Congratulations
to all newly engaged couples who are considering using Knox Church for your
wedding! We celebrate your commitment to begin the first steps of your married
life together here at Knox Presbyterian Church.
We
appreciate that a wedding can take a great deal of planning. You may have a
lot of questions. We hope the following will provide you with answers to your questions, and provide you with an
understanding of how we at Knox Church can support you in your plans and make
your wedding day a time of great blessing … and as stress-free as possible!
Why get married at Knox?
Knox
Church, like many of the churches within our community, provides a wonderful
and awe-inspiring setting for your wedding day. What truly gives the day
meaning, however, is starting your married life together with God’s
blessing. A wedding at Knox is a time of worship, asking God to bless you as
you make your promises of love to one another, surrounded by family and
friends. This is something we believe in very passionately, and treat with
great significance.
If
you are active within the Christian faith, you will understand what it means
to be married with God’s blessing and the blessing of the Christian
community. If you are new to the church, or maybe haven’t attended for a
long time, the minister will be happy to spend some time with you reflecting
on the meaning of marriage from the perspective of the Christian faith.
Don’t
worry – there is no test you have to pass to ‘qualify’ to be married at
Knox Church. We simply want to be sure you understand the significance of
being married within the Christian Church.
Will my wedding be special?
Of
course! The service will take place in the Sanctuary, and whether there are
ten guests or two hundred guests, we want to emphasize the uniqueness of your
wedding. You are two persons, each different from any other, whose coming
together represents an entirely new event.
Your wedding service will never be duplicated because of the persons
involved, so we want to make it a cherished experience.
Our
minister, the Rev. Dr. Terry Hastings, will talk over the wedding ceremony
with you, as well as any unique touches you would like to include. Although
there is a basic wedding service, it has lots of freedom to make it truly
personal and meaningful. All we ask is that the worshipful nature of the
service be honoured and maintained.
What is the first step?
The
first step in making your wedding plans are to be sure to consult with the
minister before making any other arrangements (reception hall, etc) to ensure
the church, the minister, and the organist are available on your preferred
date and time.
The
person authorized to officiate at your wedding service is the Rev. Dr. Terry
Hastings, minister of Knox Presbyterian Church. However, if for personal reasons, you wish to have another
minister assist in the service, this can be arranged through consultation with
Terry.
It
will also be necessary for you to meet with the minister for pre-wedding
interviews to talk about the spiritual character of your wedding service, to
plan the service, and to assist you in making wise decisions regarding your
forthcoming marriage. The minister will also provide information regarding
church policies around the wedding rehearsal, photographers and videographers,
flowers, and other information important for a day of blessing and
celebration.
Marriage License or Banns?
There
are two methods for legally registering your marriage. The “Reading of
Banns” is a privilege reserved for two persons who are practicing members
of the Christian Church. They may
be of different denominations, so the Banns will be read at each church,
according to the policies of each church.
When Banns are to be read, no licence is required, and no fee is
charged for the Banns. The
officiating minister will have the Banns form in his possession.
When
Banns are not applicable, a licence is
required. This is obtained
from the civil authorities, usually from City Hall.
The licence must be obtained at least three full days
before the date of marriage, and is only valid for a three month period.
Both persons are required to be 18 years of age to obtain a licence
without parental consent. A fee will be charged by the town for the procurement of a
licence.
We
emphasize that the wedding service is a service of praise and prayer to God,
seeking God’s blessings upon your union. It is more than just ‘a
ceremony’. Therefore it should be planned with seriousness and with prayer,
as well as with celebration and anticipation.
As
previously stated, the wedding service follows a standard format, but has
great opportunity for creative input that can make it into a unique and
wonderful expression of your commitment to one another.
You
can share standard vows or write your own. You can have special readings.
Special people from your family and friends are welcome to play a role in the
wedding ceremony. We only ask that the holy nature of the service be honoured
and maintained. Feel free to discuss any ideas you may have for the wedding
service with Dr. Hastings.
Of
course, music is a very special part of any wedding service. The right music
can provide a wonderful expression of thanksgiving and joy to your day. And
the music doesn’t need to be classical to be worshipful … there are many
contemporary music pieces that lend themselves very well to creating a
meaningful and expressive wedding service.
The Organist of Knox Presbyterian Church, Suzanne Strahan,
must be consulted regarding all music chosen for the service. Suzanne is a
highly skilled musician who will be a great help in choosing music that is
special to you and also maintains the sacred quality of the service. She also
works well with soloists and other musicians.
Your
photographer is required to speak with the minister prior to the service
regarding the church’s policy on the taking of pictures.
Your professional photographer may take pictures during the ceremony,
but only if he/she provides no distractions to the service. NO FLASH is
allowed during the ceremony. This is to ensure the sacred quality of the
service.
By
all means! Should you wish to record your service on tape or
disc, the bridal couple will be expected to provide all recording
equipment. Consult with the
minister regarding the appropriate use of such equipment during the service of
worship.
Since
Knox is a downtown church there is lots of parking around the church – most
of it is metered parking. Reserved parking for the wedding party can be
arranged at the very front of the church building with prior notice.
You
are welcome to provide all the flowers you wish for the service. Please be
sure to notify the church office regarding the appointed time for flower
delivery. If you wish bows on the
pews, you must supply them. They
may be attached with scotch tape only, and must be removed following the
service.
Fee
Structure for Services
The Standard Fee for Weddings at Knox is
$900.00
This is inclusive of everything connected to your
wedding, including:
THE MINISTER:
All planning meetings, service preparation, wedding resources,
officiating at the rehearsal and the wedding ceremony.
ORGANIST:
Music consultation and selection, coordination and practice with
soloists, performance at the wedding ceremony.
CARETAKER:
Preparation
and cleaning of the building for rehearsal and wedding; cleaning afterwards;
building security; receiving flower deliveries.
CANDLE FEE:
2 brass candelabras and 14 candles
CHURCH USE:
Use of the
Sanctuary for rehearsal and wedding ceremony.
The
above fee is due in full at least two weeks prior to the ceremony, in cash or
cheque.
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The use of Reception Facilities - Kitchen, Dining Room, etc.
are available at an additional cost. Please consult with the church
secretary.
2007