WEDDING POLICY
Love between two people is a gift from God. The decision to be married is one of the most important of your lives. St Andrew United Church of Christ joins you in celebrating the love you share and your desire to be married in a Christian setting. In the presence of God and before a community of witnesses, couples enter into a sacred and life-long commitment with God and each other. Below is the policy of St Andrew United Church of Christ, designed to honor the sacred space of the church and the sacred bond the couple is making. We surround you with prayers for God’s grace and love.
Those desiring to be married:
Your first contact will be with the Minister, who will set a time to meet with you. You may call the church office to set a time (941-922-7595). Our Minister is our first choice to preside over your wedding. The wedding date can only be reserved with approval by the minister. In conversation between the couple and the minister, they will decide together whether the marriage will be scheduled.
The minister requires at least 3 meetings with the couple preparing to be married. The marriage relationship and the couple’s preparation for it will be discussed. Talking about issues before problems arise gives the couple language and experience for further conversations after the wedding. The focus for these meetings is not primarily looking to the wedding day, but looking to the marriage that will result. The couple and the minister will, however, use one of the sessions to discuss and plan the wedding service itself. The minister will suggest the flow and content of the service, but it is important that the service reflects what the couple wants, so you are free to bring pieces you might want to add to the service.
We at St Andrew United Church of Christ want you to know how pleased we are that you are considering our church for your marriage ceremony. Marriages are very special services of worship for the couple, for their families and for their friends. Thus, the church is concerned with making sure that this special worship service which you are considering will be a significant moment in your lives as well as an appropriate service of worship.
In keeping with our long legacy of social justice and inclusivity, St Andrew United Church of Christ proclaims the equal rights of all people, including the legal right for individuals to marry the person of their choice. In accordance with our Open and Affirming Statement and the laws of Florida, we welcome weddings for all couples, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
The marriage ceremony is a joyous occasion on which two people unite as partners in the mutual exchange of covenantal promises. In consultation with your celebrant, you may want to develop a service which will uniquely express the meaning of your marriage. This might include writing your own vows, including guest speakers or musicians, the selection of favorite readings, or other modifications.
A wedding ceremony conducted in the church is not just a social occasion performed within the walls of a religious building. It is a service of worship. Prayers are offered and solemn vows are made. It is expected that those present, and most particularly all of the wedding party, will participate in the spirit of sincere worship. Like all services of worship, a wedding ceremony is designed to glorify God who divinely ordained marriage. Because we see weddings as important religious services, anything that adds to the reverence of the occasion is proper and anything that detracts from the spiritual nature of the service is discouraged.
To help you plan for your wedding and to know the traditions, requirements, and expectations of the church, we have prepared this guide for you. It is our joy to work together with you to make this one of the most special and meaningful days of your lives.
Celebrant
Our Minister, who will be happy to meet with you, is our first choice to preside over your wedding. The wedding is a worship service. If you would like an outside celebrant, please discuss this with our minister during the initial meeting.
Music
Our Music Director is our first choice. Music for the ceremony may be arranged through the church’s Music Director. They will be happy to discuss possible selections with you. The wedding is a worship service. The church’s policy is to allow only music appropriate for a worship service; other music should be used for the reception. If you choose to bring in someone else to play the piano or organ, we require that our Music Director approves that person and the choice of music. The use of pre-recorded music is discouraged.
Building
Our buildings were constructed in 1984. It is fully accessible, has audio-visual and lighting capabilities and HVAC systems. See our website for photographs of the building. We encourage you to visit us to be certain our design is appropriate for your vision of your ceremony. The church office is normally open 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
The sanctuary seats up to 300.
We are proud to have a hearing loop system installed, which transmits audio of the service directly into hearing aids equipped with the T-coil function.
Once you have met with our minister and all parties agree on the date, you may ask the Church Office to "pencil-in" a tentative date for the rehearsal and wedding service on the church’s master calendar. These dates remain tentative until after the couple has sent in their deposit.
Photography/Video Recordings
The taking of pictures or videotaping the service is at the discretion of your celebrant.
Decoration of the Church
Decorations can enhance the beauty of the building and the wedding ceremony. Please review and follow these guidelines carefully. If any damage is done to the building or furnishings, the $500 security deposit will not be returned and additional fees may be assessed.
• All decorations must be appropriate to a worship service.
• Moving or removing of the chancel furniture must be approved by church staff.
• Only church staff members are allowed to move church furniture. You should consult with church staff at least seven days prior to your ceremony about how the chancel furniture should be arranged.
• No tape, tacks, nails, pins, screws, or other objects shall be driven into or attached to the walls, floors, furnishings, etc.
• Please note that the church frequently uses the Sanctuary and gathering area to hang exhibits of religious art or exhibits of art which speak to a specific social justice issue or peace initiative that aligns with the church’s mission. If such an exhibit is currently installed, it will remain on the walls during your service and reception.
• Flower petals, rice, birdseed, confetti, or other similar items are not to be thrown on the floor or used anywhere inside or outside the building. Bubbles may be used outside only.
• If a Unity Candle is lit as part of the wedding ceremony, the candles are to be provided by the bridal party. A table will be provided by the church. Only dripless candles are to be used during the ceremony.
• Altar candles are provided if desired.
• Arrangements for floral decorations should be made through the florist of your choice, who will supply the flowers and the containers.
• Care must be always taken to see that the floors, walls and furnishings are not disfigured in the placing of flowers or other decorations. Protection must be placed under all pots, vases or plants so that no dampness seeps through. Your floral arrangements are likely to be stored in a florist’s cooler and with the humidity control we maintain for the well-being of our piano & organ, flower vases may develop condensation even in the winter. Therefore, a protective saucer must be placed under vases until the water within comes to room temperature.
• If you would like to leave a flower arrangement for the Sunday worship service, please check with the church office.
• Weddings held during the Advent, Christmas and Easter seasons are required to leave in place the church’s decorations.
• All decorations must be removed immediately after the ceremony.
• St Andrew United Church of Christ is NOT responsible for lost or stolen property.
The Rehearsal
The wedding ceremony will be planned in advance by the couple in consultation with the celebrant. All members of the wedding party should participate in the rehearsal, including but not limited to the couple, their parents, attendants, participating children, ushers, readers, etc.
· Please plan one full hour for the rehearsal.
· The rehearsal will be conducted by the celebrant.
· The marriage license should be delivered to the celebrant at the rehearsal.
Space Fee
For Members, the fee for a wedding is $250
For nonmembers, the fee for a wedding is $1,000 and includes:
• Use of the Sanctuary, for up to four hours for the wedding including setup, ceremony, and cleanup.
• Use of the Sanctuary for up to one and a half hours on the day before the ceremony for a rehearsal.
• Use of the Sanctuary grand piano subject to the approval of the Music Director.
• Use of the Sanctuary’s organ subject to the approval of the Music Director.
The following is not included in the wedding fee:
• The celebrant. You will need to work out the honorarium directly with the celebrant.
• The musician. The honorarium for a musician is $300.
• Custodian fee is $200
• Bulletins for your service. A printed order of the marriage ceremony is not necessary, although it can be helpful to your family and friends as well as a keepsake. It is your responsibility to have the bulletin printed (some couples make their own on their computer with special paper available from an office supply store). You may need to plan with a graphic designer and a printer for these.
• Flowers, decorations.
• A unity candle.
• A sound technician to run the sound equipment. One may be available to assist for an additional fee.
Reception
If you wish to hold your reception at St Andrew, Stewart Hall next door can seat up to 130 people. Please ask for the use policy and fee schedule if desired.
PARKING AND ACCESS:
· Handicapped parking is available on the west side of the sanctuary and Stewart Hall.
· The Sanctuary and Stewart Hall are handicapped accessible.
Additional Fees and Guidelines
The honorariums are due the day of your wedding date.
A refundable security deposit of $500.00 (not applied to the above fees) is required immediately to hold your date for you.
Cancellation fee: within 30 days of event, forfeit 100% of deposit;
cancellation between 31 - 90 days, forfeit 50% of deposit; cancellation beyond 91 days, forfeit 25% of deposit.
The security deposit will be returned within thirty days (30) after the wedding date, minus any charges for damages or extended use of the building.
No Smoking
In accordance with Florida law, smoking is not permitted anywhere within our building or within 25 feet of any entrance.