Weddings at

Carrollton Presbyterian

Church

Carrollton Presbyterian Church 14 Maple Street

Carrollton, Georgia 30117http://www.carrolltonpresbyterian.net | 770-832-6131

Approved by Session of Carrollton Presbyterian ChurchSeptember 2015

To Begin

The first step in planning your wedding at Carrollton Presbyterian is to contact our Wedding Coordinator through the church office. The wedding coordinator will help you select your date and guide you through wedding protocol at the church.

Church Office 770-832-6131

The beautiful Sanctuary, established in 1901, holds 250 people. Westminster Hall, available for receptions, holds 90 guests. Use of our CPC Minister is required by the church and will assure that all needs are met on this most important day. We look forward to helping create a beautiful, sacred event with you. You will find more information within this brochure and through our coordinator.

Member Wedding Fees

Wedding fees at CPC require a refundable fee of $250 to hold the date and facility for your wedding. There are three ceremony package options available for members:

Pkg. A: $925 plus $250 Refundable Security Deposit. Includes: CPC Minister & Premarital Counseling CPC Wedding Coordinator Church Staff Custodian Sound & Lighting Technician Use of the Sound Board Use of Sanctuary, Piano & Organ. Organist/Pianist fees additional. Use of Gathering Rooms Wedding Ceremony Set-up Flowers/Floral décor permitted in Sanctuary & for wedding party Use of nursery facility. Sitter fees additional. Rehearsal coordinated by Wedding Coordinator

Pkg. B: $650 plus $250 Refundable Security Deposit. Includes: CPC Minister & Premarital Counseling CPC Wedding Coordinator Church Staff Custodian Use of Sanctuary, Piano and Organ Use of Gathering Rooms Flowers/Floral décor permitted in Sanctuary & for wedding party Rehearsal coordinated by Wedding Coordinator

Pkg. C: $450 plus $250 Refundable Security Deposit. Includes: CPC Minister & Premarital Counseling CPC Wedding Coordinator Use of Sanctuary & Piano Use of Gathering Rooms Bouquets or boutonnieres permitted for wedding party Church Staff Custodian

*Members of Carrollton Presbyterian To be considered an active member of Carrollton Presbyterian Church, a person has committed his or her prayers, presence, gifts and service to the church for one year prior to the date of the wedding.

Weddings at Carrollton Presbyterian Church Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family. Marriage involves a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman, to love and support each other for the rest of their lives.  The sacrificial love that unites the couple sustains them as faithful and responsible members of the church and the wider community.  In civil law, marriage is a contract that recognizes the rights and obligations of the married couple in society.

In the Reformed tradition, marriage is also a covenant in which God has an active part, and which the community of faith publicly witnesses and acknowledges. If they meet the requirements of the civil jurisdiction in which they intend to marry, a couple may request that a service of Christian marriage be conducted by a minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), who is authorized, though not required, to act as an agent of the civil jurisdiction in recording the marriage contract.  A couple requesting a service of Christian marriage shall receive instruction from the Minister, who may agree to the couple’s request only if, in the judgment of the Minister, the couple demonstrate sufficient understanding of the nature of the marriage covenant and commitment to living their lives together according to its values.  In making this decision, the Minister may seek the counsel of the session (the governing body of the congregation), which has authority to permit or deny the use of church property for a marriage service.

The marriage service shall be conducted in a manner appropriate to this covenant and to the forms of Reformed worship, under the direction of the Minister and the supervision of the session (W-1.4004–.4006).  In a service of marriage, the couple marry each other by exchanging mutual promises.  The Minister witnesses the couple’s promises and pronounces God’s blessing upon their union.  The community of faith pledges to support the couple in upholding their promises; prayers may be offered for the couple, for the communities that support them, and for all who seek to live in faithfulness.  A service of worship recognizing a civil marriage and confirming it in the community of faith may be appropriate when requested by the couple. The service will be similar to the marriage service except that the statements made shall reflect the fact that the couple is already married to one another according to the laws of the civil jurisdiction.

Nothing herein shall compel a Minister to perform nor compel a session to authorize the use of church property for a marriage service that the Minister or the session believes is contrary to the Minister’s or the Session’s discernment of the Holy Spirit and their understanding of the Word of God.

Reserving Your Wedding

Couples wishing to be married at Carrollton Presbyterian Church will contact the Wedding Coordinator to set a time and date and obtain a schedule of fees. A meeting with the Wedding Coordinator is required to discuss procedure and policies for weddings at Carrollton Presbyterian. Though a reservation may be made up to a year in advance, confirmation is contingent upon the approval of the minister and the session, the couple signing and returning appropriate agreements, and upon payment of the deposit. Generally, weddings are held on Saturdays at various times, with exceptions for the following holidays and holy days. No weddings may be scheduled during Holy Week, on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Also, please note, no wedding with a church reception may be scheduled after 6pm.

Your Wedding Coordinator The church Wedding Coordinator is responsible for coordinating both the rehearsal and wedding. This includes the traditions of seating, processionals and recessional and placement of the wedding party in the sanctuary. Outside consultants are welcome to help the wedding party. Once the wedding party enters the sanctuary, please rely on the CPC Wedding Coordinator to coordinate the activities of the wedding party.

Your Minister The couple should contact the CPC Minister with regard to performing the service and should arrange for premarital counseling. Because the wedding service is a time of worship, the person leading the service is very important. The Presbyterian Church, through its discipline, carefully states the requirements for those who perform such services. CPC follows the guidelines of the Book of Common Worship and requires all persons who have their weddings at Carrollton Presbyterian to use our minister as the leader in the Wedding Ceremony and Service of Worship. Other persons of meaning may participate, at the discretion of the Minister of CPC and may perform the establishment of the Covenant of Marriage where their credentials allow.

Your Marriage License It is the responsibility of the couple to obtain a marriage license prior to the wedding. The marriage license should be given to the officiating minister or the Wedding Coordinators no later than the rehearsal date. No wedding can be performed without the license. Information regarding the license may be obtained by calling: Carroll County Probate Court: 770-830-5840.

Church Policies

No alcoholic beverages are permitted on church premises. At the discretion of the Minister and/or Wedding Coordinator, a rehearsal or wedding ceremony may not proceed if any member of the wedding party has been consuming alcoholic beverages.

Smoking is not permitted on church premises.

No food or drink is allowed in the Sanctuary at any time.

No rice, bird seed, confetti or potpourri may be used on church premises.

Experience has shown that having a registration book or a receiving line at the church delays the wedding or wedding photography. Please plan both of these for your reception.

The church is reserved for you two (2) hours prior to the ceremony and thirty (30) minutes after. Please observe the church’s request that your wedding party arrive at the church no earlier than two (2) hours before the wedding.

The use of a Staff Sound and Lighting Technician is required to operate the sound board.

No pets may be in attendance.

Photography Because a wedding is a worship service, Carrollton Presbyterian Church does not allow photography during the ceremony with one exception. Photographs may be taken from the balcony after the entire wedding party is assembled and before the minister begins the wedding vows. This policy is enforced and includes professional photographers, family, friends and guests. Please be sure that all are in- formed so they may respect the sacredness of our worship space and service. During the recessional, the photographer may take pictures of the wedding party from the back of the church at the double doors. Flash is permissible during the recessional only. We do not permit movement or positioning of the photographer during the service.

All professional photography may begin no more than one and a half hours before the ceremony. Any pictures taken prior to the ceremony must be completed within 30 minutes before the ceremony begins. Any pictures taken after the ceremony must be completed within 30 minutes of the ceremony ending. The officiating minister will be delighted to participate in pictures taken immediately after the ceremony.

Videographers Videographers may assume a fixed position in the balcony of the sanctuary. Videographers may not move during the ceremony and must remain as unobtrusive as possible. No cameras, boom-type microphones or special lighting are allowed in the sanctuary.

Please Note! Photographers, videographers and their assistants must wear appropriate attire for a wedding ceremony. They must not inhibit the job of our Wedding Coordinator, Minister or Organist, particularly in regards to the timing and sacredness of the ceremony. Photographers, videographers and their assistants violating the regulations of the church will be excused from the ceremony and forbidden from taking pictures or video at future weddings at Carrollton Presbyterian Church.

Premarital Counseling The session at CPC requires a couple to have at least three premarital counseling sessions with our minister before marriage. You will discuss the service and any special requests you may have. Any changes to the service must be approved by the minister.

The Rehearsal All rehearsals are held on the evening prior to your wedding. The time of the rehearsal is to be scheduled with the Wedding Coordinator. The Wedding Coordinator will conduct the rehearsal, at times with the minister in attendance. The Order of Worship, traditions of seating, placement of attendants, and instructions to the ushers will be covered at the rehearsal. Members of the wedding party should remember they are in a holy place, dedicated to the worship of God and conduct themselves accordingly. Rehearsal lasts approximately one hour. Please know how important it is that the wedding party arrives on time to receive complete information and instruction. We suggest everyone involved in the rehearsal arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time.

Selecting Your Music The CPC Music Director will approve all music, instrumental and vocal. Because a wedding is a service of worship, all music must be sacred in nature. Secular texts are not used in weddings at CPC. It is recommended that you use our staff musicians. Their presence will assure the ceremony runs smoothly and in accordance with the Book of Common Worship. The use of our staff organist is required if the organ is to be played for your ceremony.

Guest vocalists and instrumentalists may be invited to participate in the wedding but must be approved by the Director of Music of CPC. Soloists and instrumentalists may rehearse one hour before the rehearsal and must provide their music in the proper key to the music staff four weeks prior to the rehearsal. Carrollton Presbyterian does not allow taped accompaniments during a wedding ceremony.

Flowers and Candles

The florist selected will be responsible for installing and removing decorations without interfering with other scheduled activities. No tacks, nails, screws or tape may be used on the building or furnishings. No decorations may be attached to the walls, Lord’s Table, pulpit, or floors.

Pew Markers Only flowers, greenery or bows may be attached to the pews using ribbon, padded wire or plastic clip-on style floral holders.

Flowers No more than two floral arrangements may be used in the Sanctuary. Flowers may not be placed on the organ, piano, or the Lord’s Table. Arrangements may be left for Sunday worship or taken to your reception. If you should choose to leave the arrangements in honor of the couple please make arrangements with the Wedding Coordinator. Please note, all floral decorations must be removed within one hour after the conclusion of the wedding service.

Candles Candles used in our sanctuary must be of the dripless variety, and must have protective sheets under the candles to prevent spilling wax on the carpet and furnishings. Candles may be used in the windows only when enclosed in globes. The party who provides the candles will be responsible for the removal and cleaning of any wax residue.

Other Elements Kneelers and a unity candle stand can be provided by the church. Only white dripless candles may be used in the unity candle stand. Wedding programs should be approved by the Minster, Wedding Coordinator, and Music Director before being printed. Be sure your photographer, videographer, florist, caterer, & director have seen a copy of these guidelines.