We are delighted that you are considering or have chosen The Village Church for your wedding in North County San Diego. The ceremony which unites two people in Christian Marriage is predicated upon the desire and intention of the prospective bride and groom to have a Christian marriage celebrated in the context of a worship service. This means that at least one of the partners shall be a professing Christian and that ordinarily both of them will share a common Christian faith. While they need not be members of the Village Church, nor of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), it is hoped that their profession of Christ as Savior and Lord will have or will soon come to expression by membership in some communion within the Christian community.
Christian Marriage
As professing Christians, they will understand marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman, ordained by God, and not merely a human contrivance. As a divine ordinance, they will acknowledge that marriage is regulated by the commandments of God to love one another in faithfulness as long as both shall live. Persons who have been divorced are fully welcomed to enter a new marriage covenant as a sign of their faith in the God who redeems our losses or failures and creates "new wineskins" to contain the new life he works within us. Having sought as Christians to know the will of God for their lives in this joyous relationship, couples shall have the assurance that they have been led together by His Providence. In this conviction, they come before Him in the wedding service to seek His blessing upon the relationship into which He has called them.
Beginning their life together before God, it is expected that a couple will continue to live before Him, establishing a home in which Christ is honored, finding a mutually satisfying church "home" and raising their children to know and love God in Christ. Entering into a marriage with such Christian commitment gives promise of the blessing of God, and the wedding service may be conducted within the Church with joy and confidence.
Church Policies
These policies are printed to help you understand what is expected and required for a marriage service with us. The Village Church is a Presbyterian congregation in North County San Diego and the wedding service performed is reflective of the high vision of marriage traditionally held by Christians through the centuries. Our church buildings and grounds are dedicated to God and are used for good and holy purposes. For this reason, neither alcoholic beverages nor controlled substances of any kind are permitted anywhere on the church grounds (including the parking lots) at any time.
The throwing of rice, birdseed, or flower petals outside the church following the service is not permitted, as they provide dangerous footings for guests and members of the wedding party and pose a clean-up problem for the church staff prior to Sunday service.
The Minister
One of the Pastors of The Village Church will officiate at all wedding services held here except in the most unusual circumstances.
The Wedding Director
It is imperative that one knowledgeable person be in charge of the wedding. The church has designated someone who knows about weddings and how they should best be conducted at The Village Church. She has a two-fold purpose: (1) to give you a well-run, dignified and happy service; and (2) to assure the sanctity of this worship service in God's house.
The Wedding Director will work with you regarding flowers, photos, videos, soloists and other aspects of the wedding ceremony. She will direct the rehearsal and will be present during your wedding to see that everything runs smoothly on your wedding day.
Making the Arrangements
If you are interested in using The Village Church as the setting for your San Diego wedding, please call the Wedding Director, Pat Dickinson at (760) 480-0704. She will check the church calendar to determine if the date and time you have chosen are available. If they are, make an appointment with one of the Pastors by calling the Church Office at (858) 756-2441. It is essential that both the prospective bride and groom meet with a Pastor before the wedding date can be confirmed. When the date has been confirmed by the Pastor, you can then proceed with making further arrangements with the Wedding Director.
The marriage license and certificate must be in the Church Office no later than the Thursday before the wedding.
Counseling
In order to provide couples with maximum support, all persons desiring to be married through the Village Church are required to have at least four professional pre-marital counseling sessions prior to the wedding. A list of Christian Marriage/Family Counselors is included on a separate sheet in this booklet for your consideration and the Pastor will be happy to provide further information about these resources, approximate costs, and so forth.
In addition to this professional counseling, the Pastor performing the ceremony will meet with the couple for about an hour twice before the service. The purpose of these times together is to get better acquainted with the Pastor, to further explore the meaning of Christian marriage, and to develop the wedding service itself. Being familiar in advance with the wedding service will make the rehearsal go more smoothly.
The Rehearsal
For full formal weddings at the church, the rehearsal usually takes place the evening before the wedding service at a time convenient to the wedding party and the Wedding Director.
During this rehearsal, the Wedding Director acts for the Pastor and is in full charge. Her purpose is to insure the most beautiful, dignified and worshipful wedding service possible. It is of the greatest importance that the rehearsal start promptly, and the help of couples "marshalling the troops" on time will be greatly appreciated!
The Wedding Director will rehearse the ceremony, explaining the service as you and other members of the wedding party do a "walk through" of the ceremony. She will also rehearse the ushers in their duties at that time. If the participants arrive promptly and give respectful attention to the Wedding Director, the rehearsal should be finished in about an hour. Couples are encouraged to allow an hour and a half minimum between the start of the rehearsal and the start of any dinner festivities planned for afterward.
The Music
The music that is used for the wedding service should be in keeping with the spirit and purpose of a Christian Church. It should be either of a classical or spiritual nature and should be presented to our Organist, Jeffrey Brown for discussion and approval well in advance of the wedding. Mr. Brown can be reached at (858) 756-1605.
The Church Organist will also need to know if you plan to have a soloist at your wedding. He can suggest suitable musical selections and places in the service where solos are appropriate.
If you plan to use instrumentalists as part of your wedding service, please advise both the Wedding Director and the Organist so that the participation of these musicians can be coordinated with the requirements of the wedding service. Only the Church Organist is permitted to play the organ.
The beauty of your wedding is important to us. The proper kind of music will serve to enhance its meaning and significance.
The Decorations
The use of flowers and greenery in the church Sanctuary greatly enhances the wedding service. For this purpose, the Village Church usually provides the following items for all formal weddings:
- Two 7-branch candelabra are placed on the Chancel. When flowers/greens/bow are attached to these candelabra it provides an attractive "framing" for the wedding ceremony. The Wedding Director has photos to give you ideas.
- Two Oak pedestals are available to be used for the placement of large arrangements at the front of the Sanctuary. Ideally, these arrangements should be flat on the back side so that they do not interfere with the placement of the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
- Twelve pew candles are also available. They are placed on every fourth pew; six on each side of the center aisle. It is recommended that greens, a bow (and flowers if desired) decorate these pew candleholders. The decorations can be attached by "pipe cleaners" or placed in a small box that is part of the holder. These boxes have an internal measurement of 2-1/2" square by 3" deep. If these boxes are used, it is suggested that the florist make the arrangements ahead of time in floral foam of the proper size and place them in the boxes at the time the church is decorated. It is not permitted to use tape or wire of any kind to hold floral arrangements on the pew candles or the candelabra, nor is it permissible to tape bows or ribbons to the pews. Arrangements or bows can also be placed on the pew ends by a holder that slips over the edge of the pew. Ask the Wedding Director to see the pew candles and photos to give you ideas as to how they can be decorated.
- While we do not recommend them, white aisle runners are permitted. These may not be taped to the carpet but must be securely pinned. The aisle is 70
feet long. - Any plants used in the Sanctuary must be in closed containers or the pot must be placed in a saucer.
- A 3-branch Unity Candle is available.
- Candles for the various candleholders are supplied by the church.
Because of the commanding effect of the stained glass window, the use of flowers on the Communion Table is not necessary.
Be sure that your florist is advised about our policies. The Wedding Director will be in touch with the florist.
Photography
We feel strongly that photographs at your wedding are very important. This service is one of the greatest highlights of your life and these photographs will be cherished as long as you live.
However, it is also of great importance that the dignity and sanctity of your wedding be maintained. Therefore, the following rules have been established for everyone's guidance.
- The Wedding Director is in charge of the service and those taking pictures are under her direction.
- The professional photographer or the friend who will be taking your official photographs must check in with the Wedding Director immediately upon arriving at the wedding to receive instructions.
- Flash pictures are not allowed during the service.
- "Available light" pictures may be taken during the wedding service from the back as long as they are taken quietly and unobtrusively. The aim of the photographer should be invisibility!
- AT NO TIME is the photographer or videographer to move down the center or side aisles into the view of the congregation. S/he is to remain at the back of the Sanctuary. Pictures and video tapes may be made from the choir loft at the rear of the Sanctuary. This is one of the best vantage points in the church.
- The photographer or videographer may not take pictures from the front of the Sanctuary during the wedding service unless special arrangements for his/her placement have been made with the Wedding Director.
- Formal pictures of the Wedding Party may be taken in the Chancel before the service or as soon as the guests have left the Sanctuary after the service. At that time re-enactment pictures of the service may also be made using flash lighting.
- Photographs by guests attending the wedding are not permitted during the service and they are requested to refrain from taking pictures so the dignity of this important service may be preserved.
Again, we feel pictures are of the greatest importance and the cooperation of photographers and videographers is absolutely essential for the best pictures and for harmony in the service. The Wedding Director will be in touch with the photographer and videographer.
Wedding Fees
A non-refundable deposit of $200 is required to hold the time and date of the wedding, with the understanding that no date is confirmed until the couple has met with one of the Pastors and secured his/her participation. The balance is due four weeks before the wedding and should be sent to the Wedding Director at the church. Make the check payable to The Village Church, Attn: Wedding Director.