Weddings
RESERVE THE CHURCH
It is Christ Church's desire to help make participants' wedding an event that will live in memory as a significant, joyful, and sacred occasion. As the church calendar is established well in advance, it is important that the wedding date is determined as early as possible. A minimum of 6 months notice should be given to the church in order to reserve the date. Because of the significance of Advent (the 4 weeks preceding Christmas) and Lent (the 7 weeks preceding Easter, and Easter Week), weddings are not appropriate during these seasons. Please call the church office, (619) 435-4561, to make an appointment. Once the church is reserved, please complete the Wedding Application and mail to Christ Church.
WEDDING APPLICATION - PDF with file size of 36k
MARRIAGE LICENSE
A proper marriage license is required under the provisions of the law of the State of California. The license should be secured well in advance, and should be brought to the church at the time of the rehearsal.
CLERGY
All weddings in Christ Church are conducted by Clergy of the Episcopal Church. If participants wish clergy of other denominations to participate, they may do so with an Episcopal Priest. All details of the wedding ceremony are subject to final authority of the Rector of the Parish.
Counseling
PREMARTIAL
Premarital counseling is required by the canons of the Episcopal Church and is a strong pastoral policy of this congregation. Counseling is directed by the Rector or his designee and must be completed at least 1 month in advance of the wedding date. This counseling is included in the wedding fees.
RE-MARRIAGE
If either party has been married before and that marriage ended in divorce, the Bishop must grant permission for a re-marriage to be performed at Christ Church. If this situation applies, please call the church office at (619) 435-4561 to schedule an appointment with clergy. In the case of a re-marriage, all counseling should be completed no later than 6 weeks prior to the ceremony.
Ceremony Preparation
THE ALTAR GUILD
The Altar Guild members of Christ Church adorn and prepare the altar for participants' wedding service. They are responsible for the reverent care of all the outward symbols of the inward and spiritual truths taught by these symbols. The Altar Guild members may be recognized by the red smocks they wear. If there are any questions concerning Holy Communion, the placement of candles or other items upon the altar, please ask one of the Altar Guild members.
In order to have a smooth rehearsal, please complete the Altar Guild checklist and mail this form, to the church office, 2 weeks before the wedding date.
ALTAR GUILD CHECKLIST - (PDF, 28k)
USE OF THE SANCTUARY
When a wedding takes place at Christ Church, the sanctuary is allowed to be used for 3 hours per ceremony. Participants have use of the facility for 1½ hours prior to the appointed wedding time, and ½ hour following the ceremony. It is suggested that photographs be taken before the ceremony since there will be only ½ hour of photography allowed in the sanctuary following the ceremony.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
The order of worship for the Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage can be found in the Book of Common Prayer beginning on page 422. A copy is available upon request. You will need to choose three readings, one from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, and one Gospel reading.
Readings for Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage
READERS AND LITURGISTS
Couples are encouraged to invite family members of friends to read from sacred scripture at their weddings. Readings should be selected in advance, with the advice of the officiating clergy. Appropriate readings for marriages may be previewed in the Book of Common Prayer, page 426. A Book of Readings is available on request. Readers should be present at rehearsals and should arrive for the ceremony at least ½ hour before the start of the ceremony.
CHALICE BEARERS
If communion is part of the ceremony, Chalice Bearers can be friends or family members.
THE MUSIC
Music for the wedding is to be in keeping with the solemnity of the sacred occasion and the tradition of the Episcopal Church. Our Director of Music, will personally meet with the bride and groom to select the music. Please call to schedule an appointment. Vocal solos, if any, should be based on Holy Scripture. The couple can furnish their own soloist or a soloist can be hired through the Church. Instrumental music that complements the musical style of the organist’s selections is permitted with the approval of the Director of Music.
PHOTOGRAPHY and VIDEOGRAPHY
Policies at Christ Church are intended to enable the church to preserve the solemn nature of the ceremony as a Christian Service of Worship, while also making it possible for the photography/videography professional to provide beautiful, artistic pictures of the couple’s special day.
Formal poses may be taken up to ½ hour before the beginning of the ceremony and up to ½ hour after the recessional takes place. No flash photographs, professional or private, are to be taken during the wedding ceremony.
Flash pictures may be taken during the embrace and as the wedding party recesses the center aisle at the close of the service. Under no circumstances should the photographer stop the procession. Time exposures may be taken from one, and only one, stationary position at the back of the church at any time during the service.
Professional video taping is permitted throughout the entire service provided the videographer and his/her equipment remains stationary. An Altar Guild member can advise as to the best place to position video equipment.
FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS and OTHER ADORNMENTS
Because of the beauty of the Sanctuary, extensive floral arrangements are not necessary. Wedding fees include two small floral arrangements in vases placed on either side of the altar in the niches.These arrangements are dedicated to the Parish and are distributed to shut-ins, hospitals, and nursing homes. To coordinate the floral color scheme please contact the Altar Guild.
Pew ribbons and flower arrangements may not be taped, tacked, or nailed to any part of the pews. Appropriate hooks must be used.
No additional candelabra may be used. The center-aisle pew candles for candlelight services are included in the wedding fees.
The early delivery of flowers ensures proper display and relieves any related anxiety. All arrangements, boutonnieres, bridesmaid’s bouquets, corsages for the Mothers, and the bridal bouquet should arrive at least 1½ hours before the start of the ceremony. The florist must vacate the sanctuary ½ hour prior to the commencement of the ceremony.
Flower girls are allowed to drop petals only along the central aisle of the church at the beginning of the ceremony; birdseed, rice, and confetti are prohibited.
THE REHEARSAL
A rehearsal is required in order to ensure a smooth ceremony on the day of the wedding. Rehearsals are conducted on the Thursday before the wedding ceremony.
The rehearsal usually includes an introduction by the officiating clergy person, a walk-through with music, and a period for questions and responses.
Persons present during the rehearsal who are not part of the wedding are asked to sit respectfully and quietly while the rehearsal is being conducted.
All members of the wedding party are required to attend the rehearsal. Those coming from any distance should be alerted to possible traffic congestion so that they arrive on time. Christ Church staff (sexton, organist, and Altar Guild) are available for 1 hour only. Please be punctual.
Wedding Day
All members of the wedding party are to arrive 1½ hours prior to the ceremony. The bride, maid of honor, bridesmaids, mothers, and grandmothers should assemble in the bride’s dressing room located in Hinde Hall. An Altar Guild member will assist the bride and her party from the bride’s room into the Sanctuary at the appropriate time.
If photographs of the wedding party are to be taken inside the church before the ceremony, it is suggested that the wedding party, as well as the bride, come ready for the camera as the Sanctuary is to be cleared approximately ½ hour before the start of the ceremony.
The groom, best man, groomsmen, ushers, and fathers are to assemble in the designated area as directed to prepare for the ceremony. Ushers are to gather with an Altar Guild member for instructions in seating the guests ½ hour before the start of the ceremony. All guests are to be escorted to their seats in the church. Ushers are to be assigned in accordance with the bride’s wishes to serve as escorts for the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom.
OTHER PRACTICES
Smoking and the use of alcohol are strictly forbidden on Christ Church property. The bride and groom are under obligation to notify all members of the wedding party accordingly. Persons in violation of this policy will be asked to leave; should they decline, the service will not proceed.
Fees
Weddings are "at cost" for all parish members in good standing; all others the cost is $3100. (Please call for information regarding what services are included in this fee. Discounts available for active members of the Armed Forces.)