Weddings
First Christian Church has a beautiful sanctuary which has been the site of a great many weddings – why not yours? Not only that, we are thousands of dollars cheaper than most of the new wedding chapels!
If you are not interested in a big wedding then please know that we have done weddings in our chapel (seats about 25) as well as in our Fellowship Hall (seating up to 150, depending on how you want the seats arranged) and in our courtyard (which can seat up to about 90 depending on how the seating is arranged).
Frequently Asked Questions Answered By Pastor Burton
How many people does the sanctuary seat?
Our sanctuary seats about 250 people comfortably. When deciding how many people you will need to seat please remember that for an average wedding about 60-70% of the people you invite will actually show up.
How many people does the fellowship hall seat?
For those of you who might want to have your reception here, we can seat up to 110 for dinner, using both round and rectangular tables. If you are not serving a full meal and tables are not needed for all guests then, obviously, a lot more people will fit into the room – up to 175 depending on how many chairs you want set up and how you want them set!
What about drugs, alcohol, cigarettes?
We are a no smoking, no drugs, and no alcohol campus. No kidding. Breaking this policy could result in the loss of your deposit and no one wants that! This may mean that you want your reception elsewhere.
Can I bring my own minister in to do the ceremony?
We provide a wedding ministry not a rent-a-sanctuary service. I officiate at all weddings but I am open to inviting other clergy to actively participate in the wedding. If you have a minister whom you want to lead, say, the vows and rings, then that might be arranged. We can talk about it.
What about counseling?
Counseling is required (because it is documented that couples who have premaital counseling have a greater chance of staying married) but you have two options. I can perform the counseling (it is included the base fee) or you may select another counselor who you will arrange for separately. As long as the counseling is done by a clergyperson or counselor then I consider this requirement to be fulfilled.
How much will it cost?
That depends on what parts of the facility you choose to use. You can look up the costs in the downloadable wedding policy but I suggest that you call the church's office administrator, Dixie, and have her help you figure it out. Call her at 940-566-4990.
What about music?
We have a great music staff and know lots of soloists and musicians so we can help you get as much music as you want to pay for. (That's blunt, sorry, but its up to you whether or not you want to hire an orchestra, a harpist, and a dosen soloists!) During the ceremony there is usually only room for 2-3 selections although you can have additional numbers before the bridal march. As for the appropriateness of selections – we're not too keen on acid rock or some of the hip hop music we've heard but we are willing to listen to any reasonable requests. Since you are considering a "church wedding" we hope you will think about music that would be appropriate in a house of God!
What about rice, bubbles, and bird seed?
Not inside! People slip and fall and my custodian grumbles! Outside we are primarily concerned with safety – no to the rice but the bird seed and bubbles are fine. For other options (new things are constantly popping up) please talk to me.
What about photographers and videographers?
My rule for photographers and videographers is that they should be neither seen nor heard during the actual ceremony. The "ceremony" begins when the bride gets to the front of the church – so flash pictures can be taken of the bridal party coming down the aisle. And the "ceremony" ends when I present the newlyweds to the congregation – so flash pictures can be taken as the newlyweds exit. During the ceremony pictures can be taken without flash from the sides, rear, and balcony of the church. Mainly, we just don't want people running around distracting from the wedding – which no good photographer would do anyway. As for video, the rules are basically the same but a tripod mounted camera can be inconspicuously placed somewhere on the chancel as long as it is not moved about, but the videographer can sit or stand beside the camera and adjust it as long as he/she is not running around behind me. Photographers and videographers should talk to me in advance so I can layout how the ceremony will run so they can get the best shots.
What about a wedding consultant?
Honestly I'm not a huge fan of wedding consultants due to some encounters with really pushy consultants who arrived with the idea they were going to tell me what to do, when to do it, and how to do it right. But it is nice to have some help – as long as the consultant remembers that, as far as the ceremony goes, I have the final say. You should know that most all the details will be decided well in advance. The bride and groom and I will design the wedding in great detail so usually big suggestions don't come up on the day of the wedding.
What about rehearsals?
Most but not all weddings have a rehearsal. Since the Bride and Groom and I will have the ceremony completely planned before the rehearsal, all that we do that evening is teach people what we want them to do, show them where we want them to stand, and answer any questions. I do a walk through with the ushers, then the men, then the women, and finally we all do it together once. This usually takes 1 ½ hours. If you are going to have a rehearsal dinner please set your reservation accordingly and hope that all your participants to show up on time! This is a great time to take informal pictures!
How do I go about reserving a date for my wedding?
Call the Church Office, 940-566-4990, and talk to the Office Administrator, Dixie Smalley. She can confirm the availability of your date. Second, talk to the Pastor about his availability for the service and about wedding counseling. Third, bring a check by for the deposit. When you have done all three then your wedding is officially reserved.
Additional Information
Click here to download a PDF copy of our wedding policy.
Click here to download a PDF copy of the pastor's "Build Your Own Wedding Ceremony" document.