Weddings
Welcome to Your Wedding!
A beautiful beginning for your life together…
Your wedding can be more than just the gown, flowers and music. Central can help your wedding be a celebration of your commitment to each other before your families, friends and God. A Central Wedding not only pays attention to all of those important wedding details, but is also designed to bring you closer together as a couple. When you leave Central on your wedding day, it is our hope that you will have a sure foundation for many happy years of life together.
That is what a Central Wedding is all about.
Central Reformed Church welcomes your request to be married in our historic church and also invites you to visit and worship with us. The clergy and staff look forward to helping you make your wedding ceremony a memorable event. The following information should be helpful as you begin making your plans.
Reserving a Date
Wedding dates must coordinate with the church calendar. Central Reformed members may reserve dates up to 18 months in advance. Dates will be offered to non- members up to 12 months prior to the wedding date. Weddings will not be conducted on Sundays. The date is confirmed once the contract and deposit is received and signed by the Officiating Minister and Director of Music.
Wedding Hostess
The wedding hostess will assist in planning the flow and choreography of your ceremony and will serve as your host for both the rehearsal and the day of the wedding. Outside wedding coordinators will work with the wedding hostess.
Pre Marital Counseling
A licensed professional counselor from Fountain Hill Center for Counseling will provide the engaged couple with pre-marital counseling using the Prepare assessment. It is recommended to have counseling completed prior to wedding. Fees must be paid directly to Fountain Hill Center for Counseling.
Music
Central’s Minister of Music will be the organist for your wedding. If he is unavailable, he will secure an organist for your ceremony from our approved directory of guest organists. The Minister of Music will assist you in selecting music for your wedding. Music selections should reflect Christian traditions. No prerecorded music is allowed.
Decorations
Arrangements for floral decoration may be made through the florist of your choice.
Tacks, nails, wire, string, and decorating tapes are not permitted on the walls, pews,
furnishings or woodwork of the church. Decorations of all kinds should reflect the sanctity of Central Reformed Church. No decorations or floral arrangements are allowed on the communion table or on musical instruments (i.e. organ, piano). Wedding flowers must be removed following the service. Central will provide a kneeling bench for the bridal couple, if desired. The church will provide a pair of candelabra and a unity candle stand, if desired. The use of runners is prohibited for reasons of safety.
Central Reformed Church is not responsible for preparing wedding service programs.
Seasonal decorations of the church will not be removed.
Decorations may be put up either during church office hours or in conjunction with the wedding rehearsal.
Photography
Pictures can be taken prior to, or following the ceremony and must be completed within one hour. No flash of any kind is allowed in the sanctuary once the wedding begins.
Rehearsal and Wedding Day
The wedding rehearsal is customarily held the evening prior to the wedding day and will be approximately one hour. The Wedding Hostess and Officiating Minister will determine the time. Time allowance for the wedding is four hours. Saturday weddings must begin no later than 4:00 pm.
License
A marriage license must be obtained from a city or town clerk within the state of Michigan. The license should be presented to the Minister at the rehearsal.
Booking
Wedding dates are confirmed once the contractual agreement is received with a deposit of 1/2 of the total cost of the wedding. A signed contract should be sent within 2 weeks of the contact date. The deposit is non-refundable. Member/non-member status will be determined at time of request. Balance of cost is due one month prior to the wedding ceremony. Fees are subject to change without notice. Weddings booked a month prior to wedding date are to be paid in full.
Here is our current wedding availability calendar:
Additional Information
A member of Central’s pastoral staff must preside at your wedding service. If desired, a clergy person from outside may assist at the service.
No individuals may be on the chancel once ceremony begins other than wedding party, ministers and organist. If you wish to use rooms not generally open for weddings (nursery, classroom, etc) please discuss this with the wedding hostess. The Bride’s room is designed and equipped for the convenience and comfort of the bridal party prior to the service. Rice, confetti or birdseed may not be thrown on, or about, the church property. No red punch is allowed. Alcohol is prohibited in the church and on the church grounds in any form. Central Reformed Church is a non-smoking facility.
By contracting for services with our church you agree to be responsible for any damage of church property or equipment caused by your partyand /or guests.
Technical and Custodial Staff
The custodial and technical audio staff will be present the day of your ceremony and rehearsal. Central Reformed Church is not responsible for lost personal property. Please lock any rooms where personal property is placed and have the wedding hostess open the rooms after the service.
For further questions about your wedding at Central Reformed Church, please email our wedding hostesses at Weddings@CentralReformedChurch.org
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