Your Wedding at First Presbyterian Church of Petaluma
We congratulate you on your upcoming marriage, and are pleased to assist you at the beginning of this new life together. A wedding at First Presbyterian Church is a Christian worship celebration. We all work to insure that your service will be one of joy, beauty, and reverence. The information below will help you in planning for the day.
FIRST STEPS
Contact the church office (Call us: (707) 762-8269 or Email: fpcp@petalumafirst.com). At that time, please ask about dates that available for your wedding. You do not need to be a member of the congregation to be married here. Ordinarily, the pastor of First Presbyterian Church will officiate at weddings held in the church. If you desire to have another pastor participate in the service, please consult with our pastor.
We do require that you meet with the pastor for pre-marriage counseling, prior to the wedding. You will get to know our pastor and explore your understanding of Christian marriage. You will also have the opportunity to discuss details of the service during these visits.
When the wedding and rehearsal are scheduled, the Wedding Coordinator will put the dates on the church calendar. The dates will not be held for you until the pastor has approved your wedding and your deposit has been received.
The Wedding Service
Your wedding is a worship celebration. Pictures may be taken by your photographer, after consultation with the pastor. Video cameras may be used provided that they remain unobtrusive during the service.
The processional is a grand moment setting the stage for worship. It is customary to begin the worship on time. Therefore, your wedding party will be asked to arrive at the Church at least twenty minutes prior to the service.
The church cannot be responsible for lost or stolen articles, therefore the wedding party must arrange for the care of their property before, during, and after the ceremony. Leave all valuable personal belongings and gifts in the care of parents, friends, or attendants during the service.
THE FACILITY
Our sanctuary can seat up to 300 people. Candelabra are available for your use. However, you need to provide the candles. Brides may dress in the Fireside Room. We ask you not to use rice, confetti, or streamers. The use of birdseed is encouraged only if it is kept outdoors and well away from the sanctuary. Our facility is a smoke and alcohol free facility.
DECORATIONS
Your church wedding is a service of worship, a beautiful and happy occasion, and every effort will be made to make it rich in meaning, beautiful in setting, and dignified in service. You are encouraged to decorate with flowers, candles, and ribbons. During some seasons of the church year, our sanctuary will have special decorations in place such as banners and paraments. These will not be removed, ordinarily. Please consult with the Wedding Coordinator in your first meeting about your plans for decorations.
MUSIC
Our organist will play the organ or piano for your service if you desire to use these instruments. You are welcome to invite vocalists and/or instrumentalists to provide special music for the service as well. The organist has a repertoire of music suitable for the wedding service. The bride may consult with the organist regarding her preferences for the service. Text for vocal music must be congruent with basic Christian theology and receive the approval of the pastor prior to its use.
THE REHEARSAL
A rehearsal is customarily held during the evening before the wedding. The rehearsal will take about one hour. All members of the wedding party should be present including the parents of the bride and groom, if available. The Wedding Coordinator and Pastor will lead the rehearsal.
Please deliver your marriage license to the Wedding Coordinator at the rehearsal. The service cannot take place without it. The Wedding Coordinator will see that the license is signed and mailed to the County Clerk.
The Organist and Sound Technician will attend the wedding rehearsal.
FEES
First Presbyterian Church is a Christian community called to live out the Good News of God's love. As stewards of our church, we must maintain our facilities and pay the salaries of our staff, while we work to be good neighbors in the community. The current fee schedule is enclosed. If you have questions about fees, please talk to the pastor.
| Member | Non-member | |
| Refundable Damage Deposit |
$200 | $200 |
| Sanctuary and Fireside Room |
waived | $300 |
| Kitchen, Koinonia Hall, CE Wing (optional) |
waived | $250 |
| Custodian | $100 | $100 |
| Wedding Coordinator |
$150 | $150 |
| Organist (optional) | $125 | $125 |
| Sound Tech (optional) | $100 | $100 |
| Pastor | Negotiated with Pastor | |
