Marriage
If you are interested in getting married at St. Mark’s, please be in touch with the church office to schedule an appointment with one of our clergy. Before doing so, reading the following guidelines may be helpful.
St. Mark’s full Wedding Customary, with all our requirements, policies, and fees, as well as our Wedding Request Form, can be found here. The information below is a summary.
Marriage Requirements
Holy Matrimony is a Sacrament of the Church. We trust that couples who desire to be married wish to enter into a sacramental relationship, to have their relationship blessed by God, and that the service to be held in the church is a Christian service.
Canon Law of the Church specifies that the Rector must have at least thirty days notice.
One of the parties to the marriage must be a baptized Christian.
The presiding clergy, or their approved designate, will conduct or arrange a minimum of three counseling sessions with the couple prior to the wedding.
Before the wedding is performed the couple must deliver to the Rector a license from the civil authority.
St. Mark’s has been granted permission by the Bishop to host marriages for gender and sexual minority couples in accordance with the canons.
Remarriage Requirements
In all instances of remarriage the Rector/clergy must receive permission from the Bishop of the Diocese to do so. All petitions must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the proposed wedding date. Counseling must be finished before petition is submitted.
For a second marriage, a waiting period of one year from the date of the final divorce decree is normally required, unless there has been a lengthy (in excess of two years) separation.
In the event of third marriage the parties to the proposed marriage must consult a licensed marriage therapist as to their readiness for marriage. A written opinion from the therapist must be conveyed to the petitioning priest and included with the petition to the Bishop.
In all instances of remarriage the couple will have a minimum of three counseling sessions.
Rehearsal
A rehearsal is usually held the evening before the day of the marriage at a time convenient for the wedding party, the organist, and the officiating clergy.
Music
St. Mark’s Organist/Director of Music must be contacted at the beginning of the planning process, to secure the dates and times and to allow our musician to find a substitute if for some reason he is unable to play on that particular day.
The Priest and Organist/Director of Music are to be consulted about any music to be used in the service.
Music must be appropriate to a religious service.
The couple must employ St. Mark’s organist if there is to be organ or piano music; other music requests need to be negotiated with, and approved by, clergy and the St. Mark’s organist.
Flowers
Flowers for the wedding are to be discussed with the officiating clergy.
Normally flowers are left in the Church after the wedding, but alternative arrangements may be made.
The preferred florist is Ben White Florist. Other florists may be used, but must coordinate with the priest and Altar Guild regarding space constraints around the altar.
Photos
Non-flash photography is allowed by a professional photographer.
Videographers are allowed in the choir loft only.
The wedding party is asked to inform the photographer of these rules.
Reception
St. Mark’s does not have a wedding guild for wedding receptions. Any requests for receptions in the Parish Hall need to be coordinated through the church office. Any arrangements for receptions need to be handled exclusively by the wedding party.
If alcoholic beverages are served at the reception, there must be attractive, alternative, non-alcoholic beverages served as well.
Cleanup
The church sexton must be contracted by the wedding party for cleaning services.
Fee Schedule
Facility and staff - $100 for members / $250 for non-members
Organist/Director of Music - $200 for members / $350 for non-members (additional fee of $75 each for extra musicians)
Honorarium for Clergy - option for members / $350 for non-members
Altar Flowers - $150
Additional fee for use of Parish Hall if used for a Reception - $250 for members / $350 for non-members