Wedding Policies

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

Enola, PA

Who may be married at Zion?

Marriage within the church is the prerogative of Christian persons. Marriage in Zion Lutheran Church is a privilege afforded couples whenever at least one partner is an active member of the congregation. Requests from non-members to be married at Zion require approval of the pastor and Congregation Council.

Date and Time of Wedding

Dates and times for weddings held at Zion are to be approved by the pastor and the Congregation Council. Normally, weddings (and receptions, if they are to be held at the church) are to be scheduled a minimum of six months in advance. Consideration will be given to your request based upon the availability of the facilities and the pastor. Weddings held during Holy Week and the week of Christmas are strongly discouraged.

Use of Facilities

Use of any Zion Lutheran Church facilities must be approved by the pastor and the Congregation Council.

The furnishings and equipment of Zion belong to its members. All such items should be left in the same condition in which they were found. Couples will be required to pay a $100 facility deposit, which will be returned if all facilities are left in the condition in which they were found. (see Fees)

Smoking is not permitted in the church building.

Who Will Officiate?

Pastoral ethics require that Zion’s pastor conduct the wedding, unless by agreement with another pastor, he/she is invited to share in the wedding or act on behalf of the pastor of Zion. Any requests for another pastor to officiate must be approved by Zion’s pastor and the Congregation Council.

Pre-Marital Counseling

Marriage is a lasting covenant which should not be entered into lightly or for the wrong reasons. For these reasons, pre-marital counseling with the pastor is required for all couples, unless other arrangements are agreed upon. Pre-marital counseling offers the opportunity for a couple to realize the religious significance of the marriage covenant and to learn more about themselves in their relationship with each other and with God.

The wedding couple must meet with the pastor, generally three or four sessions. These sessions should be completed before the wedding service is planned in detail.

Wedding Ceremony

Your wedding is a service of worship, celebrating and confirming your commitments to each other, the congregation’s commitment to support you in your life together, and God’s commitment to keep you in the bonds of love. Consequently, all that is done is to be consistent with the present worship practices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Zion Lutheran Church.

Generally, the outline for the wedding service as found in the Lutheran Book of Worship will be followed. The couple may write their own vows or add things to the service, with the approval of the pastor. The simple Christ-centered wedding service is conducive to beauty and a worshipful atmosphere.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion may be celebrated as a part of your wedding service, if both the bride and groom are baptized members of the Christian faith. All those gathered for the wedding ceremony will be invited to the Table. The bridal couple is responsible for supplying the communion elements (bread and wine) for Holy Communion.

Wedding Music

Normally, the organist at Zion will play at all weddings in the church, as he/she is familiar with the instrument. If the organist is ill or on vacation, it will be his/her responsibility to provide a suitable replacement. In cases where an outside organist is desired, permission must be secured from the pastor and the Director of Music. Additional musicians or soloists may be utilized. (see Fees section) Please note that the use of taped music or pre-recorded accompaniments is discouraged.

Music performed at a service of Christian marriage is understood as an act of worship, offered to God in devotion, thanksgiving and praise. The secular view that such music is for the entertainment of the wedding guests is incompatible and inappropriate with the church’s understanding of the nature of Christian marriage. For these reasons, all music used during the wedding ceremony (including prelude and postlude) must be sacred in nature and approved by the pastor and the Director of Music.

The following statement from the Lutheran Book of Worship is a helpful guide as you consider your selections of music:

“Music selected should embody high standards of quality and, in general, reflect the praise of God, God’s steadfast love in Christ as the foundation of and model for marriage, and the asking of God’s presence and blessing.

A number of musical options are possible before the entrance procession: solo, ensemble or choral pieces; organ or other instrumental music; music using a combination of these media. Organ music may be based on hymn tunes used within the marriage service. A printed folder helps to establish such themes and relationships for the congregation. Instrumental music may be selected from chamber music literature or similar sources and should reflect the mood of joy and celebration in the service. Voices and instruments could be joined in solo or choral cantatas.

Whenever music is employed in the service, and by whatever instruments or voices, it should be high-quality and not cloud the mood of the service with musical triteness or sentimentality. It should moreover be within the ability of the performers at hand to play or sing with assurance."

It is recommended that the couple meet with the organist and/or musicians at least one month prior to the wedding to plan appropriate music for the ceremony.

Wedding Rehearsal

A rehearsal helps familiarize the wedding party with the service and the facility. Everyone – bride and groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers, parents, organist, musicians, clergy – should be present for the rehearsal to ensure that the wedding goes smoothly.

The rehearsal is normally held one or two nights before the wedding itself. The date and time must be approved by the pastor. For an adequate and satisfactory rehearsal, please allow at least one hour for a small wedding and at least one and a half hours for a larger wedding. The rehearsal will be conducted by the pastor.

A word of warning: any member of the wedding party (including the bride and groom) may be barred from participating in either a rehearsal or the wedding itself if it is evident that he/she is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Photography

Because of the church’s belief in the spirituality of weddings, photographers and wedding attendees are asked to adhere to the following guidelines. No flash pictures are to be taken during the ceremony. Non-flash pictures may be taken during the ceremony from the rear of the sanctuary or balcony only. (This should be indicated in the bulletin.)

Photography in the sanctuary must be completed at least 45 minutes before the ceremony is to begin. Photos may be taken after the service and at other times as arranged with the wedding party and families. If you plan to have photographs which will include the pastor, these should be done first so that the pastor may remove her/his vestments.

The use of a video camera is permitted in consultation with the pastor regarding the location of the camera.

Flowers and Decorations

Only fresh cut flowers may be placed on the altar. No artificial flowers (i.e. silk or dried) or planters are allowed. Flowers may be left on the altar for Sunday worship services only if the flower calendar is vacant for that Sunday. Contact the church’s Flower Coordinator for more information.

All decorations must be completed at least one hour prior to the beginning of the ceremony. Bows may be placed on pews, but we prefer they be fastened with rubber bands or string rather than tacks. Decorations must be removed following the service.

Rice is not to be used or thrown on the church grounds. Bubbles and balloons being released are strongly discouraged. Confetti or birdseed may be thrown outside only. However, the wedding party must ensure that such material will be swept up or into the street immediately following the wedding ceremony and/or reception.

Paraments on the altar, lectern and pulpit will remain the color of the day or season, regardless of the colors used for other decorations.

Those involved in decorating the church are encouraged to discuss plans with a member of the church’s Altar Guild. Information on who to contact can be secured from the Pastor.

Dressing at the Church

Facilities are available at the church and the parish house for the bride and groom and their parties to dress. Dressing at the church prior to the service is encouraged to avoid possible problems of inclement weather and travel.

Bridal Consultants

Bridal consultants can be helpful. However, if used they should understand that all activities in the church are under the direction of the pastor. The wedding service is a religious rite and, therefore, must be conducted according to the practice of the Lutheran church.

Marriage License

The marriage license must be delivered to the pastor no later than the beginning of the wedding rehearsal. This prevents the possibility of forgetting it on your wedding day.

Invitation to the Congregation

Since your wedding is a service of worship within the whole of the worship life of Zion Church, it is appropriate that your wedding should be announced in the Sunday worship bulletin and the congregation invited to participate in the service.

Bulletins

If bulletins are to be given out during the service, they may either be prepared by you or the church secretary. (See Fees) If you plan to have the secretary prepare the bulletins, you must purchase the appropriate amount of bulletin covers. These are available in most Christian book stores. All information for the bulletin must be received by the secretary at least two weeks prior to the wedding.

Fees

If you or your immediate family is a member of Zion, there is no fee for the use of the facilities. For all other individuals, additional fees may be assessed. Fees are payable (by cash or check) one week prior to the wedding rehearsal to the individuals directly (pastor, organist, sexton, secretary, soloist/s, sound system operator). For other expenses, cash or a check made payable to “Zion Lutheran Church” should be sent or delivered to the church at least one week prior to the wedding rehearsal. The couple will be responsible for any unpaid checks and bank fees.

The following fees apply:

	Member	Non-Member
Facility Deposit	$100 (returned if facility is left in the same condition it was found)
Use of Church	No fee	$300
Candlelight Wedding	$50
Pastor	Honorarium appreciated	$250
Organist	$125
Work with soloist	$35 additional soloist
Rehearsal with soloist	$35 additional per rehearsal
Sexton
Wedding only	$95	$95
Candlelight wedding	$40	$40
Reception at the church	$75	$75
Bulletin printing – 8 pages or less	$20 per 100	$20 per 100
Additional pages	$6.00 per page	$6.00 per page

* Deposit will be returned if facilities are left in the same condition in which they were found.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

265 North Enola Drive

Enola, PA 17025

717.732.9652

Approved 3/2004