. Should
the bell choir and/or flute ensemble play, a donation to Good Shepherd
in the amount of $100.00 per group is deemed appropriate.
VIII Soloist: If a soloist is desired, the Wedding Chairman and the
Director of Music Ministries must be consulted regarding the placement
of the music in the service and the schedule for rehearsals.
IX. Flowers and Decorations: The Wedding Chairman will advise the bride
regarding her choice of flowers, decorations, and wedding bulletins. The
wedding party must pay for all flowers for the wedding. Wedding flowers
are limited to two arrangements to be placed in the Church's sconces on
the wall behind the altar. Sanctuary flowers are always considered a
gift to God and should remain in the Church to beautify future services.
Silk or artificial flowers are not allowed anywhere within the
sanctuary, including flowers carried by the wedding party. Other
decorations allowed are: wedding kneeling cushions, Good Shepherd pew
candles, and ribbons on the pews. Additional plants, candelabra or
decorations may not be used without the Rector's approval. .
X. Holy Communion: If the couple desires to receive Communion, it may be
given privately before or after the rehearsal or before the wedding. If
Eucharist is desired as part of the ceremony, then all baptized
Christians present will be offered Communion.
XI. Photographs:
A. In the Episcopal Church, weddings are considered to be worship
services 'and the same standards of reverence, dress code, and order are
to be observed.
B. No flash pictures may be taken in the Church from the time the
first member of the congregation is seated until the Church has emptied
following the wedding.
C. A picture taking session in the Church may be scheduled prior to
the wedding or immediately following it.
D. A time exposure may be taken without flash during the wedding
provided the photographer takes the picture from the aisle behind
the last row of pews in the central section of the Church or from the
choir loft.
E. Post-wedding photographs should be limited to approximately 15
minutes so as not to delay the reception and the duties of the church
staff.
F. If videotaping of the service is desired by the couple, the
placement of the camera and crew must be in the choir loft.
G. Any questions regarding photography should be addressed to the
Rector.
XII. Receptions at Good Shepherd: When available, the Parish Hall or the
Great Hall may be used for a reception following the wedding but must be
scheduled with the Office Manager on the parish calendar in addition to
the wedding. The Wedding Chairman will advise the bride regarding
facilities, decorations, caterers, etc. In all cases, the couple must
arrange to have the Parish Hall cleaned after the reception. A cleaning
fee of $100.00 will be charged if those responsible do not leave the
Parish Hall clean. No hard liquor may be served on the premises. To
serve any other alcoholic beverage, prior approval of the Rector is
required.
XIII. Good Shepherd is a non-smoking facility. Smoking is allowed in a
designated smoking area outside the double door entrance nearest the
church office, however, all cigarette butts must be disposed of
properly.
XIV. Rice: Throwing of rice, bird seed, or confetti is not allowed.
XV. The following amounts are to be used as monetary guidelines:
Use of church* See Wedding Coordinator
Pew candles Additional See Wedding Coordinator
Use of the Great Hall/Parish Hal1/Kitchen for a reception
See Wedding Coordinator
Cleaning services for reception Great Ha11/Parish Hall
See Wedding Coordinator
Acolytes Per senior acolyte See Wedding
Coordinator
Per junior acolyte See Wedding Coordinator
Checks should be made payable to The Episcopal Church of the Good
Shepherd and delivered to the Wedding Chairman at the rehearsal if not
given previously to the Office Manager.
* Includes use of the sanctuary and narthex for wedding rehearsal and
service, use of altar candles and candelabra, dressing areas, set-up,
use of P. A. system, and assistance/supervision of the Wedding Chair.
These offerings are to cover the various expenses incurred by the church
for hosting the wedding service.
In addition to the above amounts, it is customary for the couple to make
a donation to Good Shepherd Church and/or the priest, in recognition of
the counseling received and in thanksgiving for the marriage.
Rev. 3-97
(Wedding Coordinator can provide current fee and
use schedules upon request) |
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