We are pleased that you have chosen to share your wedding vows through our Church. We are open to assisting couples who wish to ask God to bless their wedding vows. We invite you to read the following information regarding how weddings are conducted within our Church community. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our church office.
We offer a Christian marriage ceremony and understand marriage to be a covenant between two people (regardless of gender) who come together, ready to commit to a partnership that is faithful, loving, and life-giving, with the intention of life long permanence. In marriage ceremony they express this desire and hope with vows of love and commitment that are offered in the presence of God, family and friends. At the heart of marriage is the commitment made between two people. It is the commitment of fidelity that empowers the marriage, more so than the changeable emotion of love. We invite you to approach your wedding in this spirit. If there are reasons for your coming to the Church to be married that are different from those discussed above, we would appreciate your frankness and openness about them. The Church is pleased to support you at this momentous time in the spiritual matters of your commitment.
We believe that Jesus Christ calls us, within services of marriage, to honour the equality and mutuality of the marriage partners. The common items required for a Christian marriage service are the worship of God, the reading of the Christian Bible, vows, prayers and blessing of the marriage. Other appropriate actions may also take place (example: lighting of marriage candles)
Music (vocal, instrumental, congregational), because of its capacity to heighten the sense of celebration, is an important part of the marriage service. We provide the services of our musician for your ceremony. If you wish to make other arrangements regarding music, her fee is still applicable. Our musician is happy to help incorporate additional musicians into the service and provide music selections appropriate to the ceremony.
Cloverdale United Church’s worship space can comfortably seat 200 people and Hazelmere United Church’s space can comfortably seat 80.
We feel that our United Church minister is the appropriate person to preside over your marriage service. If the regular minister is not available, another United Church minister will be provided. If another wedding leader is desired, this is at the discretion of our minister.
To ensure that your wedding service goes smoothly, we provide a wedding hostess to assist with the rehearsal and your wedding day. The hostess will ensure that the worship space is open, and closed, as well as providing guidance and other assistance.
Many couples wish to record their wedding service. Non-distracting methods of recording during the service will ensure needless distractions for you and your guests. For example, flash photos are not permitted during the service and video shall be from a fixed place or tripod.
You may decorate the worship space, as long as you do not cause damage. Out of respect for our religious traditions and community, we request that you not remove banners, hymn books, candles, or other items of significance from our worship space. Also we request that no confetti, rice or rose petals be used inside or outside of the church. If you require clarification, please talk with the wedding host.
Our communities have found that when couples intentionally prepare for marriage, they are better able to grow in their love and care for each other, therefore couples are required to take a marriage preparation course (or an equivalent course). Confirmation of course completion is required one month prior to your wedding day. Please contact our office for additional information.
Before you can be married in British Columbia, you must obtain a Marriage Licence from the Provincial Department of Vital Statistics.
Our fee of $1200.00 is set for items related to wedding services at our church, (i.e. Sanctuary Fee, Minister, Organist / Pianist / Sound System, Hostess, etc.) If you would like us to arrange for our professional Soloist, there is an additional fee of $75.00 per song.
*Please note that the organist does not normally attend the wedding rehearsal. If the organist is required at the rehearsal, there is an additional fee of $25.00.
To ensure that the date of your wedding is secure, we require a $100.00 deposit. The remainder of the fees shall be paid one month prior to the date of your wedding.
A wedding appointment should be arranged with the minister a number of months prior to your wedding date. At your wedding appointment, we will talk about what makes a good wedding service, as well as get to know you before your wedding day. It is also a great opportunity to answer questions not covered in this package of information. Selections and changes to the service will need to be sent to the Church office one month prior to your wedding day.
In order for our community to get to know you so that we can support your marriage commitment, we invite all couples to attend Sunday worship for 3 to 4 Sundays. Many couples find that they enjoy worshipping God and become regular attendees. Cloverdale United Church Sunday Worship 10:30 am (each Sunday) Hazelmere United Church Sunday Worship 8:45 am (each Sunday) We look forward to meeting you and sharing in the joy of your wedding day.
May God bless you both!