Wedding policy follows this application. If you wish to print and return the application, print "page 1" only.
First Congregational Church (UCC)
PO Box 533
Meredith NH 03253
(603) 279-6271 fccmeredith@metrocast.net
WEDDING APPLICATION
Bride (first, middle, last name): E-mail address:
Mailing address: Phone:
Groom (first, middle, last name): E-mail address:
Mailing address: Phone:
Dates & times requested: rehearsal:
wedding:
Do you have someone to perform the ceremony?
Expected number of guests: Expected size of wedding party:
To reserve date, please enclose non-refundable $100 deposit with application.
If you have arranged for another minister to officiate, please enclose $300 (refundable) for use of church facilities along with your non-refunable deposit and application.
_____________________________________________________________________________
(office use only)
Deposit received (date) _______________
Balance received (date)_______________
YOUR WEDDING
at First Congregational Church (UCC), Meredith, NH
Congratulations on your engagement! We’re glad you are considering us for your wedding. Obviously, you have questions. This paper will answer some of them. If its assumptions are compatible with yours, let’s talk further.
WHY A CHURCH WEDDING? A church wedding is right for you if you share these convictions: marriage is a covenant relationship founded in the faithfulness of God’s love. “We love because God first loved us.” God is the third partner in such a marriage. The Christian wedding is a worship service. Two persons become “one flesh” in the exchange of promises. As representative of the church, the pastor asks God’s blessing on the marriage. Guests offer thanksgiving and support to the new family.
ARE PRE-WEDDING CONFERENCES REQUIRED? Couples should plan on at least two sessions with the pastor. These will have two focuses:
Your relationship. The church doesn’t just perform weddings, it seeks lasting unions. You will be asked to take the Pre-Marriage Awareness Inventory, a form that helps assess your relationship. It is not a test to pass, but a diagnostic tool. The pastor will discuss the results with you.
Your ceremony. You and the pastor will plan your wedding in detail. It’s the first step to an efficient rehearsal and memorable wedding. Ordinarily we use the Order for Marriage in the Book of Worship of the United Church of Christ. In consultation with the pastor, couples may use other marriage services, vary the format, write their own vows, include soloists and readers, etc.
The pastor reserves the right not to proceed if impediments appear at any time. These include, but are not limited to, unacknowledged substance abuse or an abusive relationship, a frivolous, hostile, or uncooperative attitude, or legalities not complied with.
WHAT ARE THE LEGALITIES? To be married in New Hampshire, you must obtain a marriage license from any NH City or Town Clerk (regardless of your place of residence). You are then free to marry within 90 days in any NH city or town. Your license must be presented to the pastor (or other officiant) in advance of the ceremony--preferably no later than the rehearsal.
YOUR WEDDING LIAISON. This is a church member who serves as a further resource for couples being married here. The Wedding Liaison facilitates communication and is a helper to all parties involved in the wedding, consistent with church policy. He or she will meet with you, either when the Pastor does or at another time, to become familiar with your wishes, and provide suggestions and assistance.
In cases where the Pastor is performing the wedding, the use of the Wedding Liaison is recommended. In cases where another person officiates, it is required. Couples will be assigned a Liaison through the Church Office.
The fee for this service should be discussed directly with the Wedding Liaison. The couple must also reimburse him or her for any expenses incurred in assisting them.
HOW DO WE GET AN ORGANIST? You are responsible for contacting and compensating an organist. The church organist has first refusal. If he or she is unavailable, substitute names can be provided.
Arrangements with the organist should include rehearsal as well as ceremony. Obtaining soloists is your responsibility. They provide their own music. If they require organ accompaniment, they must rehearse in advance with the organist, at possible extra cost.
CAN ANOTHER MINISTER OFFICIATE? Yes, with permission of the present pastor. Another arrangement is to have the two co-officiate.
WHAT DOES THE CHURCH PROVIDE? We provide two candles for the communion table. Other candles, pew markers, and flowers are your responsibility. Not allowed: rice, confetti, birdseed, or candle-holders that attach to pews. Aisle cloths, while not necessary, are welcome. They can be obtained from florists and should be at least 35 feet long. Wedding (“unity”) candles are welcome but not provided.
Rest rooms are in the Parish House, and are accessible. Seating capacity of the church (including balcony) is around 210.
To help you envision your ceremony, we have compiled an album of photos from past weddings in our sanctuary. It will be made available to you. Sanctuary pictures are also viewable on the church Website, fccmeredith.org. Note that the front of the sanctuary is not a large area. It is difficult to accommodate sizable wedding parties. If your wedding party includes more than two bridesmaids and two ushers, crowding is inevitable. If you can limit the size of your party, it is worth your while to do so.
WHAT’S THE PHOTOGRAPHY POLICY? Discretion at all times; no flash photos during the actual ceremony around the communion table. Additional pictures, without restriction, may be taken after the ceremony. It is your responsibility to communicate church policy to the photographer. A separate document, “To the Wedding Photographer,” will help you with this.
Videotaping, with similar discretion, is allowed.
WHAT ABOUT THE REHEARSAL? When a processional and/or wedding party is involved, rehearsing is advisable. The usual time is the evening before the wedding. All wedding party members must attend, or the smoothness of the ceremony may be affected. It’s helpful to have parents and grandparents present to practice being escorted.
The rehearsal is not a good time to decide on procedures; that is what pre-wedding conferences are for. The pastor conducts the rehearsal according to the plan you’ve worked out together.
HOW DOES A TYPICAL WEDDING GO? The groom’s party arrives a half-hour early. Ushers seat guests—either bride’s side (left) and groom’s side, or at random for balance. A quarter-hour before starting time, organist begins the prelude. Groom, best man occupy the parlor.
Ushers escort groom’s grandparents and parents to front right seats, bride’s grandparents and mother to front left seats. If an aisle cloth is used, ushers unroll it now, before the bride’s entrance.
As the prelude ends, the groom’s party enter the sanctuary from the parish house. (In some weddings this includes the ushers, or else the ushers escort bridesmaids in.) Guests rise as the processional (wedding march) begins. The bridal party processes up a side aisle. Participants stand at the front of the sanctuary.
Greeting, introduction, prayer, and scripture reading are followed by the declaration of intention. Family members and guests make a pledge of support. It may be omitted, used in place of the giving away of the bride, or used with it. The couple repeat the vows of marriage. For the exchange of rings, the best man hands the rings to the pastor for blessing. There are words for the couple as they exchange rings.
The pastor gives the announcement of marriage, pronounces the blessing, invites them to kiss, then presents them to the guests as a married couple. Guests rise for the recessional. Bride and groom return down the other aisle, followed by the wedding party in couples. Ushers return to escort out parents and grandparents. Guests are then free to leave.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE KNOW? It is inappropriate for any guest or wedding party member to be “under the influence.” Embarrassment may result. Your foresight and clear expectations can prevent this.
You may invite the pastor to your reception, either to say a blessing, or as a guest, but it is not necessary that you do. If so, please issue the invitation when your other invitations go out. Don’t wait till the wedding day to mention it.
Animals are not allowed in the church buildings, with the exception of service animals owned by persons with disabilities. We sympathize with the desire of some couples to include beloved and well-behaved pets in their wedding, but are not permitting it at this time.
Wedding "programs" are not required or necessary. If desired, they are the couple's responsibility, and should be prepared in consultation with the pastor.
NAMES AND NUMBERS.
.Office (Jodi Wilson, Secretary)…….........…279-6271
Russell Rowland, Pastor.…………………...279-0789
Phil Breton, Organist………………………..524-5081
Peter Ayer, Custodian…………….………..536-4202
Email……………………..fccmeredith@metrocast.net
Website……………………………….fccmeredith.org
FEES. (Paid separately. Church fee includes a nonrefundable $100 deposit.)
Use of church………………………………$400
(Payable to First Congregational Church)
Pastor……………………………………….$150
(Payable to Russell Rowland)
Organist……………………..………………$125
(Payable to Phil Breton)
Custodian……………………………………..$25
(Payable to Peter Ayer)
These fees apply to other than active church members. Active members (as defined by the Bylaws) and their children and grandchildren are asked to pay organist and custodian only. Fees can be adjusted in cases of financial difficulty, which should be discussed with the pastor early on.
Fees are paid no later than the rehearsal. A nonrefundable $100 deposit, at least a month in advance, is required to reserve a specific date and time, and accompanies the application.
SCHEDULING CONSIDERATIONS. Please take New England weather into consideration before planning a winter wedding. The church cannot guarantee the comfort or safety of your guests in the event of a major storm.
While Sunday weddings can be performed, it is difficult for us to prepare the sanctuary for you until our regular morning worship is over.
Meredith experiences traffic congestion and parking limitations during the summer season. Occasional town-wide events produce near-gridlock. We advise checking with the town Chamber of Commerce to see what events may coincide with your wedding date.
CANCELLATIONS. If you cancel your wedding plans, please include us among those you notify, so that we don’t continue to reserve your date. All or part of any fees you’ve paid can be reimbursed, depending on what services we have actually provided, except for the deposit. Also, our concern for you continues; we are available if needed.
