Rev. Christopher Mergener
269-683-7600 ext. 201
Dawn Stanage
Sarai St. Clair
269-683-7600 ext. 206
The staff and members of First Presbyterian Church welcome those who are planning to be married in the Sanctuary or Chapel of the church.
A wedding ceremony is a church service and therefore is subject to certain policies established over the years by the Session and its desire to make the occasion reverent, dignified, and meaningful for the couple being married and for all attending the service.
As soon as you begin planning for your wedding you should confer with the pastor. The pastor is the only one who can confirm your wedding on the church calendar. Conferences will be arranged for you to meet with the pastor concerning your plans and the meaning of marriage for Christians.
The pastor is eager to know you and to help you to prepare for this important step. Several counseling sessions will be required prior to the wedding.
The minister performing your ceremony will work with you on developing the service for marriage. In our Presbyterian tradition it is to be a Service of Worship of God; therefore, we avoid any items that take away from the dignity or the deeply religious significance of the ceremony.
Candles and candelabra are available from the church. There is a small fee for using our waxless candles.
The loveliness of our sanctuary is enhanced by simplicity in flowers and decoration. Chancel furnishings are not to be moved. If you want your flowers to be used for the Sunday worship service, make these arrangements with the church secretary well in advance. Aisle runners are not necessary in our church, and we discourage their use.
If neither the bride or groom, nor their parents, are members of First Presbyterian Church of Niles, there are certain non-member fees involved which cover the cost of the wedding.
If either the bride or groom, or their parents, are members of First Presbyterian Church of Niles, there are no fees for use of the facility for weddings or receptions. Other fees should be discussed with the pastor at the time of consultation.
For non-members only, a non-refundable deposit of $150 is necessary within one week after you schedule your wedding date and speak with the pastor about your plans. Please mail this to the Wedding Consultant.
A check to cover all remaining fees involved must be mailed to the Wedding Consultant one week before the rehearsal.
Contact Dawn Stanage for the current fee schedule.
If a family desires another minister to participate in the wedding service, this should be discussed with the pastor. Permission must be grant by the pastor in consultation with the Session.
All plans for music are to be discussed with the Minister of Music and approved by her in consultation with the pastor. If the organ is being used, the Minister of Music will play or in her absence a person whom she designates.
All music must be in keeping with the religious nature of the church wedding service. The wedding service is a service of worship of God and all music, sung or played, will be sacred and not secular. If you have any question in this regard, please discuss this with the Minister of Music.
Photographs are not to be taken during the wedding service. This destroys the atmosphere of worship and can be an annoying interruption.
Professional photographers may take time-exposure or photographs without flash from the balcony and the narthex during the ceremony.
Photographs may be taken during the processional and recessional. The photographer may be seated four pews from the back of the church for this. For the recessional, wedding party photographs may be taken from the narthex doorway.
All video photography is to be taken from behind the pulpit or lectern. The videographer is to remain stationary during the ceremony. Videos may also be taken from the balcony. Please do no use auxiliary lighting.
Please convey this information to your photographer(s); if they have any questions they may call the church secretary for additional clarification.
All weddings will take place within the church sanctuary or the chapel. If there are unusual circumstances involved, other arrangements must be approved by the pastor in consultation with the Session.
Members of the wedding party and guests are asked not to throw rice, bird seed or confetti within the church building under any circumstances. They are urged to used only birdseed outside.
If your wedding will be held in the sanctuary, or if you are having a reception at the church, we ask that you confer with our Wedding Consultant after your plans have been made with the pastor. She will work with you and your families concerning the details of your wedding, rehearsal, and reception. She will be present at the rehearsal and help with the wedding. In the case of a church reception, the Wedding Consultant becomes the liaison between the bride's family and those who are providing the reception. Contact Dawn Stanage .
The Wedding Consultant is available for chapel weddings and small sanctuary weddings on request, but her services are not required for small weddings, such as those involving only the immediate families.
Please be certain that your wedding party knows the importance of being on time for both the rehearsal and the wedding.
No smoking is allowed in the building.
Alcohol is not permitted at either the rehearsal or the ceremony itself.
Please understand that schedules make the minister's and other staff members' presence at the rehearsal dinner difficult. If you would like the minister or any other staff to attend, you must send a formal invitation to them as you would to anyone else. If such an invitation is not sent, they will not plan to attend.
We at First Presbyterian Church are especially happy to share in your special day. Our resources are at your disposal and our prayers are with you.
