Marriage is a gift of God, intended for the joy and mutual strength of those who enter it and for the well-being of the whole human family. God created us and blessed humankind with the gifts of companionship, the capacity to love, and the care and nurture of children. Jesus affirmed the covenant of marriage and revealed God’s own self-giving love on the cross. The Holy Spirit helps those who are united in marriage to be living signs of God’s grace, love, and faithful.
Marriage is also a human estate, with vows publicly witnessed. The church in worship surrounds these promises with the gathering of God’s people, the witness of the word of God, and prayers of blessing and intercession.
~Evangelical Lutheran Worship notes on Wedding Services
Vows
Vows are promises made between the couple. They are meant to invoke one’s best intentions as you begin your life together. You may choose from the following pre-written vows or mix and match between them. You may write your own vows, as well. This option will require consultation and approval of the Pastor. Two things to keep in mind: 1)make sure they are written as promises, rather than expressions of love; and 2)you will each make the same promises to one another. We do not expect nor encourage you to memorize your vows.
I take you _____________ to be my wife/husband from this day forward, to join with you and share all that is to come, and I promise to be faithful to you until death parts us.
In the name of God, I ______________, take you ________________ to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.
I take you, _____________, to be my wife/husband, and these things I promise you: I will be faithful to you and honest with you; I will respect, trust, help and care for you; I will share my life with you; I will forgive you as we have been forgiven; and I will try with you to better understand ourselves, the world, and God; through the best and worst of what is to come until death parts us.
I take you, _____________, to be my wife/husband. I promise before God and these witnesses to be your faithful husband/wife, to share with you in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, to forgive and strengthen you, and to join with you so that together we may serve God and others as long as we both shall live.
______________, I take you to be my wife/husband from this time onward, to join with you and to share all that is to come, to give and to receive, to speak and to listen, to inspire and to respond, and in all circumstances of our life together to be loyal to you with my whole life and with all my being until death parts us.
After you’ve said, ‘yes’…
____ Call the church office and consult with the Office Manager regarding the availability of the church. S/he will ask for a $100 deposit and will refer you to the Pastor before the date for your wedding is confirmed. The office manager will also consult with the Director of Worship, Music and Arts and the Lead Wedding Coordinator to have a musician and coordinators assigned to you.
Within the following month…
____ Contact the pastor to confirm the dates of your wedding and rehearsal and make arrangements for the premarital counseling class.
____ Contact Director of Worship, Music, and Arts and Lead Coordinator to confirm dates and get connected with your assigned musician and wedding coordinators.
Four months and counting…
____ Contact your musician to discuss musical options and possibilities. This would also be the time to confirm any outside musicians you wish to bring in.
Three months to go…
____ Connect with your wedding coordinators to work through the details of your service. This information will be passed along to the Pastor.
One month (almost there!)…
____ Meet with the Pastor to finalize the details of the service and review the information in your bulletins or programs.
____ Produce your bulletins, purchase any candles that will be used in the worship space, and finalize any decorations for the worship space. It’s never too early to make sure pew bows fit, candles work, etc.
The Final Week…
____ Meet once more with the Pastor to walk through the service.
____ Bring the marriage license to the church—for the rehearsal, at the latest.
____ The remaining amount of fees will be expected to be paid at this time. Checks should be made out to “Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.”
Pre-marital Counseling Fee $ 50
This includes the cost of the Prepare and Enrich inventory, as well as the cost for the pre-marital class, which covers printed resources and a light catered lunch.
Honorariums
-Pastor $200
- Musician $160
-Wedding Coordinators $250
Custodial Fee $140
This includes your initial $100 deposit required in order to confirm the date of your wedding.
Total $800
Should you choose to use the facility for your reception, the following fees apply:
Fellowship Hall (seats up to 125)
-Without Kitchen $100
-With Kitchen $125
-Custodial Set-up (additional) $ 25
Community Room (seats up to 72)
-Without Kitchenette $ 50
-With Kitchenette $ 75
-Custodial Set-up (additional) $ 25
Schedule of Payment
An initial deposit of $100 is required immediately in order to reserve the date for your wedding service.
The remainder of the fees are due during the week preceding your wedding (no later than your rehearsal day). Please make checks out to “Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.”
Cancelled weddings: at least 3 months prior to scheduled date are eligible for reimbursement of all but $100 deposit; between 3 months and 1 month prior are eligible for reimbursement of half the charged amount; within 1 month of date are still expected to pay full price.
If you need to postpone your wedding, the amount already paid will be put toward new date.