Weddings at Advent

 

Weddings at Advent…

 

 

…are primarily services of worship, in which the Rite of Marriage is included.      We would like to assist you in making arrangements with the church that will ensure that your ceremony is both worshipful and wonderful. Following are          the simple guidelines for weddings at Advent Lutheran Church.

 

Preliminary Preparations

 

#1 – Book Your Wedding Date through the church office at 913-681-2074, or info@adventolathe.org. We will check the availability of the facilities that you require - the sanctuary for the ceremony and the rehearsal - and the Fellowship Hall for rehearsal dinner and the reception, if desired.  If you have a preference for pastor or pastors, please make that preference known at this time.

 

#2 – If Available, Your Date Will be Held for 30 days, and confirmed upon receipt of contact information and usage fee (minimum deposit of $250.)

 

#3 - A Pastor will Contact You  as soon as possible after your date is confirmed.  You will receive information about premarital classes or appointments, and you will complete an online premarital inventory called “Prepare/Enrich.” There is

an online scoring fee of $35 for this inventory, and the confidential results will be sent directly to the pastor.

 

#4 - Plan on Attending Three classes or appointments with the pastor(s) for the purposes of debriefing your Prepare/Enrich inventory, and to plan the worship service and marriage ceremony.

 

Wedding Hostess Assistance

 

                Nancy Finnerty, Advent’s Wedding Hostess, will contact you to answer any questions you might have about your wedding preparations at the church.  She will be present for the rehearsal and during the ceremony to assist you.  

 

Guidelines for Use of Advent’s Sanctuary

 

#1 - Colors in the Church are pre-determined by the season of the Church Year. 

                When you book your wedding date, you should inquire as to what colors and decorations will be in use at the time of your ceremony.  With the exception of candelabra, wedding flowers, and a unity candle or sand ceremony, there will be no additional decorations permitted in the area within the communion rails.

 

#2  -  No tape or tacks may be used on the rail, the pews or other wood.

 

#3 – All music and non-house musicians used within the ceremony must be approved by the pastor or Director of Music, Tom Williams.

 

#4 – Immediately following the ceremony, all wedding decorations should be removed to ready the sanctuary for Sunday services.

 

Some Questions to Ponder in Your Early Planning

 

#1 – Would you consider a day other than Saturday as your wedding date?

 

#2 - How might the color of the church season (which is predetermined) contrast with or complement the colors of your wedding?

 

#3 - Will you include Holy Communion as part of your ceremony?

 

#4 – Do you have a pastoral preference?  If you request both pastors, the pastor the couple designates to preach will lead 2 sessions of premarital counseling.  The other pastor will meet with you once for the planning of the ceremony, and will conduct the rehearsal, normally the day before. 

 

#5 – Will you want to engage Advent’s musicians, or will you provide your own?

 

 

Fees

 

Facility Usage fee: $500

Includes building use, sound system and utilities

for rehearsal and wedding ceremony,

 wedding hostess and altar care,

set up of sanctuary, narthex and additional bride’s and groom’s rooms*

and janitorial services following the ceremony. 

This fee, or a minimum deposit of $250 must be paid to secure the date.

 

Pastoral honorarium:  $250 each

 

House Musician fees:  $200 for an organist/pianist;

$300 for organist and pianist

(less $50 if not required at rehearsal)

 

$150 for a Vocal Soloist, Harp or Flute

 

                

                *We have several rooms which can be made available for the members of the wedding party.   The nursery is the most convenient for the bridal party, as it has its own private bathroom and full length mirror.  Chairs and an ironing board will be made available.  Men may gather in the library, the youth room or a Sunday school room. 

                 

Final Thoughts

 

                We want your wedding at Advent to be a meaningful worship service, to honor the love that comes first from God and that you now share with one another.  We offer our church, staff and volunteers to help make your day unique, special and a symbol of God’s love in the world.

 

Blessings on you, and on this exciting time in your life!