The intention of the parties to contract marriage shall have been signified to the Rector of St. Paul's, at least sixty days before the service of solemnization. In the case of divorced persons seeking remarriage, the intention for remarriage shall be signified to the Rector at least 90 days before the service of solemnization (please see "Instructions for Remarriage" if applicable). Do not schedule your wedding reception or make any other plans with respect to the wedding date and time until you have received confirmation from St. Paul's that the church is available for your wedding on the date and time you request. We are sorry, but we can't help you if the church is not available on the date and time you desire and we are not able to cancel other church services or events that are already scheduled.

Pre-marital counseling must be completed with the Rector or another priest of the Episcopal Church with the Rector's prior approval. If another clergy person will be officiating at your wedding, you should do your pre-marital counseling with that clergy person or one that is approved by the officiating clergy person. You must first receive the Rector's approval to have another clergy person officiate at St. Paul's Church.

BOTH the Bride and Groom must agree to and sign the Declaration for the Solemnization of Holy Matrimony (Declaration) in accordance with Episcopal Church canons.

You must submit the Declaration to the Rector at the time of your first pre-marital counseling session. If another clergy person has been approved to officiate at St. Paul's Church, please submit the Declaration to that clergy person in the time-frame that they require.

You must submit the Marriage License and Information for Register of Holy Matrimony to the St. Paul's parish office at least one week before the wedding. If another clergy person has been approved to officiate at St. Paul's Church, please submit the Marriage License and other information to that clergy person in the time-frame that he or she requires.

Holy Matrimony is done in accordance with the Service for "The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage" in the Book of Common Prayer (BCP, pp. 423-432). The rite from the Book of Common Prayer may not be edited or altered, except as specified within the rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer service itself. There are no exceptions to this at St. Paul's Church. No weddings are permitted at St. Paul's Church during the penitential season of Lent.

There shall be present at least two witnesses to the solemnization of marriage.

Holy Matrimony is a sacred service; therefore, all music for the wedding must be approved by the Rector or the priest who has been approved by the Rector to officiate at the service. The St. Paul's Organist must be given the option to play at the wedding. If you use your own Organist, or choose not to have an organist, the Organist fee to the St. Paul's Organist must still be paid in accordance with the policy of the American Guild of Organists.

Please have your photographer and or videographer contact the officiating priest at least a week prior to the service about picture-taking and/or videotaping during the service.

The St. Paul's Altar Guild is happy to arrange the flowers for your wedding. Their floral arrangements will be both beautiful and appropriate for the occasion and in keeping with our worship space. If you choose to use your own florist, you must contact the St. Paul's Altar Guild (through our parish office) for specifications on the size and placement of the arrangements in the church. Please note: It is appropriate to have flowers on either side of the Chancel cross behind the altar. Flowers are a symbol of resurrection and new life. They may not, however, be taller than the Chancel cross behind the altar. The Chancel furnishings may not be moved. Flowers or bows may be used to decorate the pews or mark family pews, but no tape or nails may be used.

The candles on the altar are lit during the wedding. Unity candles are not part of the Episcopal tradition and are not permitted. Unity may be expressed by a celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

Please note that the use of rice and confetti or the release of balloons are NOT allowed for weddings at St. Paul's Church as they can be hazardous for the resident wildlife and litter the property. Bubbles or birdseed are an appropriate substitution and may be used outside of the church only.

St. Paul's seats approximately 200 people and we have ample parking in our parking lot. There is not an appropriate room available for the wedding party to get dressed, but the Lockwood-Reilly Building has a library that is available as a sitting room and there are both men's and women's bathrooms. Please note that there are no bathrooms in the church, but the Lockwood-Reilly Building is short distance from the church and will be open for use of the library and bathrooms. The Lockwood-Reilly building is air-conditioned, but the church is not.

St. Paul's Members: There is no fee for the Clergy, Parish Office Staff, or use of St. Paul's property. The only fees are for the Organist (per the American Guild of Organists guidelines) and the additional set-up and clean-up time of our Sexton. You should be a member of St. Paul's for at least six months prior to your wedding as a Communicant in Good Standing (having attended worship regularly) and have contributed to the mission and ministry of St. Paul' s during that time. It is customary to make a free-will donation to the Rector's Discretionary Fund as an honorarium for the Clergy's time in preparing you for your wedding, but is not required. Organist Fee: $225. Sexton Fee: $50. Flowers (optional): $50.

Non-members: We have made every attempt to keep our wedding fees reasonable, but there are costs associated with holding a wedding at St. Paul's. The total wedding fee is $1,000. This fee provides an honorarium for the Rector's Discretionary Fund, the Organist's fee, covers Altar Guild supplies for the service, costs associated with set-up and clean-up, office staff, and general use of church property. In the case of financial hardship, portions of the fee may be waived. Please contact the main office if the fees represent a financial hardship.

Please note: This fee will not cover clergy from another church, an outside organist, extra musicians or any other participants in, or services for, the wedding. A non-refundable deposit of $100 is due at the time you book your wedding and the remaining amount is due 30 days before your wedding.

Wedding checks should be made payable to "St. Paul's Church" with a notation in the memo field that it is for the "[Last Name] Wedding".