Weddings
Wedding Policy
The First Step
The couple must first talk with the clergy about the wedding before any other plans are finalized. A wedding at Church of Our Saviour involves the participation of many different people with different functions and adequate advance notice is essential. While the Canons of the Church require a minimum of thirty days notice for a wedding, the Church needs arrangements made as far in advance as possible in order to avoid scheduling difficulties. At Church of Our Saviour, we require advance notice of at least six months.
The Laws of the Church Concerning Holy Matrimony
In addition to complying with the civil laws regulating marriage, it is necessary for a couple desiring Holy Matrimony to comply with the Marriage Canons (Laws) of the Church. These Canons support the Christian truth that marriage is “as long as you both shall live.”
The Canons specifically provide that it shall be within the discretion of any Minister of the Church to decline to solemnize any marriage. The Canons prohibit a priest from solemnizing the marriage of anyone who has been divorced except with the consent of the Bishop. (Please refer to the section – Concerning Divorced Persons.)
The Episcopal Church requires that at least one of the two persons be a baptized Christian.
Premarital Counseling
The Episcopal Church as a national body requires couples undergo premarital counseling. At Church of Our Saviour, this takes two forms.
The priest presiding at the wedding meets with the couple throughout the process. The first meeting is to collect certain information, describe the process leading up to the day of the wedding, and to get to know the couple. The second meeting is to plan the wedding itself. The last session will be to rehearse. All these sessions are mandatory. Failure to complete these meetings will result in the wedding being cancelled.
In addition to these meetings, the couple is required to meet for at least three sessions of premarital counseling. The couple is responsible for contacting the priest and setting up the appointments. These sessions must be completed prior to the wedding. If they are not, the officiating priest will refuse to perform the ceremony.
If the parties live out of the area, members of the clergy are permitted to appoint a priest or counselor in the area in which they live to do the pre-marital instruction and counseling.
Qualifications for a Wedding at Church of Our Saviour
To be married at Church of Our Saviour, one member of the couple seeking to be married must be an active member of Church of Our Saviour or be directly related to an active member (e.g., child or grandchild). An active member is defined as a person who attends worship regularly and is a financial contributor of record. The Rector makes the final decision about exceptions to these qualifications.
The Declaration of Intention
The “Declaration of Intention” which follows, must be signed by both parties to the marriage at a time prior to the marriage:
“We, desiring to receive the blessing of Holy Matrimony in the Church, do solemnly declare that we hold marriage to be a lifelong union as it is set forth in the Book of Common Prayer.
“We believe that the union of two people, in heart, body and mind, is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity, and when it is God’s will, for the procreation of children, and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord.
“And we do engage ourselves, so far as in us lies, to make our utmost effort to establish this relationship and to seek God’s help thereto.”
Concerning Divorced Persons
The Canons of the Episcopal Church allow the marriage of divorced persons whose previous marriage has been declared terminated by final decree of the State. No priest may officiate at any marriage ceremony of a divorced person without the written permission of the Bishop. To obtain this permission, the priest must submit an application with a recommendation to the Bishop of Chicago.
This process can take more than a month and can only be accomplished after the priest meets with the couple to discuss their particular circumstances. Applications are not accepted by the clergy of Church of Our Saviour until 6 months after a Divorce Decree is final.
Advent, Lent and Holy Days
By long tradition, Episcopalians do not schedule weddings during the seasons of Advent (the season before Christmas) and Lent (the season before Easter). There are also other days and times when weddings shall not be celebrated, so early communication with the clergy is important to good planning.
Final Responsibility for the Service
As in every service of the Church, the Rector is charged by Canon Law with the final responsibility for determining the appropriateness of all arrangements and details, although s/he may deputize other clergy to make these judgments. If there are matters in question, the final decision rests with the Rector.
For this reason, no wedding consultants are permitted regarding any arrangements in the church.
The Marriage License
The couple must secure a marriage license from the Commonwealth of Illinois before a wedding can be solemnized in Church of Our Saviour Episcopal Church. For information on how to obtain a civil license please contact Dupage County. Please deliver the license to the Church Office one week in advance of the wedding. After the wedding, the officiating priest completes the license and returns it to the State.
Seating
The main seating of the church can seat 90 people, but extra seating can be added in the transepts of the church.
Flowers and Candles
It is strongly encouraged that floral decorations be kept as simple as possible. Only live or dried organic material may be used. A maximum of three (3) floral arrangements are permitted: two on the reredos behind the altar and one in front of the Altar.
All arrangements for flowers must be made in consultation and approved by the officiating priest or Rector. The altar or floral guild will be responsible for the placement of the floral arrangements, and will remove all ribbons, bows, cards or other material.
The florist should contact the church office one week in advance of the wedding to schedule a delivery time during office hours.
The use of aisle candles is optional. These will be supplied by Church of Our Saviour.
Other Decorations
NO other decorations are permitted, including aisle runners and pew bows. Reserved seating will be designated using pew ropes supplied by Church of Our Saviour.
Rose Petals, Rice, Bubbles, Etc.
Nothing may be sprinkled, scattered or in any other ways disseminated inside or outside the church buildings.
Wedding Music
The final decision regarding music resides with the Rector, who may deputize the responsibility to the officiating clergy. The Director of Music plays all weddings and has right of first refusal. Any organist or musician hired generally functions as the Rector’s designated deputy. Please contact the church office for fees related to the church organist.
Many appropriate and beautiful sacred compositions exist. The Music Director will play these at the time of the wedding consultation. Music of a secular nature is best used at the reception.
If vocal or instrumental solos or ensembles are desired, the music must be arranged well in advance of the wedding. Church of Our Saviour is not responsible for securing these musicians, although final approval rests with the officiating clergy or the Rector.
The Service
The service itself will be conducted according to the “Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage” as found in The Book of Common Prayer. No substitutions or amendments are permitted beyond what the service allows. This includes a unity candle, the giving of roses to parents, or other rituals.
The Eucharist
A celebration of Holy Communion is normally part of the wedding ceremony itself, although it is not required. It is most fitting for the married couple’s first act to be that of offering their marriage in thanksgiving at The Lord’s Table and sharing in the Sacrament.
Programs
The church does not print the programs and is not responsible for accuracy of printed bulletins provided by printers.
The Photographer
The couple may choose a photographer. Only one photographer is permitted. They must inform the officiating priest of their choice.
The dignity of a wedding service requires that no flash pictures may be taken during the service, which includes the opening and closing processions. Likewise, no movements of the photographer or camera snaps, clicks, etc., shall be permitted to interrupt or detract from the ceremony. The photographer is to check in with the officiating priest prior to the service to review these rules.
One video camera may be set up only in one of the transepts or at the back of the church with equipment that requires no additional lighting, remote microphones or remote cameras.
Pictures may be taken of the wedding party before and after the ceremony. All pictures taken before the ceremony must begin not earlier than one hour before the service and be concluded a full half-hour before the beginning of the service. Likewise, all photographs taken after the wedding must be concluded a half-hour after the ceremony.
The Rehearsal
The Wedding rehearsal is normally held on the evening before the wedding. All members of the wedding party are expected to attend and to be on time. The bride is required to participate fully in the rehearsal. Except in unusual circumstances, the rehearsal lasts no longer than one hour. The rehearsal will begin at the appointed time. If there is a rehearsal dinner, it should be after the rehearsal.
The Wedding
All members of the wedding party, including the bride, should arrive at the church at least one half hour before the scheduled time for the wedding. Failure to do so may result in the wedding being cancelled.
Alcohol or Drugs
The drinking of alcoholic beverages or the use of any drug by the Bride or Groom or members of the Wedding Party is prohibited before both the rehearsal and the wedding. Evidence of intoxication or other impairment will result in the ceremony being cancelled.
Following the Service
Responsibility rests with the wedding party to restore all facilities used to the same condition in which they were prior to the wedding. This includes any rooms used for dressing or storing items prior to, during, or immediately after the rehearsal or wedding.
Clergy
There is no charge for the clergy of Church of Our Saviour to solemnize the marriage for members of the congregation, however, it is fitting that the couple make a suitable gift to the discretionary fund of the priest who is officiating at the wedding. The gift might be ten percent of the cost of the reception, but it is entirely at the discretion of the couple.
The participation of other clergy must be approved by the Rector.
The clergy do not normally attend rehearsal dinners. If you wish the clergy to attend your reception, an invitation should be issued well in advance.
The First Step
The couple must first talk with the clergy about the wedding before any other plans are finalized. A wedding at Church of Our Saviour involves the participation of many different people with different functions and adequate advance notice is essential. While the Canons of the Church require a minimum of thirty days notice for a wedding, the Church needs arrangements made as far in advance as possible in order to avoid scheduling difficulties. At Church of Our Saviour, we require advance notice of at least six months.
The Laws of the Church Concerning Holy Matrimony
In addition to complying with the civil laws regulating marriage, it is necessary for a couple desiring Holy Matrimony to comply with the Marriage Canons (Laws) of the Church. These Canons support the Christian truth that marriage is “as long as you both shall live.”
The Canons specifically provide that it shall be within the discretion of any Minister of the Church to decline to solemnize any marriage. The Canons prohibit a priest from solemnizing the marriage of anyone who has been divorced except with the consent of the Bishop. (Please refer to the section – Concerning Divorced Persons.)
The Episcopal Church requires that at least one of the two persons be a baptized Christian.
Premarital Counseling
The Episcopal Church as a national body requires couples undergo premarital counseling. At Church of Our Saviour, this takes two forms.
The priest presiding at the wedding meets with the couple throughout the process. The first meeting is to collect certain information, describe the process leading up to the day of the wedding, and to get to know the couple. The second meeting is to plan the wedding itself. The last session will be to rehearse. All these sessions are mandatory. Failure to complete these meetings will result in the wedding being cancelled.
In addition to these meetings, the couple is required to meet for at least three sessions of premarital counseling. The couple is responsible for contacting the priest and setting up the appointments. These sessions must be completed prior to the wedding. If they are not, the officiating priest will refuse to perform the ceremony.
If the parties live out of the area, members of the clergy are permitted to appoint a priest or counselor in the area in which they live to do the pre-marital instruction and counseling.
Qualifications for a Wedding at Church of Our Saviour
To be married at Church of Our Saviour, one member of the couple seeking to be married must be an active member of Church of Our Saviour or be directly related to an active member (e.g., child or grandchild). An active member is defined as a person who attends worship regularly and is a financial contributor of record. The Rector makes the final decision about exceptions to these qualifications.
The Declaration of Intention
The “Declaration of Intention” which follows, must be signed by both parties to the marriage at a time prior to the marriage:
“We, desiring to receive the blessing of Holy Matrimony in the Church, do solemnly declare that we hold marriage to be a lifelong union as it is set forth in the Book of Common Prayer.
“We believe that the union of two people, in heart, body and mind, is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity, and when it is God’s will, for the procreation of children, and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord.
“And we do engage ourselves, so far as in us lies, to make our utmost effort to establish this relationship and to seek God’s help thereto.”
Concerning Divorced Persons
The Canons of the Episcopal Church allow the marriage of divorced persons whose previous marriage has been declared terminated by final decree of the State. No priest may officiate at any marriage ceremony of a divorced person without the written permission of the Bishop. To obtain this permission, the priest must submit an application with a recommendation to the Bishop of Chicago.
This process can take more than a month and can only be accomplished after the priest meets with the couple to discuss their particular circumstances. Applications are not accepted by the clergy of Church of Our Saviour until 6 months after a Divorce Decree is final.
Advent, Lent and Holy Days
By long tradition, Episcopalians do not schedule weddings during the seasons of Advent (the season before Christmas) and Lent (the season before Easter). There are also other days and times when weddings shall not be celebrated, so early communication with the clergy is important to good planning.
Final Responsibility for the Service
As in every service of the Church, the Rector is charged by Canon Law with the final responsibility for determining the appropriateness of all arrangements and details, although s/he may deputize other clergy to make these judgments. If there are matters in question, the final decision rests with the Rector.
For this reason, no wedding consultants are permitted regarding any arrangements in the church.
The Marriage License
The couple must secure a marriage license from the Commonwealth of Illinois before a wedding can be solemnized in Church of Our Saviour Episcopal Church. For information on how to obtain a civil license please contact Dupage County. Please deliver the license to the Church Office one week in advance of the wedding. After the wedding, the officiating priest completes the license and returns it to the State.
Seating
The main seating of the church can seat 90 people, but extra seating can be added in the transepts of the church.
Flowers and Candles
It is strongly encouraged that floral decorations be kept as simple as possible. Only live or dried organic material may be used. A maximum of three (3) floral arrangements are permitted: two on the reredos behind the altar and one in front of the Altar.
All arrangements for flowers must be made in consultation and approved by the officiating priest or Rector. The altar or floral guild will be responsible for the placement of the floral arrangements, and will remove all ribbons, bows, cards or other material.
The florist should contact the church office one week in advance of the wedding to schedule a delivery time during office hours.
The use of aisle candles is optional. These will be supplied by Church of Our Saviour.
Other Decorations
NO other decorations are permitted, including aisle runners and pew bows. Reserved seating will be designated using pew ropes supplied by Church of Our Saviour.
Rose Petals, Rice, Bubbles, Etc.
Nothing may be sprinkled, scattered or in any other ways disseminated inside or outside the church buildings.
Wedding Music
The final decision regarding music resides with the Rector, who may deputize the responsibility to the officiating clergy. The Director of Music plays all weddings and has right of first refusal. Any organist or musician hired generally functions as the Rector’s designated deputy. Please contact the church office for fees related to the church organist.
Many appropriate and beautiful sacred compositions exist. The Music Director will play these at the time of the wedding consultation. Music of a secular nature is best used at the reception.
If vocal or instrumental solos or ensembles are desired, the music must be arranged well in advance of the wedding. Church of Our Saviour is not responsible for securing these musicians, although final approval rests with the officiating clergy or the Rector.
The Service
The service itself will be conducted according to the “Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage” as found in The Book of Common Prayer. No substitutions or amendments are permitted beyond what the service allows. This includes a unity candle, the giving of roses to parents, or other rituals.
The Eucharist
A celebration of Holy Communion is normally part of the wedding ceremony itself, although it is not required. It is most fitting for the married couple’s first act to be that of offering their marriage in thanksgiving at The Lord’s Table and sharing in the Sacrament.
Programs
The church does not print the programs and is not responsible for accuracy of printed bulletins provided by printers.
The Photographer
The couple may choose a photographer. Only one photographer is permitted. They must inform the officiating priest of their choice.
The dignity of a wedding service requires that no flash pictures may be taken during the service, which includes the opening and closing processions. Likewise, no movements of the photographer or camera snaps, clicks, etc., shall be permitted to interrupt or detract from the ceremony. The photographer is to check in with the officiating priest prior to the service to review these rules.
One video camera may be set up only in one of the transepts or at the back of the church with equipment that requires no additional lighting, remote microphones or remote cameras.
Pictures may be taken of the wedding party before and after the ceremony. All pictures taken before the ceremony must begin not earlier than one hour before the service and be concluded a full half-hour before the beginning of the service. Likewise, all photographs taken after the wedding must be concluded a half-hour after the ceremony.
The Rehearsal
The Wedding rehearsal is normally held on the evening before the wedding. All members of the wedding party are expected to attend and to be on time. The bride is required to participate fully in the rehearsal. Except in unusual circumstances, the rehearsal lasts no longer than one hour. The rehearsal will begin at the appointed time. If there is a rehearsal dinner, it should be after the rehearsal.
The Wedding
All members of the wedding party, including the bride, should arrive at the church at least one half hour before the scheduled time for the wedding. Failure to do so may result in the wedding being cancelled.
Alcohol or Drugs
The drinking of alcoholic beverages or the use of any drug by the Bride or Groom or members of the Wedding Party is prohibited before both the rehearsal and the wedding. Evidence of intoxication or other impairment will result in the ceremony being cancelled.
Following the Service
Responsibility rests with the wedding party to restore all facilities used to the same condition in which they were prior to the wedding. This includes any rooms used for dressing or storing items prior to, during, or immediately after the rehearsal or wedding.
Clergy
There is no charge for the clergy of Church of Our Saviour to solemnize the marriage for members of the congregation, however, it is fitting that the couple make a suitable gift to the discretionary fund of the priest who is officiating at the wedding. The gift might be ten percent of the cost of the reception, but it is entirely at the discretion of the couple.
The participation of other clergy must be approved by the Rector.
The clergy do not normally attend rehearsal dinners. If you wish the clergy to attend your reception, an invitation should be issued well in advance.
Episcopal Church of Our Saviour
116 E. Church Street Elmhurst, IL 60126 630.530.1434 [email protected] Sunday Schedule 8:00am Said Eucharist 10:00am Sung Eucharist |