GUIDE TO WEDDINGS AT CHC

“Congratulations on your impending marriage! Our prayer is that your years together will be happy and fulfilling…” Bishop Ray R. Sutton

This wedding guide has been prepared for use by the Bride and Groom and their families.  It is intended to be a useful aid in planning and performing your day of days, and a step to help make this busy time more orderly.  Be assured the Rector, staff and membership at the Church of the Holy Communion are ready to assist you in every way we can and to minimize any complications that arise.

We understand why you would wish to be married in this beautiful, traditional new church, situated in a pastoral setting in northern Dallas.  It is important, however, that couples applying to be married in our church are or become aware of the obligations they are undertaking in making this life-long commitment.  Wedding ceremonies are important, but fleeting occasions.  Marriages are meant to go on for years, forever, we hope.

Requirement for Counseling
Our concern, thus, is that both parties to a marriage understand the seriousness of their impending vow, and the consequent need to base their relationship on a serious commitment to Jesus Christ.  Church marriages should be for church people.  The idea of a couple appearing at a church for their wedding on a given day and then never returning until the next family wedding or baptism or funeral is foreign to us, and one we believe we cannot in good conscience support.  It is with this concern that we insist that couples accede to pre-marital counseling, as determined by the Rector.

Who may be Married at the Church of the Holy Communion?

You should be aware that weddings will be performed only in the Church,
and only for Active Communicant Members or members of their immediate family, and, ultimately, at the discretion of the Rector.  We will also consider an application from baptized persons who have attended and financially supported the Church of the Holy Communion regularly for not less than six months prior to the date planned for their wedding. Wedding requests by members of the Frankford Cemetery Association will be considered under the same guidelines but under the non-church member fee schedule.   Also be aware the Rector and the Vestry of the Church reserve the right to decline any application for a wedding, without explanation. 

Initial Contact, Application and Scheduling

Initial contact should be made with the Parish Secretary in the Church office, who will obtain approval for the service from the Rector and establish the initial schedule for counseling.  She will also confirm the rehearsal, wedding and reception dates and times with the Wedding Coordinating Committee and others involved.  Note that any request to be married must be submitted at least ninety days in advance and that weddings are not performed on Sundays or during Lent.  Also, time of day must be scheduled so as not to interfere with other church activities.  All rehearsals, ceremonies and receptions are expected to begin and end at the mutually agreed upon times.

Once the date and time are scheduled, the Bride will work directly with  Wedding Coordinator and our organist, Bob Riska. They will be aware of the planned date; however, it is the Bride’s responsibility to make the initial contact with each of them at least two months prior to the date of the wedding. The Church’s Wedding Committee is on hand to assist the Bride and Groom, and will prove of great assistance. Telephone numbers are listed on the inside cover of this booklet.

Divorce 

CHC will consider the remarriage of divorced people under the guidelines of Canon 34 of the Reformed Episcopal Church’s Constitution.  The first requirement of the Canon is that the Rector must submit a statement in writing to the Ordinary of the Diocese as to the circumstances of a divorced person(s) desiring remarriage.  The following provisions also apply:
1)  That one calendar year will have passed since the civil decree of divorcement.
2)  That documentation will attend the application.
3)  That evidence of responsible behavior toward former spouse and any children of the marriage will be presented.
4)  That understanding of the reasons for the marriage’s failure
      have been achieved.

The Wedding Service

The Church of the Holy Communion is wholly dedicated to the traditional Anglican Book of Common Prayer, and, accordingly, the rite of ‘Solemnization of Matrimony’ in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer will be utilized, without additions or substitutions. Supplemental material, such as poetry, especially composed vows or other similar material not found in the Prayer Book, will not be allowed. 

Also, once the marriage rites have begun, no interruptions for music will be permitted.  Clergy, other than the Rector, may be permitted to assist in the ceremony, at the sole discretion of the Rector, recognizing that the Rector maintains the central pastoral role at all weddings.

For planning purposes the Church will hold approximately 300 guests.

Ring-Bearers and Flower Girls

The use of young children for the ceremony is permitted, but not encouraged.  Children often behave unpredictably and can easily heighten an already tension-laden atmosphere that surround weddings.

Music

The Church’s Director of Music and Organist will serve as organist at all weddings.  A substitute may be employed only if the Church’s Organist is not available and only with his personal and explicit agreement.  A repertoire of religious and classical music suitable for weddings has been prepared from which the Bride and Groom may make selections, in discussion with the Organist.  Note that contemporary popular music is not permitted in the Church.  Solos or instrumental music may be played prior to the beginning of the service, but must not intrude on the flow and solemnity of the ritual to follow, and must be approved in advance by the Organist.

Floral or Other Decorations

The use of floral or other ornamentation or any other type of décor must be approved by the assigned Wedding Coordinator, who will involve the Altar Guild, and as necessary, the Rector.  Two floral arrangements for the altar are sufficient.  Dimensions for these arrangements should not exceed 27 inches in height and 36 inches in width for the Main Altar and 21 inches in height and 26 inches in width for the Lady Altar.  Floral vase liners may be picked-up at the Church after noon on the Sunday prior to the wedding. The finished arrangements should be delivered to the church between 9:00 and 10:00 AM on the day of the wedding. Artificial flowers are not permitted.  Aisle runners are not permitted without prior permission.  Pew bows (with hangers)  may be used, but must be removed following the ceremony.  Altar flowers are customarily retained for use the following Sunday. No décor that will alter or obscure any part of the sanctuary may be utilized (bowers, potted trees, candelabra and the like).  The charm of the interior of the church is its simplicity, and should be respected.  The use of petals, birdseed, rice, etc. is prohibited.  Your assigned Church Wedding Coordinator will provide additional details on floral and other ornamentation.

Photographs

Photography, recording and videotaping is permitted, with the following limitations. Photographers/Videographers should be counseled to remain as inconspicuous as possible and flash photos should cease as the service begins.  No more than one photographer and one videographer will be permitted.  After the service, individual or group photos may be taken behind the altar rail only under the direct supervision of a member of the clergy.  The Church must be cleared of all photographic equipment within twenty minutes following the end of the service.  The wedding party is responsible for making the photographer aware of all rules and restrictions.

Alcohol

While it is recognized that at the time of a wedding a certain amount of
exuberant celebration will take place, the Bride and Groom accept that there  will be no consumption of alcoholic beverages the day of the wedding prior to the reception.  Any sign of intoxication from any of the wedding party will be deemed sufficient reason to delay or cancel the ceremony.  Please ensure that all the members of the wedding party are aware of this admonition.

Honoraria & Gifts - Active Communicant Members (covers utilities, cleaning, and other unbudgeted expenses):
Small Wedding (without music or rehearsal)— requested reimbursement is $300 by check made out to Church of the Holy Communion.
Standard Wedding (with music and rehearsal)— requested honoraria is $650 paid for by two checks; one of $225 made out to Bob Riska (our organist), and the other of $425 made out to the Church of the Holy Communion to offset additional unbudgeted costs.
Honoraria & Gifts—Approved Non-Member Wedding (held with consent of the Rector and coordinated by the church staff) — separate checks for $850 (church) and $225 (organist’s fee). 
Honorarium—Priest  For all weddings an honorarium is given to the minister, which is not included in the reimbursement schedule above. A suggested amount would be $200 made out personally to the officiating clergyman.   Reimbursement of any non-CHC clergy involved in the wedding is up to the wedding party.  Remember that the use of such individuals must be approved by the Rector of CHC; general guidelines herein still apply.
Honoraria payments—All reimbursements are payable in advance, one half due when the date is reserved (not refundable) and the other half two weeks prior to the wedding accompanied by a valid Texas marriage license.
Use of Other Facilities
Our other buildings may be used by the family, prior to and following the service for their privacy, at no additional fee.  If the family should wish to hold a reception in Miller Hall following the service, its use and associated fee shall be governed by the “CHC Policy and Guidelines for Building Usage.”