Wedding Policies

PURPOSE

With sincere wish to offer the full benefit of the church's ministry to those seeking to be married, the Worship and Work Council of the Session of Highland Park Presbyterian Church has reviewed and endorsed the following policies:

THE SANCTUARY AND WYNNE CHAPEL

The sanctuary and Wynne Chapel are available to members of this church for weddings.  (Children and grandchildren of members are also included).  A person must be a member of this church for at least six months prior to the date of the wedding.

Our facilities are also available to those who are active members of other Presbyterian (U. S. A.) Churches.  However, in order to accommodate weddings of Highland Park Presbyterian Church members, they may not reserve the church until two months prior to the wedding date.

RESERVATIONS FOR WEDDINGS

Reservations for weddings and rehearsals are made through the Wedding Coordinator (214/526-1766, ext.1295).

A minister of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church staff must officiate at all weddings.  However, he may invite ordained ministers from other Christian Churches to assist, if they are requested.

After the date, time and place for the wedding is reserved, the Wedding Coordinator will consult with the minister of choice, and then advise the couple of his availability.

PREMARITAL COUNSELING INFORMATION

Highland Park Presbyterian Church would like to help you prepare for the fullest, most satisfying marriage possible. In order to do this, several things are REQUIRED before your wedding ceremony:

  1. You will need to complete 7 hours of pre-marital counseling either at HPPC or at another location.  At HPPC, we offer a 7 week course titled Marriage Preparation which fulfills this requirement and provides you with a great foundation for your marriage.  To receive more information about Marriage Preparation, review the information pages on the Weddings portion of the hppc.org website, email marriage.prep@hppc.org, or call 214/525-4217.
  2. You will meet with the minister who will perform the ceremony. You will need to call and make an appointment for this meeting. Together you will make preliminary arrangements for the wedding.
  3. You will meet a second time with your marrying pastor closer to the wedding for final arrangements.

SCEDULING OF WEDDINGS

Often there are more than one wedding scheduled for the same day.  Your cooperation is asked in order to make this happen smoothly and to the convenience of everyone.  To that end, the following guidelines have been established:

  1. Weddings are scheduled at least four hours apart.
  2. Weddings can not be scheduled in the sanctuary and Wynne Chapel at the same time.
  3. Weddings start promptly at the scheduled hour.

WEDDINGS

  • Formal Weddings
    Weddings can be held in either the sanctuary or in Wynne Chapel.  A formal wedding is one in which there is a rehearsal, there are flowers, the candles are lighted, and music, which includes a processional, recessional, and possibly soloists or instrumentalists.  The fee for these weddings in the sanctuary is $805.00.   This covers the fees for the Organist, Wedding Coordinator, premarital seminar and counseling, Audio Technician and custodial services. As an Audio Technician is not required in Wynn chapel, the fee is $705.00
  • Weddings Without Rehearsals
    A small wedding, with no more than two attendants, can be held in Wynne Chapel which would include all of the above, except there is no rehearsal.  The fee for a small wedding without a rehearsal is $555.00.
  • Walk in Weddings
    A small walk in wedding may be arranged by a Highland Park Presbyterian Church minister for either the sanctuary or Wynne Chapel.  A walk in wedding is defined as one in which there is no rehearsal, no flowers, no photography, no candles, no reception and no staff member is involve other than the officiating minister.  There is no charge for a walk in wedding, unless an organist is requested.  Music may or may not be used but there is no processional nor recessional.

DATES WHEN WEDDINGS ARE NOT PERFORMED

As there are many annual events scheduled throughout the year, weddings and rehearsals are not held on the following:

  • Sundays
  • Wednesdays
  • Holy Week
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Labor Day
  • Christmas Eve
  • Christmas Day
  • New Year’s Day
  • World Outreach Week
  • *Any day prior to any Communion

*Exceptions to this rule may be made by the Executive Staff for the use of Wynne Chapel on the day prior to a Communion Service, provided the chapel is cleared and available by 1:00 p. m.

CONDUCT OF THE WEDDING PARTY

We would remind the members of the wedding party that they are in a sanctuary dedicated to the worship of God.  Smoking and the drinking of alcoholic beverages at any time, anywhere on the church premises - including the parking lots - is strictly prohibited.  Rehearsals and weddings will not be conducted when any member of the wedding party is under the influence of an alcoholic beverage.  It is the responsibility of the wedding couple to advise all members of their wedding party of this policy.

REHEARSALS

Due to the large number of weddings performed in the church, the rehearsals are scheduled back to back.  Only one hour is reserved for each rehearsal.  Therefore, it is suggested that all participants in the wedding be advised to arrive at least fifteen minutes before the scheduled time, so that the rehearsal can begin promptly.  A rushed rehearsal can cause problems at the wedding. Being punctual will insure that there is enough time to properly prepare the participants for their wedding duties.  Rehearsals will proceed in a quiet, dignified and reverent manner,. It is important that all members of the wedding party,  including the parents and grandparents of the couple, and the ushers who will seat them, attend the rehearsal.

CHILDREN IN THE WEDDING

Children under the age of six may not be a part of the wedding party. It has been our experience that young children are sometimes ill at ease with attention focused on them, become tired, do not come forward at the proper time, become exceedingly restless and talk or move about distracting the attendants, the couple, the guests and minister.  A five year old child may process and recess, but must sit with an adult during the ceremony.

RECEIVING LINES IN THE SANCTUARY OR WYNNE CHAPEL

Due to the wedding schedule and the limited amount of space in the narthex of both the sanctuary and Wynne Chapel, receiving lines may not to be held after the weddings.

BRIDE AND BRIDESMAIDS DRESSING ROOMS GUIDELINES

  1. Please do not rearrange the furniture nor move anything into or from the dressing areas.
  2. Snacks and soft drinks are permitted.  NO smoking nor alcoholic beverages are acceptable.
  3. Due to possible fire hazards, irons and ironing boards may not be used.  Small hand held steamers are allowed.

OUTSIDE WEDDING CONSULTANTS

An outside wedding consultant is welcome to assist the bride and bridal party - on the day of the wedding -  in any personal services  required.  The staff of Highland Park Presbyterian Church is, however,  responsible for the selection of  the wedding music, the selection of wedding musicians, and  in conducting the wedding rehearsal and wedding service.   The HPPC Organist consults with and advises the wedding couple concerning the music they desire, and contracts for any soloists, musicians or musical ensembles desired. The HPPC Wedding Coordinator provides necessary information and advice before the wedding date, and conducts, with the minister, the rehearsal and wedding.  These bridal services are provided as part of the wedding fee.  If the bridal couple desires an outside consultant to give instruction not pertaining to the rehearsal or wedding, (i.e. times the wedding party will be picked up, where they will dress - if not at the church - information concerning the reception, etc.), the consultant may make the announcements at the completion of the wedding rehearsal. 

DRESS DELIVERY

Dresses may be delivered on the wedding day, or one day prior to the wedding, and locked in the dressing areas.  This may be arranged through the Wedding Coordinator.

WEDDING FEES

HPPC Members

  • Sanctuary
    • Use of sanctuary or Wynne Chapel: No Charge
    • Rehearsal and Wedding Staff Services for Sanctuary: $805.00
    • Organist, Wedding Coordinator, AudioTechnician, Sexton and Premarital Seminar and Counseling.
    • Wedding only (no rehearsal) Sanctuary: $655.00
    • Wedding only (no rehearsal) Wynne Chapel: $555.00
  • Wynne Chapel
    • Rehearsal and Wedding Staff Services for Wynn Chapel:
    • Organist, Wedding Coordinator, Sexton(no Audio Tech.), and Premarital Seminar and Counseling: $705.00

Members of other Presbyterian (U. S. A.) Churches

  • Sanctuary
    • Use of sanctuary: $305.00
    • Staff Services: $855.00
    • Total $1160.00
  • Wynne Chapel
    • Use of Wynne Chapel: $205.00
    • Staff Services: $755.00
    • Total $960.00

HONORARIUM FOR MINISTERS

While there is no honorarium charged for the minister, a typical honorarium is $250.00.

MINISTERS TO PERFORM THE WEDDING CEREMONY

The wedding couple may choose whichever minister they wish to do the ceremony.  If that minister is not available, a minister will be assigned to them on a rotation basis.  An ordained minister from another church may assist, if desired, but a HPPC staff minister must be the officiator.

PHOTOGRAPHS

NO photographs may be taken during the processional, the ceremony or the recessional.  Time exposures from the balcony in the sanctuary or from behind the screen in Wynne Chapel are allowed.  Your official photographer will be able to get appropriate pictures without a flash.

As the wedding guests begin to arrive, all photography must be finished and equipment removed from the sanctuary area thirty minutes before the wedding.  Photographs may continue to be taken in the Bride's Room and narthex before the wedding, and again in the sanctuary after the wedding, if desired.

The bride and groom should inform immediate family members and friends that the use of cameras is appropriate before and after, but not during the wedding ceremony inside the sanctuary or chapel.

TAPING THE WEDDING CEREMONY

The wedding ceremony may be video taped by making arrangements with the Wedding Coordinator.  An outside video person may be used in the sanctuary, as long as the policy guidelines are followed.

Policy for Videotaping:

  1. Camera(s) may be located only in the balcony of the sanctuary.
  2. No supplementary lighting may be used.
  3. Wireless microphones may be used, but no wires nor cables may leave the balcony.
  4. Videotaping in Wynne Chapel is done by HPPC personnel only.

Fees for HPPC Taping

  • Fee for one VHS videotape with sound: $275.00
  • Additional copies of videotape are available
  • No CAM videotaping by guests, in the sanctuary or Wynne Chapel, is allowed during the processional, the ceremony  nor the recessional.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR PERSONAL ITEMS

Every possible effort will be made to protect personal items such a wedding dresses, purses, clothing, etc. However, as our buildings or open to the public, Highland Park Presbyterian Church cannot be held responsible for such items if lost, stolen or damaged.

SAFETY MEASURES

Under no conditions are rice, confetti, flower petals, birdseed, etc. to be thrown inside the church buildings nor the surrounding grounds.  No bubbles may be used, nor balloons released from the church grounds.  As there is no way in which aisle runners can be secured, they may not be used.

CHILD CARE FOR REHEARSALS AND WEDDINGS

Child care is not available for rehearsals nor weddings; and, due to our insurance, NO private child care is allowed on Highland Park Presbyterian Church property. 

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE FLORIST

Two copies of Instructions to the Florist are furnished; one for the bride and one for the florist.  It is the responsibility of the bride to give the florist instructions and to see that the florist posts the $100.00 performance bond (if applicable - see instructions) before the wedding.

MARRIAGE LICENSE

It is suggested that the marriage license be obtained at least two weeks prior to the wedding, and MUST be brought to the rehearsal to give to the minister at this time.

MUSIC FOR WEDDINGS

A separate Music for Weddings brochure is also provided at the time the wedding is scheduled.

The Session and Ministers of Highland Park Presbyterian Church wish you, and all who use our facilities, to have a beautiful and happy wedding for the beginning of your new life.  In order that our facilities may be kept useable and attractive for you and others, it is important that these guidelines be observed.

We sincerely hope that we have anticipated some of the questions you will have concerning plans for your wedding.  Please call the Wedding Coordinator whenever any questions occur, or for clarification of any policies.

These rules and regulations regarding weddings in Highland Park Presbyterian Church were adopted by the Session.