Weddings

Ministers
Interim Moderator Rev. William Ball

Music Director
Ms. Heather Rice

Celebration Within the St. Stephen's Congregation
License
Reserving the Sanctuary for the Wedding and the Rehearsal
Music
Flowers
Photographs
Reception
Fees
Confetti

1. Celebration Within the St. Stephen's Congregation

Weddings are occasions for joy and happiness, usually accompanied by much love and rejoicing. What could be finer than two people pledging vows of loyalty to each other before God, and in the presence of family and friends? Yet if statistics are accurate, more than half of yesterday's marriages are no longer intact, and the Christian Church is under increasing pressure to provide counselling to young people in preparation for marriage. At St. Stephen's, we seek to meet this challenge in two ways:

The minister seeks first to come to know the life situation and plans of those proposing marriage, in order to be convinced in his/her own mind that the marriage makes sense. It is not fair or reasonable to ask God's blessing upon a union if it hasn't much going for it on earth!
We want to believe that couples are making responsible decisions in engaging the Church and its ministry to perform their weddings. The Church is both divine and human at the same time, and the relevance of Christian marriage increases as young people grow in their faith in God and are committed to the service of Jesus Christ as Lord of their marriage. At the same time, the Church recognizes the need for each couple to belong to a congregation where they are nurtured in faith and fellowship with other Christians. Therefore, it is our expectation that the engaged couple will begin active attendance at St. Stephen’s and continue throughout their married lives.

The Session and minister of the St. Stephen's are willing to help make your wedding a memorable day, and to welcome you to all the joys of life and faith in this congregation.

2. License

Marriage licence applications are available from the City Clerk's office, Ottawa (727-6610). The licence is valid for 3 months from date of issue, and must be presented at the rehearsal.

3. Reserving the Sanctuary for the Wedding and the Rehearsal

This should be done through the minister(s) as early as possible. We expect at least six months notice. Usually the rehearsal is held on the evening before the wedding date

The Service is conducted by the minister of St. Stephen's except in cases where he may invite another minister to assist or officiate. The minister is in charge of the Order of Service.

4. Music

The organist of our church is in charge of all musical arrangements for weddings, and is willing to play at all weddings at St. Stephen's, except where special arrangements have been made to invite another organist. In the latter case, our organist must be consulted regarding use of the church organ and would receive his/her fees regardless of participation.

The organist's workload for weddings includes an interview with the couple regarding wedding music, soloists, rehearsal time and the ceremony itself.

5. Flowers

Arrangements for floral decorations can be made through the florist of your choice, who will then deliver flowers to the church (or to an usher). The matter of finding the church open some hours before the wedding needs attention! The church officer may be contacted in this regard.

6. Photographs

Pictures are a great remembrance of the wedding, but they can also be a great nuisance when bulbs are flashing through the vows and lessons. Our policy is that photographers can have their heyday as the bride comes up the aisle and when the couple go down the aisle, while all intervening scenes can be duplicated right after the service.

Also in this day of high-speed no flash photography, professionals are able to take pictures of the wedding itself without being seen or heard(telephoto lens) and one can hardly object to what no one notices!

7. Reception

It may be possible to procure the use of the church hall for your wedding reception. There is no obligation for couples to invite the clergy and spouse to your reception, but if you expect him/her to be present, you should make the invitation!

8. Fees

a) Minister - $250 or as advised by minister;
b) Organist - $125
c) Caretaker - $75
d) Sanctuary for non-members - $150

No fees are set for the use of the church by members. Nevertheless, winter weddings incur considerable costs in heating and all who make special use of the church have a responsibility to help bear the costs of use of the building.

All fees for a,b,c,d, should be placed in separate envelopes and left with the minister at the time of the rehearsal.

9. Confetti

Wedding guests are instructed not to throw confetti inside the sanctuary, where it becomes the caretaker's anathema to clean up. Also, brides and grooms once showered with the stuff should not re-enter the church.