While many churches have unwritten rules regarding weddings, others throughout the state have developed a set of written guidelines.
Guidelines aid churches in meeting their goal of creating worship services out of weddings.
Members of the wedding party are expected to conduct themselves in a way that reflects an attitude of worship.
Because young children in the wedding may be a distraction, some churches have a minimum age limit for flower girls and ring bearers.
The music is also expected to follow in an attitude of worship. Some churches consider flash photography to be a distraction of worship and don’t allow pictures to be taken during the ceremony.
Most churches do now allow weddings on Sundays, Wednesdays or holiday weekends.
Other rules have been developed to maintain the beauty of the church.
Some churches put minimum age limits on children who will carry candles. Many don’t allow anything but silk flower petals to be dropped.
Other policies created to protect churches include a rule against food and drink during rehearsal or on the wedding day. Decorators are also asked to use caution in securing items to walls or furniture.
“We need to have someone from the church represented here,” said Carrie Engle, administrative assistant to the pastor at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Homewood. These are people who “know the ins and outs of the church.”
Because of this, churches often require wedding directors be provided by the church or selected from a list of coordinators in the church.
Many churches, such as First Baptist Church, Oneonta, and Dawson Memorial do not charge members for the use of facilities. However, maintenance fees apply to both members and non-members. Depending on how much of the church is used, this can be up to several hundred dollars.
Several other churches do charge a fee to use the church for weddings. The fee is usually lower for members than nonmembers.
New Hope Baptist Church, Athens, Limestone Association, requires only a clean-up deposit to non-members. The deposit is returned if facilities are found to be acceptable following the service.
Cottage Hill Baptist Church, Mobile, allows weddings on holidays and holiday weekends but doubles the cost of kitchen workers, sound system personnel and those who help set up and clean up the facilities.
Churches requiring musicians who are part of the church staff have specific fees.
At Dawson there is a specific price for weddings and a price for weddings and rehearsals. These must be paid by members and nonmembers. Other churches simply ask that a gratuity be given to musicians.
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