|
Sonia Ramey , Wedding Coordinator
First Christian Church of Plano, as well as the staff of FCC, wants to help make your wedding a wonderful occasion. The ceremony is a service of worship, and therefore, intended to be joyous and sacred. This WEDDING POLICY provides guidelines for weddings at FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH. They describe an event which is appropriate for our facilities.
RESERVING A DATE
You will need to complete the accompanying application and return it with a check for one- half of the fee (see below) in order to reserve a date for your wedding. The remainder of the fee is due no later than one month before your wedding date. Reservations can be made up to one (1) year in advance. We must ask that you do not change the above date or time without written confirmation from the WEDDING COORDINATOR in order to avoid a conflict in scheduling.
FEE FOR NON-MEMBERS
The fee for the wedding of a person who is not a member of FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF PLANO is $750.00 The fee includes the services of the MINISTER, ORGANIST (optional for chapel), WEDDING COORDINATOR, SOUND TECHNICIAN (optional for chapel), FACILITIES MANAGER, and the use of the SANCTUARY (or CHAPEL) and CHANGING ROOMS.
Non-member fees are as follows:
| |
Sanctuary/Chapel |
| Building |
$0 |
| Organist |
$175 |
| Wedding Coordinator |
$175 |
| Sound Tech |
$75 |
| Facilities Manager |
$125 |
| Minister |
$200 |
| Total |
$750 |
Non-member wedding applicants must fulfill the following criteria to be allowed the use of First Christian Church of Plano facilities for a wedding ceremony:
-
- Following the wedding, the couple must plan to reside in the North Dallas area.
- The couple must accept that the wedding ceremony will be officiated by First Christian Church of Plano pastoral staff.
- The couple must agree to attend a series of premarital classes conducted by First Christian Church of Plano.
Should a wedding be canceled for any reason, refunds will be made in the following manner.
Within 90 days of wedding date ………. $50.00 will be retained
Within 60 days of wedding date ………. One-Half will be refunded
Within 30 days of wedding date ………. NO REFUND WILL BE MADE
MINISTERS
One of the ministers of FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF PLANO will be in full charge of all ceremonies. A guest minister may participate in the ceremony if they are related to the bride or groom or if the guest minister is invited by the Senior Minister of FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH. The FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH’S minister will be the officiant in the ceremony.
WEDDING COORDINATOR
The FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH’S Wedding Coordinator under the supervision of the minister will direct the rehearsal and the wedding ceremony, even if an outside coordinator is retained by the bride.
PRE-MARITAL COUNSELING
It is the church's expectation that each couple will participate in a program of pre-marital counseling with a minister of this congregation. This usually consists of a series of meetings. A certificate showing completion of a longer program of pre-marital counseling may be substitued for one meeting. If for some unforeseen reason a class has to be missed, it must be made up one month prior to the wedding date. Please contact Sonia Ramey, Wedding Coordinator, for any questions or concerns.
FACILITIES
The Main Sanctuary or Chapel is available for weddings.
The Main Sanctuary and can seat up to 600 Guests. There are nineteen (19) pews on each side of a center aisle. The Communion Table is central to our worship setting. The wedding service will take place in front of the communion table with the bride and groom facing the communion table. The silver communion servers will be removed if they are not to be used. The cross and candles will remain on the table. The communion table may be moved back toward the choir loft, but will not be removed. Protective covering must be put on the communion table if used for unity candle or flowers, etc. (If the bride is not using the services of a florist, the she must furnish the protective covering.).
The Chapel has been recently renovated, and is a beautiful smaller venue. Please call for information regarding a Chapel wedding.
Dressing Rooms for the wedding party are included. These are spacious rooms, well lighted, and equipped with mirrors and bathrooms. Snack food and drinks are permitted in these rooms. Please bring a cooler with ice for drinks for the bride’s and groom’s rooms. You are responsible for removing all personal items as well as leftover food items. Rooms are available up to (3) three hours prior to the wedding.
FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS
Flower arrangements are not permitted in the choir loft area of the sanctuary. Flower arrangements or a unity candle may be placed on the communion table, provided that protective material is used to prevent water or wax damage to the finish. Flower petals dropped by the flower girl must be silk.
Set-up by florist or bride should be completed two (2) hours before time for pictures. It is a good idea to have florist arrive when the doors are open at three (3) hours before the ceremony.
The florist must make arrangements to pick up all stands, candelabras, and other equipment with the FCC Wedding Coordinator.
PEW BOWS
Pew bows must be attached with ribbons or clips made for that purpose. No pins, staples, tape, or adhesive strips of any kind are to be used on the pews.
CANDLES
Candles are not permitted outside of the chancel area. Candles or candle holders may not be attached to the pews. A drip cloth or cellophane is required under all candles (unity candle and candelabras) to prevent damage to the carpet and communion table. Candelabras, candles, and unity candles and protective cellophane to place under all arrangements and candles are to be furnished by the florist or the bride. Only drip-less candles are permitted (this does not include the unity candle and tapers). Any candles used in the baptistery area must be in an appropriate container and approved by the FCC Wedding Coordinator.
We suggest that you NOT light candles before the ceremony for photographs. The type of candle used in candelabras often will not re-light for the ceremony, and they are not always large enough to burn for the full 2.5 hours. They may remain lighted for the photos taken after the ceremony.
Please Note: The candles on the communion table are liquid wax. This will spill if turned at too great of an angle. They should remain in place and in an upright position.
MUSIC
A church wedding ceremony is considered a worship service, and music should be appropriate to a worshipful experience. Secular music selections often are more appropriate for use during the reception than for the ceremony itself.
The sanctuary contains a high-quality pipe organ and piano. An organist/pianist is provided by First Christian Church. Music Nights are scheduled by the organist periodically throughout the year to assist brides and grooms in making their music selections. Suggested traditional repertoire will be played and there will be ample opportunity to discuss your individual needs with the organist. CDs are allowed only as accompaniment for soloists. All music selections (including solos) must be fitting for worship and traditional weddings and must be submitted to the church’s organist for review and approval at least 21 days prior to the wedding rehearsal. Soloists must be present at the rehearsal and provide printed accompaniment in the appropriate key to the Organist or provide CD accompaniment for the Sound Technician.
SOUND TECHNICIANS
Sound Technicians are furnished by the church. The Sound Tech will attend the rehearsal as well as the wedding and will control sound system and lighting. If there is to be any pre-recorded music, the CD must be brought to the rehearsal. The CD will be returned to you after the ceremony.
REHEARSALS
Rehearsals are usually held on the day before the wedding between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Rehearsals usually take an hour (if everyone is on time). All persons taking part in the ceremony should be present. This includes parents, grandparents, stepparents, bridesmaids, flower girls, ring bearers, groomsmen, ushers, vocalist and accompanist.
All participating church personnel will be present. The wedding license must be given to the Senior Minister while at the rehearsal.
HOLIDAYS
Holiday weddings are not scheduled on the following weekends:
Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th (Independence Day), Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve
During Advent, the church’s Christmas decorations must remain in place.
MISCELLANEOUS POLICIES
· There is NO food or drink allowed in the sanctuary or narthex.
· Aisle runners or aisle lights have become a safety liability, and therefore are NOT permitted.
· Please use only BUBBLES for the send-off of the bride and groom on the outside of the building. All other materials such as bird seed, rice, flower petals are NOT to be used because of the cleanup requirements of these items. SPARKLERS and FIRECRACKERS are STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
· SMOKING, DRINKING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, or use of ILLEGAL DRUGS are NOT permitted on church property. This includes the parking lots. Anyone seen participating in these activities will be asked to leave the premises and the wedding will be CANCELLED.
|
