Weddings
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A guide to holding your wedding at Westminster Presbyterian Church Westlake Village, California |
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Welcome to Westminster Presbyterian Church!
This booklet has been prepared to help you plan your wedding in our church. We are delighted to be part of this joyous occasion. We want to give you a beautiful setting, a ceremony which will be meaningful and memorable, and an occasion of highest reverence as two people, before God and witnesses, commit themselves to each other in love.
The wedding staff will endeavor to help you plan everything carefully. We pray that the following important policies and basic information will make your wedding an occasion of sacred joy and beauty to be remembered forever.
The wedding staff will endeavor to help you plan everything carefully. We pray that the following important policies and basic information will make your wedding an occasion of sacred joy and beauty to be remembered forever.
Our Wedding Staff
If you would like one of our pastors to officiate at your wedding, you may schedule an initial interview to determine their availability. If you have a home church and would prefer to use your own pastor, you are welcome to do so with the approval of our Head of Staff. It is our desire that all couples being united in marriage here have the best possible start in their marriage; therefore, we require that couples have pre-marital counseling. Some of our pastors offer counseling as a part of their services for those weddings at which they officiate; others refer couples to off site professional Christian counselors. We would be happy to refer you to a professional counselor if your home church does not provide this service.
We require that all weddings performed here use our church Wedding Coordinator. She or her assistant will direct the wedding rehearsal and ceremony, in conjunction with the officiating pastor. The Wedding Coordinator will be responsible for advising the bride and groom on personalizing the wedding ceremony within accepted standards. She will be at the church two hours prior to the start time of the ceremony and one hour afterwords. The wedding coordinator and/or her assistant will be happy to help in any way possible at the rehearsal and ceremony. She will also meet with the bride prior to the rehearsal to discuss all details.
The Wedding Coordinator will be happy to assist you in selecting an organist/pianist for your ceremony. The organist/pianist fee is a separate fee from the wedding fee and includes one hour of time for the rehearsal, soloist preparation time, and the ceremony itself. If additional musical rehearsals or other special music elements are required, additional organist/pianist fees may apply. The organist/pianist will discuss these fees with you. Because the music for the wedding should be in keeping with the spirit of worship within the marriage ceremony, the organist/pianist will be happy to discuss musical selections with you.
Westminster Presbyterian Church provides a sound technician to coordinate the sanctuary sound system for the wedding ceremony. Please be aware that the technician is trained in monitoring the needs of audio and lighting in the sanctuary and will be the only person authorized to access and adjust the sound or lighting equipment. Audio tapes of the ceremony can be made available with prior arrangement with the sound technician.
We require that all weddings performed here use our church Wedding Coordinator. She or her assistant will direct the wedding rehearsal and ceremony, in conjunction with the officiating pastor. The Wedding Coordinator will be responsible for advising the bride and groom on personalizing the wedding ceremony within accepted standards. She will be at the church two hours prior to the start time of the ceremony and one hour afterwords. The wedding coordinator and/or her assistant will be happy to help in any way possible at the rehearsal and ceremony. She will also meet with the bride prior to the rehearsal to discuss all details.
The Wedding Coordinator will be happy to assist you in selecting an organist/pianist for your ceremony. The organist/pianist fee is a separate fee from the wedding fee and includes one hour of time for the rehearsal, soloist preparation time, and the ceremony itself. If additional musical rehearsals or other special music elements are required, additional organist/pianist fees may apply. The organist/pianist will discuss these fees with you. Because the music for the wedding should be in keeping with the spirit of worship within the marriage ceremony, the organist/pianist will be happy to discuss musical selections with you.
Westminster Presbyterian Church provides a sound technician to coordinate the sanctuary sound system for the wedding ceremony. Please be aware that the technician is trained in monitoring the needs of audio and lighting in the sanctuary and will be the only person authorized to access and adjust the sound or lighting equipment. Audio tapes of the ceremony can be made available with prior arrangement with the sound technician.
Rehearsals
The church's Wedding Coordinator will direct all wedding rehearsals. All persons taking part in the ceremony should be present at the rehearsal if at all possible, and plan to be on time. Most rehearsals last about one hour.
Flowers and Decorations
We ask that you please respect the following:
The use of nails, screws, and wire in decorating is strictly forbidden.
No decoration of any kind may be placed on the pulpit, lectern, organ console, communion table, piano or baptismal font.
it is necessary to notify the wedding coordinator as to when flowers will be delivered.
Florists must leave the sanctuary and adjoining rooms clean and be finished decorating 1-1/2 hours prior to the wedding.
A person must be appointed to take the flowers and pew bows from the church unless they are to be left for Sunday worship. The church will not be responsible for returning flowers or containers left in the sanctuary after the wedding.
The use of nails, screws, and wire in decorating is strictly forbidden.
No decoration of any kind may be placed on the pulpit, lectern, organ console, communion table, piano or baptismal font.
it is necessary to notify the wedding coordinator as to when flowers will be delivered.
Florists must leave the sanctuary and adjoining rooms clean and be finished decorating 1-1/2 hours prior to the wedding.
A person must be appointed to take the flowers and pew bows from the church unless they are to be left for Sunday worship. The church will not be responsible for returning flowers or containers left in the sanctuary after the wedding.
Photography/Videography
The photographer must conclude the pre-wedding photos 45 minutes prior to the wedding start time.
A wedding is a sacred occasion and every effort should be made to make it dignified and rich in meaning. Therefore, we ask that your commercial photographer take only time exposures and stay situated at the rear of the sanctuary during the ceremony. Flash pictures of the recessional may be taken.
Photos may be taken for up to one hour after the ceremony.
Video cameras may be used without spotlights. We ask that the videographer remain stationary during the ceremony, situated at the location designated by the wedding coordinator.
A wedding is a sacred occasion and every effort should be made to make it dignified and rich in meaning. Therefore, we ask that your commercial photographer take only time exposures and stay situated at the rear of the sanctuary during the ceremony. Flash pictures of the recessional may be taken.
Photos may be taken for up to one hour after the ceremony.
Video cameras may be used without spotlights. We ask that the videographer remain stationary during the ceremony, situated at the location designated by the wedding coordinator.
General Policies
The seating capacity of the sanctuary is 375. On-site receptions are available for members and children of members only. Please speak with the Wedding Coordinator for more information.
SMOKING IS PROHIBITED in all church buildings and must be limited to the outside areas designated for that purpose.
Possession or consumption of ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES is not permitted on the church premises at any time.
NO RICE, CONFETTI OR BIRDSEED is to be thrown in or around the church property.
Consumption of food or beverages is not permitted in the sanctuary.
ONLY CLOTH RUNNERS are acceptable in the sanctuary. Our tailor-made runners may be rented for a nominal charge.
It is the responsibility of the bride and groom to fully understand, accept and communicate all of the policies described in this brochure, and to communicate the restrictions that have been placed on florists, photographers, videographers, and other participants in your wedding, as well as family members and guests. The bride and groom must agree to the policies in this brochure by signing the policy statement provided.
SMOKING IS PROHIBITED in all church buildings and must be limited to the outside areas designated for that purpose.
Possession or consumption of ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES is not permitted on the church premises at any time.
NO RICE, CONFETTI OR BIRDSEED is to be thrown in or around the church property.
Consumption of food or beverages is not permitted in the sanctuary.
ONLY CLOTH RUNNERS are acceptable in the sanctuary. Our tailor-made runners may be rented for a nominal charge.
It is the responsibility of the bride and groom to fully understand, accept and communicate all of the policies described in this brochure, and to communicate the restrictions that have been placed on florists, photographers, videographers, and other participants in your wedding, as well as family members and guests. The bride and groom must agree to the policies in this brochure by signing the policy statement provided.
Regarding our Fees
After the church policies have been accepted and signed by the bride and groom, a non-refundable fee of $100.00 will need to be provided to the church office. This deposit will be applied to fees noted below. Please note that the sanctuary and calendar date are NOT CONFIRMED until the deposit and signed policy form are received by the wedding coordinator.
Checks should be made payable to Westminster Presbyterian Church for all fees. Final payment must be received no later than ten days prior to the wedding date.
Non-Member Fee $650.00
Children of WPC Members Fee $575.00
Members of WPC Fee $500.00
Above fees includes:
Use of sanctuary and adjoining rooms for 4 hours on the day of wedding; use of sanctuary for 1 hour on the day of rehearsal
Wedding coordinator and/or assistant
Sound Technician
2 candelabras including candles; church pew bows; kneeling bench
Other Fees
Organist/Pianist $200.00
Cloth Aisle Runner Rental (optional) $30.00
Honorariums
Pastor Honorarium (suggested) $300.00
Checks should be made payable to Westminster Presbyterian Church for all fees. Final payment must be received no later than ten days prior to the wedding date.
Non-Member Fee $650.00
Children of WPC Members Fee $575.00
Members of WPC Fee $500.00
Above fees includes:
Use of sanctuary and adjoining rooms for 4 hours on the day of wedding; use of sanctuary for 1 hour on the day of rehearsal
Wedding coordinator and/or assistant
Sound Technician
2 candelabras including candles; church pew bows; kneeling bench
Other Fees
Organist/Pianist $200.00
Cloth Aisle Runner Rental (optional) $30.00
Honorariums
Pastor Honorarium (suggested) $300.00