Wedding Policies
CONGRATULATIONS! Saint Jamesis pleased that you have chosen to celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony in our Church. You have come to the Church asking God to bless your marriage and grant you the grace to live according to the vows that you assume during the service. A Church wedding is planned in accordance with the laws and traditions of the Anglican Church.
1. CHURCH REQUIREMENTS FOR HOLY MATRIMONY: “Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God.” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 422.) It is required that at least one of the betrothed be baptized. No divorced persons may be married in this Church without the express permission of the Bishop and 30 days for counseling time, in conjunction with the Rector. No Sunday weddings or Saturday weddings after 4:00 P.M. except under extraordinary circumstances. At least thirty (30) days’ notice must be given to the Priest prior to the wedding date.
2. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR HOLY MATRIMONY: California State Law requires a valid marriage license and two witnesses of legal age, preferably selected by the bridal pair. The wedding license should be presented to the Priest at the wedding rehearsal.
3. IT IS REQUIRED by Canon Law that the officiating Priest instruct the Bride and Groom concerning the ceremony and the Sacramental aspect of Holy Matrimony. It is, therefore, most important that the Priest has at least three periods of counseling interview before the ceremony with the Bride and Groom.
4. OFFICIATING MINISTER: The ceremony must be performed by the Rector of this Parish. If any other Anglican Clergyman is invited by the Rector to assist, it will be under his direction. In his absence, special permission may be granted by the Rector for another Priest to officiate.
5. WEDDING NUPTIAL: If both the Bride and Groom are communicants of the Anglican Church, they may have a Nuptial Eucharist.
6. WEDDING REHEARSAL: Because there is a single opportunity to rehearse for this Sacramental ceremony, it is important that all participants approach the rehearsal in a sober and serious manner. The officiating clergy shall be in charge of the wedding rehearsal. One or more members of the Altar Guild will be in attendance to assist and help in the wedding arrangements. All rehearsals should begin promptly on time, as should the marriage ceremony itself.
7. DECORATIONS IN THE CHURCH: (Please contact the Altar Guild Wedding Coordinator as soon as the wedding date is set). It is our desire to make the Church as beautiful as possible for your marriage. The Altar Guild is in charge of Church decoration, and all decoration should be discussed with the Altar Guild Wedding Coordinator. The decorating may be done by the Guild or a commercial florist under the Guild’s direction. Altar flowers are usually left at the Altar for Sunday services, but those used in baskets and elsewhere in the Church may be taken to be used at the reception or at home. No commercial florists are permitted to decorate behind the Altar rail. If a commercial florist is decorating the Church, it is permissible for the florist to arrange the flowers, and then a Guild member will place them on the Altar. The commercial florist hired by the wedding party MUST CONSULT with the Altar Guild. Should the wedding party wish the Altar Guild to do all decorating, they should consult with the Altar Guild Wedding Coordinator as to the type and amount of flowers needed. No price can be quoted here as, of course, costs vary as to the individual needs.
8. WEDDING MUSIC: (Please contact the Parish Organist as soon as the wedding date is set). The Organist of the Parish shall play at all weddings where music is desired (guest organist only by special permission of the Rector). Guest soloists are permitted upon approval of the Rector, with ample time allowed for rehearsals with the Organist. The soloist must be in Choir vestments and seated in the Choir.
The so-called “traditional” wedding marches are not traditional Church music. These two particular pieces of music were popularized by Hollywood and, in actual fact, the Lohengrin March is played after the doomed wedding and the Midsummer Night Dream march is the music played for the clowning of Puck. For these reasons, this type of music is discouraged.
The final authority for the approval of music is, by Church Law, vested in the Rector. It is suggested that the music be discussed between the bridal couple, the Organist, and the Rector during the early part of the wedding arrangements. When the bridal couple is considering music for their wedding, it is important for them to keep in mind that in the Anglican Church music for all services is by nature defined and governed by Canon 24:
“It shall be the duty of every Minister to see that music
is used in his congregation as an offering for the glory
of God and as a help to the people in their worship in
accordance with the Book of Common Prayer and as
authorized by the Rubric or by the General Convention
of this Church. To this end he shall be the final authority
in the administration of matters pertaining to music with
such assistance as he may see fit to employ from persons
skilled in music. It shall be his duty to suppress all light
and unseemly music and all irreverence in the rendition
thereof.”
In other words, as the years come and go, music, like fashion, sometimes falls in or out of favor and may be considered trite or irreverent, or in bad taste. It is important to remember that music found in the cocktail lounge, no matter how fashionable, does not belong at the time appointed for the Solemnization of Matrimony. Your suggestions are wanted and are very welcome, but the Rector of the Parish must give final approval to ALL selections.
MUSIC BEFORE AND DURING THE WEDDING
PRELUDE: Fifteen minutes before the wedding begins, the Organist will play selections of his or your choice, or both, while the people are being seated in the Nave of the church. His selections are taken from the vast storehouse of great organ literature from the masters.
PROCESSIONAL: It has become custom in so many Anglican Churches over the years that the so-called “Wedding March” is in fact Henry Purcell’s “Trumpet Voluntary.” This composition offers joyful dignity for the Bride and her Bridesmaids to process from the Narthex to the Choir of the Church. Of course, all suggestions are welcomed for the Rector’s approval.
NUPTIAL MASS: If the bridal couple has chosen to have a Nuptial Mass, it may be SAID or SUNG, at the Rector’s discretion.
OFFERTORY: (Nuptial Mass only). This brief pause in the service offers an excellent opportunity for a solo voice selection if the couple has someone in mind to sing at their wedding. Selections may be of the couple’s choice or may be taken from the following suggestions:
1. “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” by J. S. Bach
2. “My Heart Ever Faithful,” by J. S. Bach
3. “O Lord Most Holy,” by Caesar Franck
4. “O Perfect Love,” by Healey Willan
5. HYMNS 350, 351, 352 or 353
RECESSIONAL: Henry Purcell’s “Trumpet Tune” has proved an ideal selection for the wedding party to exit the Church. Suggestions are also welcome.
If there are any questions about wedding music in general, please do not hesitate to call the Parish Organist. Please provide music that the Organist is to use at least one week in advance if a soloist or instrumentalist’s accompaniment is used.
9. WEDDING BANNS: Wedding Banns may be published by announcement in the Church for three weeks previous to the wedding unless otherwise requested. (The word “Banns” means proclamation or announcement, and traditionally Wedding Banns are announced publicly so that anyone may object who is aware that there is just impediment to the union of the man and woman concerned).
10. PICTURES: No flash pictures may be taken during the Service. Pictures of the bridal party may be taken as they exit from the Church. Parties desiring pictures taken in the Church may do so after the Service. If a video camera is considered, you must consult with the Rector prior to the wedding date.
11. EXPENSES FOR WEDDING: There is no charge for any Sacrament of the Church. However, there are fees for those services that are not an essential part of the Wedding Sacrament.
Altar Guild…………………………….….$100
Organist (usual amount of music)….…$250 minimum
(no rehearsals)
Soloist………………..………………..…Per Arrangement
Acolyte (each)……………………………$10
When an honorarium is given to the priest, this averages around $150 – $200.
Non-parish members are asked to make a $100 minimum donation to the Church.
All monies are to be given to the Office Manager TWO WEEKS prior to the wedding.
12. RECEPTION: Arrangements for receptions at the church facility may be made by contacting the Office Manager, Sandra Mack, at (619) 222-0365 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon weekdays. The bridal party will be responsible for the reception. A $75 donation will be requested for members and $100 for non-members. A separate agreement form must be signed.
13. THE BRIDAL PARTY: It is suggested that the entire wedding party arrive AT LEAST ONE HOUR (1 hour) before the ceremony if the bridal party intends to dress at the Church, or 30 minute before the ceremony if they dress at home.
Any further questions may be referred to the Altar Guild Wedding Coordinator, the Rector, or the Office Manager (9:00 A.M. to Noon, Monday – Friday).