Request form (.pdf) for a wedding at St. John's Lutheran Church

The Christian Marriage

Congratulations! You are about to enter a relationship that is one of God’s most beautiful gifts to humankind. Christian marriage is a holy estate ordained by God. It is a life-long covenant between a man and a woman who are already in covenant with God through Christ.

Understanding that the Christian marriage covenant is a life-long commitment to be lived and experienced in the context of the Christian community, the pastor of St. John’s will normally solemnize a marriage only if one of the persons to be married is an active member of the congregation or family member. Active membership is defined as having been faithfully working, praying, and giving for a period of not less than six months; family member is defined as parent, grandparent or child.

The pastor may, at his discretion, consider solemnizing a marriage for non-members when certain conditions and circumstances prevail. In these cases, at least one of the persons to be married must be a member of the Lutheran faith and must present a letter of request from his or her pastor to the pastor of St. John’s for approval. For both members and non-members, the officiating pastor must be convinced that the union contemplated will be in accordance with the Word of God, the laws of the State, and that God’s blessings may properly be asked upon it. If the officiating pastor is not from St. John's, the request must be approved and an invitation extended by the pastor of St. John's; additional fees will apply when neither of the persons to be married is a member of the congregation.

Early Prepration and Reservation of the Church Facilities

As early as possible and before any dates and times are set, the couple must make an appointment with the pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church. The pastor will discuss the anticipated marriage with the couple to be assured that he can properly solemnize the marriage in accordance with the requirements above. Please do not make any plans incurring financial commitment before this meeting. The pastor will, with the couple, set the date and the time of the wedding. Church members are given priority in the selection of dates and times for the use of the Church; non-members will not be able to have a chosen date or time guaranteed until six month's prior to the wedding.

Weddings shall not be scheduled during Holy Week and are discouraged during the entire season of Lent. Lent is a season of Penitence in the Church's calendar. While there is no rule against weddings during Lent, it is not considered an appropriate time for the social events that usually accompany a wedding. Unless there are unusual circumstances, weddings will not be scheduled during Lent.

Counseling

In order to help the couple to prepare for marriage, the officiating pastor will plan one or more sessions with the couple during which the marriage will be set in the context of God's Word and Christian theology. The counseling provides the occasion for the couple to examine their relationship with one another with the assistance of a trained and objective third party. The pastor will assist the couple in exploring issues that are important to life together. There is a reimbursement fee for counseling materials for couples that are not members of St. John's.

The Marriage License

No marriage may be solemnized without a marriage license and couples should apply for their license in adequate time. The license should be brought to the Church Office two weeks before the wedding.

The Marriage Service

In the Lutheran church, a wedding is not a ceremony; rather, it is a service of worship of the congregation. It will be one of the happiest and holiest moments of your life. In it, you will promise life-long commitment and fidelity to one another, to God, and to His church. As you make this promise, you will receive the promise of God’s continual presence and His abundant blessings, and the prayers and support of the pastors and congregation of St. John’s. All plans for the marriage service should be approached from this point of view. The Order of Marriage, page 202 LBW or page 270 SBH, are normally used. Other services and variations may be used if if approved by the officiating pastor. If Holy Communion is included in the marriage service, the entire congregation will be invited to participate.

Assisting Clergy

Assisting clergy are welcomed at St. John’s. Protocol requires that visiting clergy be invited by the pastor who will indicate the specific part of the service to be shared with the assisting minister. It is also appropriate that all of St. John’s clergy participate in the wedding as they do in other services of the Church.

The Wedding Guild

The Wedding Guild of St. John's is a service of St. John's to brides and grooms who are to be married at the church. The Guild provides consultants who assist the couple with the details and procedures of the marriage ceremony and insure that the service is carried out appropriately in accordance with the Pastor and parish customs. At least one consultant from the guild will be present for both the rehearsal and the service itself. Outside wedding consultants are not permitted at St. John's. Once the wedding has been approved you will be contacted by the consultant to discuss the plans and will be asked to complete a detailed worksheet. Please discuss with the consultant any unusual circumstances that may exist or problems that may occur and also any change in plans. Since the wedding ceremony is a reverent act of worship, special or unusual requests will be considered, but final approval will be made by the consultant in consultation with the Pastor. Attendants, decorations, and music should not overshadow the sacramental rite of Holy Matrimony.

 

The Wedding Music

St. John’s is well known for its tradition of the highest standards of Church music and you will want your wedding to reflect those standards. Music for the wedding will be planned in consultation with St. John’s organist/Director of Music who should be contacted as soon as the wedding date is agreed upon by the couple and pastor. If scheduling prevents the organist’s playing, the substitute must be approved by the church organist. While the final decisions regarding music rests with the pastor, the organist is a recognized authority on Church music and has wide experience and a comprehensive repertoire from which to select appropriate music for the service. Only sacred texts in appropriate musical settings are allowed; in no case shall popular music be used as a part of the liturgy. The use of additional instrumentalists and vocalists to enrich the music may be desirable, but should be done in consultation with the organist. Any additional rehearsal time for the organist of St. John's and other musicians may incur an additional charge.

Flowers and Other Decorations

The sacred atmosphere of St. John's sanctuary should not be overshadowed by decorations. Simplicity is requested when planning the floral arrangements for your wedding. The paraments of the liturgical season will be in place and may not be changed; altar arrangements should be limited to two, which may not extend higher than the cross. Other floral decorations may include small arrangements in the side windows and pew markers. In most cases, the altar arrangements are left in the church for the following Sunday services to honor the wedding couple and as a gift to the church. Please inform the Church Office at least 2 weeks in advance if the arrangements will be removed after the wedding ceremony. The florist that regularly serves our church can provide your floral needs with ease and expedient delivery. You may, however, use a florist of your own choice who should contact the Church Secretary to schedule delivery and arrangement of flowers.

The candelabra and candlesticks used on the altar are the only ones used for wedding. The Altar Guild will provide candles for the altar and candelabra. You may also include candles in glass hurricane shades in the side windows. The use of aisle cloths or runners is not permitted due to the potential of harm to the wedding party and guests. The throwing of flower petals, birdseed, rice, or confetti is not permitted in or near the church and the Parish Building.

Photography & Videotaping

Still pictures and/or video recording of your wedding will provide a meaningful memento of your wedding day that may be enjoyed and shared with others for years to come. Photography guidelines apply to professional and non-professional photographers, as well as guests. Most professional photographers are familiar with church guidelines regarding photography and services of worship; however, it is required that photographers consult with the pastor and/or consultant prior to the wedding to insure that their work is accomplished without intruding in any way upon the solemn and sacred nature of the wedding service. Flash pictures are not permitted by either the photographers or the wedding guests. A few non-flash photos may be taken from the balcony during the service provided movement is kept to a minimum. Posed pictures may be taken before or after the service. Videotaping is permitted using one camera from a station in the balcony with no extra lights. All wedding bulletins should include the request that no photographs be taken during the ceremony and your ushers should be instructed to remind guests of this restriction. Photography after the ceremony should be limited to 30 minutes.

The Rehearsal

The rehearsal is the final preparation for the marriage service and under ordinary circumstances is held the evening before the wedding. Be sure to have all members of the bridal party present and prompt since rehearsals are limited to one hour by the pastor and the organist. We recommend that the bride take part in the entire rehearsal so that she may be knowledgeable about the service. In order to have an effective rehearsal, the presence of persons other than those in the bridal party is discouraged or should be kept to a minimum. The Wedding Guild Consultant will be present to assist the clergy and instruct members of the wedding part of their duties. Any special seating should be determined before the rehearsal as well as escorts for those individuals.

Other Guidelines

Liabilities: The church is not responsible for safeguarding personal property prior to, during, or following the rehearsal or wedding. The family of the bride or contracting applicant for use of the church facilities is responsible for notifying the florist and photographer of the church's policies. The family of the bride or contracting applicant for use of the church facilities assumes responsibility and agrees to pay for any damage to the property.

Bulletins: St. John's Church office does not prepare wedding bulletins due to time constraints of the staff. The office can provide you with samples to serve as guidelines and the wedding consultant can assist with any questions. The consultant must approve your bulletin before it is printed. Please bring at least three copies to the rehearsal for the pastor, organist and consultant.

Church Opening: The consultant will be present 30 minutes before the scheduled time of the rehearsal and 2 hours before the scheduled time of the wedding. Requests for earlier arrivals should be made at least two weeks in advance through the Church Office and wil incur additional charges.

Dressing: The bride and attendants are invited to use the Parish Hall for dressing before the ceremony. Furniture may not be rearranged and all personal belongings must be removed. Gentlemen should arrive already dressed.

Building Rules: Smoking and alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the Parish Hall, except for wine and champagne if the reception is being held in the hall.

Parking: The church parking lot on Clifford Street will be reserved for the wedding, but the number of spaces is limited. Additional parking may be available in the Saks Majestic Garage on Market Street and the City Garage behind BB&T Bank on Meeting Street. There also is a small public parking lot off Archdale Street behind the Canterbury House.

Additional Questions

There are always additional questions about things which are specific to your needs. If you have any questions about these policies or other aspects of the wedding process at St. John's please contact St. John's Lutheran Church at info@stjohnscharleston.org.

Timetable for Wedding Arrangements at St. John's

Contact the Church Secretary for your first appointment with the pastor to request permission for your marriage ceremony at St. John's Lutheran church.

Meet with the pastor and complete the application form. Permission to marry in the church will be officially granted, dates for wedding and rehearsal set and counseling session scheduled.

Complete the Wedding Information Worksheet (click on Guide and print a copy) and submit to the church office three months prior to the wedding date.

Discuss music selections with organist three months before the wedding.

Obtain marriage license two weeks before the wedding.

Submit marriage license, scripture reading selections, and required fees to the church secretary at least two weeks before the wedding.

Remember - all fees must be paid two weeks before the rehearsal.

Check details with the wedding consultant and confirm and last-minute changes at least three days before the wedding.

Attend rehearsal with pastor, wedding consultant, and all members of the wedding party.

Enjoy your wedding!

 

Fees

Please contact the church office for current fees. A non-refundable deposit will be required to reserve the Sanctuary and is due when the date is confirmed. The balance and all other fees are due in the Church Office two weeks before the wedding date.