Dear Bride and Groom,
We are delighted that you are considering Peace Moravian Church for your marriage ceremony. The following information is presented to help ensure that your rehearsal and wedding day will go smoothly and stress-free. Please take careful note of these guidelines. You are responsible for communicating all information to your wedding party, family members, and service providers including your florist and photographer.
Once the Wedding date is set, a non-refundable deposit must be paid within 5 working days to reserve the date. Please be aware that the payment of fees for services rendered by the organist and clergy should be made directly to those individuals. Those payments should be made at your rehearsal.
We encourage you to carefully read through all the following guidelines. Again we thank you for choosing Peace. We pray your experience here will prove to be a wonderful time of celebration and joy.
In Christian Love,
Pastor James Doss
(Senior Minister)
Fee Schedule (Non members only):
- Sanctuary (seats 200): $300.00 (to be paid in full in order to hold a date on church calendar)
- Library/Parlor for private bridal preparation (no charge when renting Sanctuary)
- Fellowship Hall with Commercial Kitchen (seats 50-75 people): $200
- Clergy Honorarium (recommended): $200
- Organist: To be set with the Organist
- Wedding Director: To be set with Director from Peace Moravian to insure an easy flow of activities. Number of attendants will determine the fee.
- Minister: Counseling Sessions – $300 (Due at First Session)
- Note: An outside counselor is allowed for the premarital counseling sessions. If so desired, the counselor must be approved by the minister.
- Rehearsal & Wedding: Honorarium (normally $150-250.00 following ceremony)
Guidelines for Weddings
- The Pastor of peace Moravian Church will officiate all weddings. Weddings are not permitted on Sundays or Christmas Eve. Four pre-marital counseling sessions are required and should be scheduled at least three months prior to wedding date.
- The Pastor will have final authority concerning the ceremony to be used. His decision shall be respected concerning practices that are in keeping with the position of the Moravian Church.
- Your marriage is a sacred service or worship. Simplicity is the best policy for your ceremony. Only Dripless candles may be used.
- Two floral arrangements may be placed on the pedestal stands at the altar and need to be sized appropriately. Florist arrangements must be made through the church office several days in advance.
- Rice may not be used in the building or on church property. Birdseed may be used but must be thrown outside the church building.
- Aisle decorations are permitted for reserved seating of family members and guests. No tape, glue, staples or nails will be allowed in any area of the sanctuary or chapel. The bridal couple is responsible for the care of the church use during their wedding.
- Your florist or other responsible party should remove all decorations immediately following your ceremony. Another wedding may be taking place after yours and they will need to decorate.
- If you wish to leave floral arrangements in honor or memory of family members, please notify the pastor 30 days prior to your wedding date.
- Flash photography will not be permitted during the ceremony. The use of video cameras is allowed from the door of the chancel at the rear of the sanctuary with an unattended camera. Spotlights may not be used.
- Music is a traditional and beautiful part of your wedding ceremony. Music selections should be sacred and reverent. Our organist can help you plan this special portion of the service. Pre-recorded music is not to be used during the prelude or ceremony. This should be kept in mind when choosing vocal selections as well. It is your responsibility to contact our organist for consultation about music for your wedding ceremony. If you wish to use musicians other than our organist, our organist must still be notified for approval. When outside organists are used, the fee of our resident organist must still be paid. The organist fee includes one consultation, rehearsal and ceremony. The organist fee includes one consultation, rehearsal and ceremony. Additional rehearsals will result in an additional charge of $25.00 per session. Please contact the church office to obtain the organist’s telephone number. Please contact our organist as soon as your date has been scheduled. Final decisions concerning musical selections rest with our pastors.
- Smoking is not permitted in any area of the church.
- Alcoholic beverages or pets will not be allowed anywhere on the church property. This includes the parking lot and sidewalks.
- We ask that the dressing areas and church library used be restored to the order in which they were found as soon as possible following the service.
- Rehearsals need to begin on time! There are often other wedding parties who will be rehearsing directly after you. Please remind everyone in your wedding party that the rehearsal is a time to pay attention to details. We expect all persons involved to listen to the pastor during the rehearsal. Rehearsals should take no longer than an hour. The last rehearsal time is 8:00 p.m.
- At the Pastors’ discretion, the church will be opened a total of three (3) hours for your wedding. Two (2) hours prior to the wedding, the church will be open for assembling, dressing and photography.
- The couple shall be responsible for any damage to the church facilities. Repairs or replacements resulting from damaging or defacing Church property will be made at the expense of the Bride’s family. It is the responsibility of the wedding families to communicate these policies to all members of the wedding party and to all persons involved in the preparation of the wedding.
