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WEDDINGS AT WEST PARISHsm OF BARNSTABLE
West Parish of Barnstable United Church of ChristP.O. Box 219, 2049 Meetinghouse WayWest Barnstable, MA 02668 (508) 362-4445 www.westparish.org
Marriage in the Church …
The wedding ceremony is a service that celebrates a sacred and joyous covenant made between two people. When a couple decides to be married in a Christian religious ceremony, they acknowledge God and a faith community as part of their vows.
The Christian church honors marriage and stands ready to support you as you embark on your life together. Your wedding here will be a service of worship in which the wedding party, guests, clergy and church staff join to center your marriage in the love of God.
… and in its classic Colonial New England Meetinghouse.
Our New England Meetinghouse, built in 1717, is one of the finest remaining examples of one of the dominant styles of church architecture of the colonial period. With its “pumpkin pine” pews, “sheep pens”, high pulpit, and three-sided balcony, together with its elegantly-simple clear windows and soaring wooden roof trusses, the Meetinghouse offers a spectacular and unforgettable setting for your special day. The Meetinghouse is also home to a magnificent pipe organ, manufactured and installed by Mander Organ Ltd. of London, England, in early 2005, which is available for use at your service.
The members of West Parish are delighted that you have decided to have your wedding here. The sanctuary -- the 1717 West Parish Meetinghouse -- comes with our blessings.
RESERVING THE MEETINGHOUSE Requests for weddings should reach the Pastor at least 30 days in advance of the proposed wedding date; to ensure couples will obtain the date desired, an advance notice of six months is preferred and recommended. Your reservation will be confirmed upon receipt of your deposit.
THE WEDDING CEREMONY Your wedding is a service of worship rooted in historic and traditional Christian rituals. The ordained minister who will preside at your wedding will make available to you an outline of the wedding service as usually conducted, but will also encourage you to participate in creating a service that honors the past, is faithful to its Christian traditions, and expresses your own love, lives, and relationship.
CLERGY, COUNSELING The wedding service will be presided over by an ordained minister who may or may not be the pastor of West Parish of Barnstable. Once a date for the wedding is confirmed, you will be put in contact with the minister who will perform the service. You will meet prior to the wedding with the minister, as needed and as mutually agreed, to plan the wedding and to converse about the upcoming marriage.
MUSIC Music enriches the wedding ceremony. It is assumed the church Organist will play at all weddings, unless other arrangements are approved by the minister and the Organist. Additional musicians may be contracted only with the prior approval of the Organist, who shall in all events have the final responsibility for the music at the wedding. The West Parish Handbell Choir is, on occasion, available to ring for weddings, and may be arranged for through the Organist. Music chosen for the wedding should be appropriate for a worship service -- popular secular music should be reserved for the reception.
YOUR WEDDING COORDINATOR A wedding coordinator will be appointed by West Parish to answer any logistical questions you might have and to assist you at the wedding rehearsal and at the service itself to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.
PHOTOGRAPHERS, VIDEOGRAPHERS To maintain the integrity of a religious ceremony (which is, after all, why you are getting married in a church), West Parish provides these guidelines for your photographers and videographers: -- During the processional and recessional, flash photographs may be taken from the intersection of the center aisle and cross-aisle; -- During the ceremony, photographs may be taken only with available light, and from a place chosen by the bridal party and the minister; the photographer/videographer must remain in place during the ceremony. -- Additional photographs may be staged after the ceremony. -- Guests with cameras should be asked by the ushers to refrain from taking pictures during the service.
FLORISTS AND FLOWERS The church office has the name of people who can do professional flower displays. If bows or flowers are used to decorate the pews, they must be attached with ribbon or string, or as arranged with the Sexton. Wire and tape mar the finish. If a wreath is desired for the door of the Meetinghouse: there is a hook on the outside of the door (where a wreath hung in the winter months will be visible to people entering the Meetinghouse); if a wreath is desired in warmer months, when the door will remain open, the florist will need to provide a hook to loop over the top of the door from which a wreath may be hung on the inside of the door, as there is no nail on the inside of the door. Some couples incorporate a Unity Candle into their service. It symbolizes the joining of two families. It should be supplied by the florist or the bride and groom.
USING THE MEETINGHOUSE You are responsible for providing an order of worship, should you wish to have them for the guests. The minister can provide you with several examples. The church bell may be rung at the conclusion of the wedding service. Your guest book should be in place 40 minutes before the service so people can sign as they come in. The desk in the entryway is a good place to put it. No rice, confetti or birdseed may be used in the Meetinghouse or on the Church grounds. No alcoholic beverages may be served anywhere on the Church property or grounds.
Fees are detailed below.
A MESSAGE OF GOODWILL We hope to make your entrance into married life together a memorable, joyful, and spiritually significant occasion. This can be a stress-filled time for you -- it is our hope to make your wedding something to be enjoyed, rather than simply endured. We stand ready to listen and respond to your questions and concerns.
May God bless you as you plan your wedding and life together! (INCLUDES: Members of West Parish, Members of
Use of the Meetinghouse No charge
Organist $175 (Please make out check to the organist) Fee includes a one-hour consultation, the rehearsal and the wedding; additional rehearsals will be billed at $25/hour. For each additional musician such as vocal or instrumental soloist, as well as ensemble, requiring the services of the organist, there will be there will be an additional organist fee of $25/hour, payable to the organist.
Individual soloists are to be paid by the bride. Their fees are separate from the organist's fees.
Music for additional musicians is to be provided by the bride in consultation with the organist and must be received two months prior to the wedding date. Special organ music requests, within reason, must be submitted to the organist at least three months in advance of the wedding date. Otherwise, music will be provided from the organist’s standard wedding repertoire.
Handbell Choir $100 (Please make checks out to West Parish Handbell Choir)
Sexton $65 (Please make check out to Sexton, West Parish of Barnstable)
Pastor The amount of the honorarium for the Pastor will be at the discretion of the couple. Includes: Three pre-marital counseling sessions Crafting the wedding ceremony Conducting the wedding rehearsal Performing the wedding
Use of Jenkins Hall for a reception (including kitchen): $100, plus $20 per hour for custodial service. (Please make check out to West Parish of Barnstable).
All fees are due at the rehearsal. Please make out separate checks for Organist, Sexton, and Jenkins Hall.
FEES -- OTHERS
Use of the Meetinghouse $500 (Please make out check to West Parish of Barnstable)
Organist $200 (Please make out check to the organist) Fee includes a one-hour consultation, the rehearsal and the wedding; additional rehearsals will be billed at $25/hour. For each additional musician such as vocal or instrumental soloist, as well as ensemble, requiring the services of the organist, there will be there will be an additional organist fee of $25/hour, payable to the organist.
Individual soloists are to be paid by the bride. Their fees are separate from the organist's fees.
Music for additional musicians is to be provided by the bride in consultation with the organist and must be received two months prior to the wedding date. Special organ music requests, within reason, must be submitted to the organist at least three months in advance of the wedding date. Otherwise, music will be provided from the organist’s standard wedding repertoire.
Sexton $65 (Please make check out to Sexton, West Parish of Barnstable)
Pastor $300 (Please make check out to the minister doing the service)
Use of Jenkins Hall for a reception (including kitchen): $100, plus $20 per hour for custodial service. (Please make check out to West Parish of Barnstable)
The fee for use of the Meetinghouse is due upon booking; all other fees are due at the rehearsal.
Please make out separate checks for the minister, Organist, Sexton and Meetinghouse. Please return to Church Office once wedding date is reserved. Fill in what you can.
WEDDING INFORMATION SHEET West Parish of Barnstable
Name of Bride__________________________ Name of Groom__________________________________
Address_______________________________ Address________________________________________
______________________________________ ________________________________________
Phone (work & home)____________________ Phone (work & home)_____________________________
email? ________________________________email? ________________________________________
Previous Marriage? Yes_____ No _______ Previous Marriage? Yes______ No _______
Church Affiliation _______________________ Church Affiliation________________________________
Date of Wedding_______________Hour_______Rehearsal Date___________ Hour_________________
Place of Wedding_____________________________________
Place of Reception____________________________________
Number of guests expected_____________
Name of Best Man____________________ Maid(Matron) of Honor_______________________________
Number of Ushers_____________________ Number of Bridesmaids_______________________________
Ringbearer?_____________________________________________________________
Flower Girl?_____________________________________________________________
Florist____________________________________________
Photographer_______________________________________
Videographer______________________________________
Limo Service_______________________________________
Person to escort the Bride down the aisle__________________________________________________
Special Concerns?____________________________________________________________________
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