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The congregation and clergy of Grace
Church wish you God’s blessing as you plan for your wedding. Grace Church
performs the Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage in accordance with the
required canons of the Episcopal Church, and offers these guidelines as you
consider where to hold this special event in your lives.
Who can get married at Grace Church?
-
Anyone, as long
as either the bride or groom is a baptized Christian.
-
With the
permission of the Bishop of Virginia, divorced persons who wish to marry
again can do so, providing it has been at least a year since the divorce
decree was issued. Grace Church clergy will prepare a petition to remarry
after one to two meetings with the couple and/or the divorced person.
How much notice does the church need?
As much as possible, but at least six months.
Every couple is required to participate in five,
one-hour pre-marital instruction sessions before the wedding. These
sessions will cover:
- Introductions, personal stories and biographies; why
have you come to the church for a blessing of your marriage?
- Personal strengths and weaknesses; goals as
individuals and as a couple; personal growth within and throughout
marriage; what are your major concerns about marriage, self and one
another?
- Communication, intimacy, sexuality; resolving
differences; how do you share your love with one another and others?
- Faith in practice and belief; the place of
Christianity in your lives; how do you understand God?
- The service for the Celebration and Blessing of a
Marriage; the meaning of the Prayer Book liturgy; personal attitudes
toward the service; the marriage ceremony as a worship event.
When can’t you get married here?
- When there’s another wedding already planned.
- During Lent and Holy Week (the six weeks before
Easter); and during the four weeks before Christmas (Advent).
- The second weekend of September, when Grace Church
holds its annual retreat.
How much does it cost?
There are several types of fees. Some are flat fees and
others vary, depending on the choices you make.
|
Officiating clergy
|
| Pledging member of Grace Church (active
communicant for at least 12 months) |
Free-will donation |
| Adult children of Grace Church members |
$500 ($300 for instruction and $200 for
rehearsal and wedding) |
| Others |
$900 ($500 for instruction only)
|
|
Use of the Church |
| $500 (Fee is waived for
active, pledging communicants) |
|
Other fees |
| Sexton (cleaning fee) |
$150 |
| Bulletins |
50¢ per sheet |
| Candles |
$50 minimum |
| Altar flowers |
$175 minimum |
| Organist |
$250 minimum |
| A deposit of the church
use fee and 1/3 of the clergy fee is required to schedule a wedding.
Another 1/3 of the clergy fee must be paid midway through the
instruction process. All remaining fees are due in the parish office
two weeks before the wedding. |
What happens next?
Couples must:
(Note: Your
wedding date will be placed on the church calendar after one of the
clergy has agreed to officiate at your wedding and you have provided the
required deposit to the parish office.)
Revised October 2005
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