Marriage in the Church is a Sacramental rite – that is, the ceremony is an outward sign of the invisible work God accomplishes in joining two human lives together in one common bond. We rejoice to be the ministers of this Sacrament when two people seek to join their lives together in love, and in God’s Name.

Who may be married at Christ Church? Members of the Parish in good standing may, of course, be married at Christ Church and should contact one of the clergy to make plans for a wedding. Couples who are not members of the Parish are also welcome to be married in the church, by permission of the Rector. The Episcopal Church requires that at least one of the parties be baptized. To determine if marriage at Christ Church is appropriate, couples who are not members of the Parish should contact one of the clergy to arrange for an introductory meeting. The point of this meeting is so that the priest may learn something about the couple’s background and expectations and the couple may learn about the Parish’s expectations. If it seems agreeable to both the couple and the priest, preparations and planning for the wedding will proceed. 

Who will officiate the wedding? All weddings at Christ Church must be officiated by a priest in good standing in The Episcopal Church or one of the churches in full communion with the Episcopal Church. Clergy of denominations or faith traditions besides these may assist the officiant when their participation is desired. All outside officiants must be approved by the Rector of Christ Church.

What kind of preparation is required? The clergy are required to ensure that “both parties have been instructed as to the nature, meaning and purpose of Holy Matrimony.” At Christ Church we generally try to accomplish this preparation in discussions that take place between the couple being married and the priest performing the ceremony. Normally, three hours of preparation is required (i.e. three separate one-hour sessions). These discussions would normally cover topics raging from the church’s theology of marriage to specific arrangements for the wedding ceremony. The discussions are meant also to provide the priest an opportunity to get to know a couple (and vice versa) and to assess their readiness to enter into a life-long covenant. This requires a measure of openness and self-disclosure on the part of the couple, as well as fairness and discretion on the part of the priest.The clergy retain the right to decline to perform any marriage as a matter of personal judgment and discretion.

May a divorced person be married at Christ Church? The policies of the Episcopal Church allow for the marriage of a divorced person with the consent of the diocesan bishop. As a part of the preparation for marriage the priest will inquire about previous marriages and the circumstances that resulted in divorce. If the priest is satisfied that the issues that resulted in the failure of a previous marriage do not constitute an impediment to another marriage, they will request permission from the diocesan bishop to perform the marriage.

May a same-sex couple be married at Christ Church? Yes, same-gender couples may be married at Christ Church and should follow all the steps as listed on this page.

How do we plan the wedding ceremony? Wedding ceremonies at Christ Church must conform to the regular pattern of the church’s worship as laid out in the Book of Common Prayer 1979 and its supplements. The three forms only allow for minimal customization. The priest will work with the couple to help select readings and make other choices about the service. Secular customs like unity candles, unity sand, or the writing of their own vows is not allowed.

May we have a Communion (Holy Eucharist) as part of the wedding ceremony? There are generally two kinds of wedding ceremonies:

  • The Marriage Office is a short service (about 25 minutes, with music) that includes a procession, readings, prayers, a homily, the exchange of vows and rings, and a blessing of the marriage.

  • The Nuptial Eucharist includes everything in the Wedding Office and then continues with a celebration of the Eucharist, offered in thanksgiving for the couple’s marriage. At Christ Church we are happy to perform either kind of wedding ceremony.

Since the Eucharist is the principle act of Christian worship, and one of the chief Sacraments of God’s love and grace for his people, and since it is always an offering of praise and thanksgiving from God’s people, it is always appropriate to include a celebration of the Eucharist with the Marriage rite, but it is not required. The priest will discuss this matter with the couple during the course of preparation.

How do we make arrangements for Music at our wedding? All musical arrangements must be made in consultation with Christ Church’s Director of Music. Normally the music director will play the organ for the wedding, will assist with selection of music, and with the hiring of additional musicians, should you wish to have a soloist, choir, or other instrumentalists. Details and fees for additional musicians must be worked out with the Director of Music well in advance of the date of the wedding. 

Other Details: Flowers & Decorations: Flowers and other adornments are placed in the church as offerings to God in thanksgiving for the marriage of two people. Generally speaking elaborate displays of flowers are unnecessary in such a beautiful church and are discouraged. We don’t encourage the use of aisle runners, which seldom add to the dignity and beauty of the space. The Episcopal marriage rite does not include nor allows for the lighting of a unity candle. We have well-established relationships with several area florists whose use we recommend. Before contracting with a florist other than those we recommend please be in contact with the Christ Church clergy.

Rehearsal
A wedding rehearsal, lasting about 45 minutes, conducted by the officiating priest is normally held on the evening before the wedding. 

Seating
The seating capacity of the church is about 300. The Lady Chapel cannot comfortably seat more than 20 people. 

Photography
In order to ensure the dignity of the ceremony we ask photographers and videographers to respect some limits, remaining discreet and unobtrusive. This generally means that they should remain in the side aisles or at the back of the church except during the procession, when photographers may be in the center aisle. We request the photographers not take flash photos during the ceremony. If you desire time in the church before or after the ceremony for picture-taking, please be sure to arrange this time in advance. 

Contact
To inquire about being married at Christ Church, please contact one of the parish clergy.