Wedding Facilities & Services
We have both an intimate redwood chapel which seats approximately 50 people and a beautiful colonial sanctuary (with an extraordinary organ), which seats 350 people. We also have a special Brides’ Room for dressing and a beautiful reception hall. All areas are fully air-conditioned. Take the tour!
Scheduling
Weddings and other church activities are scheduled in three-hour segments. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that your wedding is coordinated in a timely fashion. This time includes, but is not limited to, the following typical wedding activities: floral arrangement delivery and setup, decorations, on-premise dressing, the marriage ceremony, greeting of the guests and photography. If you anticipate needing additional time, prior arrangements will need to be made with both the church office and the wedding coordinator (additional charges may apply to cover personnel costs – see fee schedule). If your wedding activities exceed three hours without prior arrangements, you may incur additional charges.
Schedule Changes
Once you have booked your wedding, should you need to change the date or time, it is imperative that you check with the church office immediately, prior to having invitations printed. Please do not assume that we can accommodate changes without advance notice.
Rehearsal
Your wedding coordinator will contact you to schedule a one-hour rehearsal. Any special arrangements or requests should be made prior to the rehearsal. Because our facilities are extremely busy, it is important that your rehearsal begin on time. It is common for attendants and family members not to be prompt. Please emphasize to them the importance of starting on time. There may be additional fees if your rehearsal is not completed within the scheduled time period.
Music
You may wish to select and plan which music to use during your ceremony, including using pre-recorded music on CDs. Our staff organist/pianist is available if you choose to use traditional organ or piano music. He is experienced in a variety of music styles and can help you with selections. Your wedding coordinator can help you contact the organist/pianist to plan your music in advance.
Here are some suggestions for your music: Typically, the organist begins a prelude approximately 15-20 minutes prior to the ceremony, as wedding guests arrive. A piece such as Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by J.S. Bach is then played during the entrance of the bridesmaids and groomsmen. The bride’s processional follows, often to the traditional Here Comes the Bride processional, but other alternatives such as the Wedding Processional from Sound of Music or Trumpet Voluntary can be used. Following the ceremony, a recessional is played followed by a postlude as wedding guests are leaving.
Soloists/Special Music
You may have a friend or family member you want to have sing or play at your wedding. If you need to find a soloist, we have a variety of excellent singers and players specializing in all types of music available to you. There are additional charges for instrumentalists, soloists, and the accompanist.
Sound Equipment
Our sanctuary offers an excellent sound system with both handheld wireless and lavalier microphones. Weddings in our sanctuary should use amplification. We also have both recording and playback capabilities. If you wish to have your wedding ceremony recorded, please request this specifically and understand that the recording will only capture those people speaking into microphones. Non-directional, ambient sound (including the bride and groom) will not necessarily be picked up clearly. We can arrange for our media staff to provide services during your wedding. There are additional charges for this service.
Decorations
The church does not provide floral decorations. We have a fabric aisle runner available for rental. Decorations such as bows or flowers may be secured to the pews by the use of large rubber bands or the eye hooks already in place at the ends of each pew. The use of tape, staples, tacks or glue is not permitted.
Photography
Photographers are welcome in our sanctuary. However, we do ask that the following guidelines be observed:
- No flash photography permitted during the wedding ceremony.
- Video cameras are permitted in the balcony and on the pulpit-side of the sanctuary (behind the choir pews). However, video cameras used during the ceremony must not have bright, direct lighting which could distract guests.
- Check with the wedding director if you have specific questions.
Church Regulations
- No smoking is permitted anywhere inside the church complex.
- No alcoholic beverages are permitted except for church-approved champagne punch in the designated reception room.
- For safety reasons, the elevated stage area in the social hall cannot be used for seating either the wedding party or guests.
- In consideration of our neighbors, there should be no congregating in the parking lot after the wedding or reception.
- All rooms must be left in the same, clean condition you found them.