Wedding Policy

“For now there are faith, hope and love.  But of these three, the greatest is Love.”  1 Corinthians 13: 13

1.The Council and congregation of Grace United Church celebrate your love and are honoured to have your wedding take place within our sanctuary or conducted by our minister.  We are delighted that you have chosen to exchange your vows before God within a service of worship, a service we call a wedding.

2.A wedding is a holy moment in the lives of couples, a moment in which faith is professed, love is declared and commitments are made.  It is also an act of worship.  Here at Grace we strive to make this service of worship holy and special for each couple.

3.As an act of worship, there are certain protocols which need to be observed.  Grace welcomes photographers and videographers.  Weddings are moments we all want to record and cherish.  There are certain times when the taking of photographs is welcomed and encouraged – the processional, the signing of the register and the recessional.  During the ceremony, however, it can be distracting to all when photographs are taken during the exchange of vows, while the minister is praying and while scripture is being read.  Guests and Professional Photographers are asked to refrain from coming forward to the area around the communion table and/or pulpit where the minister and wedding party are standing. We also encourage a “restrained” use of flash photography.

4.No alcohol is to be consumed within the church or on the church property.  The wedding party is not to have partaken of any alcoholic beverage on the day of the wedding. It is also prudent that the consumption of alcohol the night before the wedding be limited.  Should the minister suspect that either party is intoxicated or hung-over, he/she is required by the laws of the province of Ontario not to proceed with the wedding. (See the Marriage Act, The Province of Ontario, Section 7 – R.S.O. 1990, c.M.3, s.7; 1998, c. 18, Sched. E, s. 179)

5.Our Council asks that confetti and rice not be used.  

6.Weddings outside our sanctuary are welcomed and our minister would be honoured to conduct your service.

7.All weddings have to be approved by the Worship Committee of Grace Church upon recommendation of our minister.  The Council asks that couples seeking to be married meet with our minister before a request is made to the Worship Committee.

8.The Council of Grace Church strongly recommends that all couples being married within the church or outside the church bounds take a pre-marital course from some authorized and experienced organization.  For many couples with conflicting schedules, we recommend a web based course offered on marriageprep.com.  The couples who have been through this course highly recommend it and have found it to be very helpful.

9. Once a wedding has been approved, the couple are to be in contact with the minister within two weeks so that a meeting can be scheduled and the wedding service can be planned and organized.  It is our hope and prayer that couples will personalize the service and make it their own.  Our minister welcomes creativity and invites couples to be involved in the design of their wedding service.

10.Couples are reminded to have their wedding licence (with the brown envelope) delivered to the minister two weeks before the service.  A deposit of $100 is to be made before the date of the Wedding in our Church Calendar can be confirmed. This should be done as soon as possible. This deposit is non refundable. This deposit will be considered as partial payment towards all fees. Payment of the remaining wedding fees at least a week before the wedding.  One cheque should be made payable to Grace United Church.  Grace’s Church’s treasurer will make sure that the church, minister, organist, and caretaker are paid.

11. For fees see fee page.

12.Traditionally, the night before the wedding is reserved for the rehearsal.  If this is not a convenient time please let our minister know so that another date can be scheduled.

13.Some couples wish to invite the minister to their reception and ask the minister to say grace.  Please let our minister know if you wish him/her to attend.

14.Some couples come with a request that a family member or friend who is a minister conduct their service.  The Council of Grace understands how this can add meaning to a service.  Any requests for another minister to do the wedding should be made through the minister who will bring the request before the Worship Committee.

May God bless as you prepare and plan for your special day!