We would be honored to walk with you through your decision to marry and help make your wedding a rich and meaningful event. State College Presbyterian Church is committed to the belief that marriage is a sacred blessing from God, which begins with the wedding. We request your careful attention to the following guidelines as we seek to facilitate worshipful weddings with clarity for both the church and the couple. The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) says this about marriage and weddings: Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family. Marriage involves a unique commitment between two people… to love and support each other for the rest of their lives. The sacrificial love that unites the couple sustains them as faithful and responsible members of the church and the wider community. In civil law, marriage is a contract that recognizes the rights and obligations of the married couple in society. In the Reformed tradition, marriage is also a covenant in which God has an active part, and which the community of faith publicly witnesses and acknowledges. (W-4.9001 of the PC(USA)’s Book of Order)
Wedding Guidelines
Weddings are customarily held on Saturdays but not on holidays or holiday weekends. To reserve a wedding date at State College Presbyterian Church, please get in touch with our Church Secretary, who will advise you on the availability of your desired date, work with you to provide an available pastor, and secure an organist. Please note that your wedding will not be confirmed on our calendar until you contact our church secretary, fill out necessary forms and submit the deposit. We welcome non-church members to hold their wedding at SCPC if they desire to marry before God in a worship service under the authority of one of our pastors. We would be honored to walk with you during this exciting time in your life. Members of State College Presbyterian Church are given priority for dates and times.
State College Presbyterian Church is blessed with gifted pastors who caringly meet with couples before their wedding and plan meaningful wedding services. SCPC recognizes that God calls people to ordained ministry inclusive of age, gender, and race. You must understand and accept this expression of the ministry of SCPC when a pastor is selected for you. State College Presbyterian Church pastors officiate at all weddings at the church. Should you want another clergyperson to assist in the wedding service, please inform the church secretary and your presiding pastor. An outside clergyperson may assist with the service at the invitation of the presiding pastor. The presiding pastor from SCPC has primary responsibility for the order and conduct of the wedding service. Each pastor will ask a couple to meet with them before the wedding for pre-marriage counseling as well as service planning.
Because you have decided to be married in a church, your wedding will be a service of worship honoring God in recognition of the love between two people. As Christians, we view marriage as a means of discipleship and seek to allow our relationship with Christ to form the pattern for the covenant of marriage. It is assumed that at least one of the marriage partners is a faithful member of a Christian community and that the vows of marriage will be made in response to the Word of God, in the context of prayer, and in the presence of a faith community. In consultation with your pastor, the liturgy for your service will most likely be based on the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship, which includes scripture readings and a brief homily.
SCPC musicians will play/sing at all weddings unless other arrangements are made with the Director of Music. Music suitable for the marriage service directs attention to God and expresses the faith of the community (W-4.9005). Since your marriage ceremony is a “service of Christian worship,” the chosen music should praise and glorify God and be appropriate for the instruments and vocalists available. Popular music from Broadway shows, television, and “pop chart” tunes do not meet these criteria and are inappropriate for the marriage ceremony. The presiding pastor and church musician have the responsibility for approving the music used and can suggest appropriate selections.
According to our denomination’s “Book of Order,” all adornments should be appropriate to the place of worship, enhance the worshipers’ consciousness of the reality of God, and reflect the integrity and simplicity of Christian life. All adornments must be pre-approved by the presiding pastor ahead of the wedding date.
With the understanding that your wedding is a worship service, guests are strongly discouraged from taking photographs or videos during the wedding service. The worship service begins with the processional and ends with the recessional. At no time after the processional concludes is a professional photographer or videographer allowed in front of the gathered congregation. Professionals may take non-flash silent photography and stationary video without artificial lighting from the rear of the worship space without disrupting the service. You may gather for pictures before or after your wedding ceremony, provided you remain within the allotted time frame (One hour before the start time and one hour after the conclusion of the service). The couple must ensure the photographer and videographer (professional or amateur) understand the church policies and communicate with the presiding pastor ahead of the service.
Wedding rehearsals are customarily on Friday late afternoon or early evening and are scheduled in consultation with your pastor. The pastor will ordinarily conduct the rehearsal with the assistance of the musician. Your entire wedding party is strongly encouraged to be present. The couple should ensure the wedding party’s timeliness.
You will have use of designated areas within the church up to 2 hours before the start of the wedding and one hour after the wedding ends (unless arranged otherwise). Please note alcohol is not permitted on church property. Food and drink are allowed only in the dressing areas. Clean-up is the wedding party’s responsibility and is subject to an additional custodial fee. The couple is responsible for damages their party or guests cause to the church property. SCPC cannot be held responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal items.
Programs or bulletins are optional for your wedding service. Should you decide to use bulletins, you are responsible for producing them. Your pastor will give you the order of the worship service. The text of the entire bulletin and the cover art you choose must be approved by the presiding pastor at least ten days before the wedding date.
A marriage license from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is required to marry at State College Presbyterian Church. Please arrange to have your Pennsylvania marriage license given to your pastor at the rehearsal. The presiding pastor is the only one who signs the license following the service. The pastor is responsible for returning the signed license to the state and returning your copy to you (or someone you designate). Note that licenses in the state of Pennsylvania must be used within 60 days and that there is a three-day waiting period before your wedding date. You may apply in any Pennsylvania county.
It is our hope at State College Presbyterian Church to be as much a part of your marriage as we are a part of your wedding where, together in Christ, we claim hope over despair, prefer truth to complacency, and seek to grow in personal faith and compassion for the world. Please let us know if we can assist you in any way as you learn to live in marriage. We pray God’s blessings and love for your life together.
