Weddings
First Presbyterian
Church of Raleigh welcomes couples seeking to marry in a Christian ceremony.
This page offers information for those interested in holding their wedding
ceremony in our sanctuary, with one of our pastors officiating. Wedding
ceremonies at FPC are open to both church members and to non–members--that
is, to persons who have not been members of First Presbyterian Church for
at least 6 months.
NOTE: Our sanctuary will not be available for wedding ceremonies until mid-2012 due to demolition and construction work
associated with our church's large-scale renovation project.
Christian Weddings top >
We believe that marriage is a
gift from God for the well–being of the entire human family. For Christians,
it is not only a civil contract, but also a covenant through which we pledge
to live out our lives in discipleship before God.
A Christian wedding service is governed by the traditions and teachings
of the church, as well as by state law. The focus of the service must be
the worship of God, not the marrying couple. The pastor will discuss the
service with you beforehand; however, the usual service at FPC includes
the reading of appropriate passages from scripture, prayers, and often hymns.
The couple will declare their intention to marry and exchange vows of love
and faithfulness. In keeping with Presbyterian tradition, couples are not
presented during the ceremony.
Our Pastors top >
The officiating pastor at your
wedding service is responsible for the conduct of the service and its participants.
The pastor will explain the elements of the wedding service to you and suggest
appropriate vows and passages of scripture to be read.
Although the marrying couple may make suggestions and can select the music,
including any hymns that are sung, the the officiating pastor must approve the
content of the wedding ceremony, and the Director of Music must approve all
musical selections. The pastor may offer the marrying couple
some opportunities to select the vows to be read from a published list of
appropriate vows.
All three of our pastors officiate at wedding services. All three require
pre-marital counseling, which usually consists of 3 one-hour sessions with
the officiating pastor. See our Staff page for
more information about our pastors.
Wedding Options top >
In a typical year, when our sanctuary building is available, we offer the following wedding-related services to both members and non–members:
- Wedding: A Presbyterian or Christian wedding ceremony in our
sanctuary. A "Use of Facilities" fee includes the use of our
sanctuary and the services of the pastor, sexton, wedding director, and
sound technician. Our sanctuary can seat up to 550 people.
- Organist or Accompanist: Our very experienced and talented organist
usually plays for all weddings. His fee includes his attendance at the
wedding rehearsal.
- Videography: Using our built–in cameras, we can provide
a recording of the ceremony in VHS or DVD format.
- Receptions: Many couples choose to have their wedding reception in one of our buildings. A nominal fee covers facilities usage and the services of our Business Operations and Facilities Manager, Mark Turner, who handles the basic arrangements associated with our facilities. See Receptions below for more specific information about wedding receptions.
In addition to the officiating pastor, who will preside over the planning of the wedding service, FPC also offers the services of a Wedding Director and church musicians. The Wedding Director directs the wedding party during the wedding rehearsal, arranges the participants in the front of the church, and works to ensure that all members of the wedding party understand their role and arrive at the ceremony on time.
Receptions top >
For couples who desire to hold their reception at our church, we typically offer the following choices of location (but we are not currently offering the second two options during our renovation project):
- Memorial Hall--Accommodates up to 400 guests
- Baucom Parlor and a Connecting Area--Accommodates up to 100 guests
- The Vanguard Room--Accommodates up to 150 guests
Our Business Operations and Facilities Manager, , handles all wedding receptions held in our facilities. He will
meet with you to dicuss details of your reception.
The following rules apply to all wedding receptions held at FPC:
- Alcohol is prohibited anywhere on church property.
- Food and beverages must be provided by an independent caterer.
- The Business Operations and Facilities Manager will approve the decorations and music that are planned for the reception.
- Decorations may be brought into the church building on the day of the wedding and must be removed immediately afterwards.
- Our sextons will see to it that the facilities are clean for your reception. The caterers you hire, however, will be responsible for leaving the facilities clean behind them.
- A church staff member must be present to operate the church kitchen equipment if it is required.
- Rice and confetti may not be thrown on church grounds. Rose petals are allowed, however, and may be thrown as the couple exits the church or reception.
Parking and Facilities for the Handicapped top >
The church parking lot holds
up to 114 cars. In addition, the City of Raleigh maintains a parking deck
one block west of the church on Morgan Street. This deck is generally available
after hours and on weekends, but be aware of cultural events that might
interfere with your parking needs.
Our church is well–equipped to provide access to all people. Wheelchair
access to our sanctuary building is available via a side door on Morgan
Street.
For other needs relating to access, make a list and give us a call.
How to Proceed top >
If you desire more information about any of the above, contact at the church office at (919) 821–5750. A printed booklet provides information, checklists, and contracts. We are so glad that you're considering us as you make your plans. But be aware that from March 1 through the remainder of 2011, the sanctuary will not be available due to scheduled renovation and reconstruction work.
