Woodfords Church.

We realize that your wedding is not only a high point in your life but also a sacred event. So, we share with you our view of Christian marriage and ask you to consider with us appropriate ways of celebrating and observing your wedding.

What is a wedding?

A wedding is a worship service.  We are aware that what we say and do in our wedding is said and done in the presence of God.  A wedding is a time of joy and reverent wonder.

A Christian wedding is the establishment of a covenant relationship between the bride and groom and God.  The covenant of marriage is established through promises given and received.  The bride and groom promise, before God and witnesses, to grow in love and to be faithful to one another through the trials and triumphs of life's experience.  God blesses their promises with the promises of grace:  holy love, patience, forgiveness, support, and faithfulness.  God's grace is the model to which believers' love aspires.

What happens in a Christian wedding is that God unites husband and wife in marriage, as they promise their love and faithfulness and seek God's blessing in the church.

Weddings may vary in their content even though the underlying meaning is the same.  A usual order of service is as follows:

Voluntaries

Opening Statement

Opening Prayer

Public Vows

Blessing by Parents

Readings

Private Vows

Exchange of Rings

Declaration of Marriage

Prayer of Blessing

Benediction

Vountary

Some services may include solos or other musical offerings, hymns, the Passing of the Peace, and other selections.

The service is the responsibility of the Pastor officiating, in consultation with the bride and groom.  All plans should be worked through in preparatory sessions with the Pastor.

Since music is a vital element in worship, the music for the wedding should be carefully planned.  Our Organist and Director of Music is responsible for the musical offerings of your wedding.  Therefore, we ask you to consult with the Organist/Director in preparation for your wedding.

Information and Guidelines for Your Wedding at

Woodfords Congregational Church

1.  Confirmation:  The dates and times of your wedding are confirmed upon receipt of your completed application and deposit. For more information, please call the church office at 207-774-8243.

2.  Preparation:  Each couple will be expected to schedule at least two or three one-hour sessions with the officiating Pastor.  The purpose of marriage preparation sessions with the Pastor is to plan the wedding and to offer counsel to strengthen the marriage.  In addition, each couple will be expected to schedule a meeting with the Organist and Director of Music (see Music section).

3.  Music:  Music will play a vital role on your wedding day in setting the mood at both the religious service and the social events surrounding it.  You should think carefully about which selections are appropriate for the religious service and which are appropriate for the receptioin.  As you begin to decide on musical selections, please keep the following Woodfords Church policies in mind:

a.  Woodfords' Organist and Director of Music will play for all weddings held at the church.  If the Organist and Director of Music is not available to play for your wedding, Woodfords will engage a substitute organist of the church's choice at no additional charge to you.  If you wish to engage a specific keyboard musician other the Woodfords' Organist and Director of Music, please note that the church follows the recommended policy of the American Guild of Organists:  No other keyboard musician may be engaged to play at your wedding unless the regular fee is also paid to the Organist and Director of Music.  Engagement of other musicians is subject to the approval of the Organist and Director of Music.

b.  If a singer is to be included in the religious services, only songs with texts of a religious nature will be permitted.  All music to be heard in the service is subject to approval by the Organist and Director of Music.

c.  The Organist and Director of Music's fee includes one consultation with you to choose the music for your wedding service.  This should be scheduled as far in advance as possible, particularly if you have specific requests for selections of if rehearsal time must be scheduled with additional musicians.  It is your responsiblity to contact the Organist and Director of Music to schedule your consultation.  Singers and/or extra instrumentalists are to be engaged by you directly.  Their fees are not included in the Organist's fee that you pay to Woodfords Church.  Woodfords' Organist and Director of Music will be happy to recommend singers and instrumentalists to you if you wish.  If the Organist and Director of Music is required to accompany the soloist, a surcharge will be added to his fee to cover the additional music during the service and one rehearsal with the soloist.  Any additional rehearsal with the soloist will require an additional fee.

4.  Photographing:  The purpose of our policy is to maintain the atmosphere of reverence of worship.  Photographing of your wedding must be arranged with the Pastor in advance of the wedding.  The photographer is asked to remain inconspicuous at all times.   No flash pictures are to be taken during the wedding service by the photographer or guest.  Following the wedding service, posed pictures may be arranged with the Pastor.

5. Floral Arrangements:  The florist is to deliver wedding flowers when the church is open, which is normally one hour before the wedding.

6.  Time:  The church is available for the wedding and the wedding party one hour before and up to one hour after the scheduled time.

7.  Facilities:  The rooms available for weddings include the Sanctuary (seats 700), the Chapel (seats 100), the Cloister, the Parlor, and the Garden.  The Parlor may be used by the bridal party for dressing.  The use of rice or confetti at weddings is prohibited.

8.  All fees should be paid two weeks in advance of the wedding rehearsal.  Checks should be made out to Woodfords Congregational Church, U.C.C.

9.  The marriage license should be in the minister's hands by the time of the rehearsal.

10.  Any other questions about arrangement should be discussed with the Pastor.