Preparing for Marriage
At Christ Church we want to help you celebrate your marriage in the best way possible. Your wedding is a focal point for so much: your past, your present relationship, and your hopes for the future. It is also a religious event, often called a sacrament for it is the outward expression of God's Gift of Love you have encountered in your relationship. In the public event of a wedding you will make a lifetime commitment to another person in the presence of God, of friends and family.
In order to help you prepare for your life as husband and wife, marriage preparation at Christ Church follows seven steps.
What is involved in being married at Christ Church?
When you FIRST INQUIRE about a wedding day, we will reserve a date for you, but this will not be confirmed until after your initial interview with the clergy. Please do not send out your wedding invitations until the date is confirmed. The Anglican Church requires 60 days' notice prior to any wedding and several months' notice is recommended. No weddings will be booked during Lent, Holy Week and the week before Christmas.
A PRELIMINARY INTERVIEW will be arranged with the clergy. The purpose of this interview is to discuss your hopes for your wedding, and the expectations of the church. At this meeting a decision will be made regarding your wedding at Christ Church.
You will be asked about CHURCH MEMBERSHIP and your commitment to the Christian Faith. The Anglican Church requires that you both are baptized Christians and a copy of your baptismal certificate will be requested. We believe that the wedding that begins a marriage is most appropriately held in the church where you will receive support and encouragement for your Christian life together. If you are not members of any congregation, you will be encouraged to participate in the life of the Church by becoming members of Christ Church or your local Anglican Church. We can assist you if you have inquiries about becoming a baptized member of the Church. If you are members of another church, we recommend that you approach that church to prepare for your marriage there.
You will be asked to attend a MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE which is designed to help you consider various aspects of married life. These include: finances, intimacy and interpersonal relationships.
If you have been previously married to someone who is still living, your clergy advisor will ask to see a copy of your final divorce decree. Church policy requires that the proposed date for your wedding is at least one full year after the issue of the final Certificate of Divorce. In the interests of pastoral care for all people involved, you will be asked some questions about your previous marriage. Additional interviews with the clergy may be required.
Following the marriage preparation course you will have one or more SESSION(S) WITH THE CLERGY. These will be to:
a) discuss the marriage preparation course, and
b) discuss the spiritual side of marriage and the wedding service.
A REHEARSAL will be scheduled in the church a couple of days prior to your wedding for you and the wedding party to go over the details of the service. We ask that you bring your marriage license, church donation and fees to the church office at least two weeks before your rehearsal date.
Finally, all will be ready. May your WEDDING DAY be a joyful one and your life together be filled with blessing.
And What About?
PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO In order to maintain the dignity of the occasion we ask that photography by both professionals and guests be restricted to the processions before and after the service. Your professional photographer may also take photographs at the signing of the register. If you are having your wedding recorded on video, this is limited to one camera. The operator will be positioned in the choir pews and will be asked to remain there for the entire service. Photographers and videographers must consult the clergy prior to the service. (Please note that the firm of Whitley – Goodman is not permitted to work at Christ Church.)
CONFETTI AND OTHER STUFF We ask that rice, confetti, bird seed, rose petals, etc. not be used in the church or on the church grounds. Please inform your guests of this request so that the church may be as beautiful for others as it is for you.
WEDDING CONSULTANTS Some people have found that professional wedding consultants are necessary for them to make decisions about various aspects of the wedding. If you plan to use such a person, please note that there is no role for them in connection with the wedding service at the church. All aspects of the liturgy are under the sole direction of the priest.
DECORATIONS Because the church is used for other weddings and regular services, all decorations to be brought to the church, including floral arrangements, are to be approved beforehand by the church Altar Guild and must be placed in the church by them. Before ordering any decorations, you must discuss your plans with our wedding assistant. The women of the Altar Guild are thoroughly familiar with this part of the wedding preparation and they will be very helpful in your planning. Before talking to the altar guild, please note that pew bows are acceptable but they must be mounted in such a way as to prevent damage to the pews. Candelabra and pew candles are not permitted.
MUSIC Your musical choices will have a major role in the tone and quality of your celebration. There is music appropriate for the church and music more appropriate for your reception. The clergy and our church organist will help you to select appropriate hymns to be sung, as well as other vocal and instrumental music. The organ will be played by our church organist. If you would like to have the organist present at your rehearsal, the fee is $50.00 and if extra time is required to rehearse special music, a fee of $40.00 per hour will be charged by the organist.
LICENCE The Province of Alberta requires that you purchase a Marriage Licence not more than three months before the wedding. The cost is approximately $82.00 and available at private agencies. The license must be delivered to Christ Church office at least two weeks before the ceremony. The wedding cannot take place without this license being in possession of the Church.
COSTS The requested donation for Weddings is $700.00. This covers all routine parish expenses: clergy, organist, caretaker, altar guild and maintenance. In consultation with the Rector, this figure may be reduced in cases where the applicants or their immediate families are contributing members.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?
Please feel free to contact the clergy with any questions or concerns. Sometimes asking a simple question when it arises will save hours of unnecessary worrying. You can reach the clergy through the church office at 780-488-1118, during office hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
June 2009
