WEDDING POLICIES
Our view of Marriage: We believe that marriage is a sacred union ordained by God joining as one flesh a man and a woman whom He has brought together. We believe that on the day of the wedding, God is a witness to this marriage covenant and becomes a covenant partner with the husband and wife. Everything about an FCC wedding service is designed to witness that this is a Christian wedding.
As ministers of the Gospel, we believe that by conducting a marriage ceremony, we, as God’s representatives, are officiating over the creation of this union. Therefore, we believe that we have a responsibility to God and the couple to set certain standards and to become familiar with the intended couple. Because of our view of marriage, we reserve the right to decline to perform any wedding ceremony.
Due to our view of marriage, please make note of the following:
1) We will not marry any couple
· Who have not been dating at least one year prior to the Wedding date.
· Who are sexually active or who are living together.
2) We will perform wedding ceremonies for couples with whom we (as a church) have a relationship.
3) We only perform Christian weddings (prospective husbands and wives must be born again).
4) You must meet with an advising pastor for at least four to six sessions, or as many times as they shall determine. One of the purposes for these meetings is to determine WHETHER we will perform your marriage ceremony. This decision will be made at the discretion of the advising pastor and senior pastor (based on our view of Marriage – see top of page).
5) You will be assigned with some material to read by your advising pastor during your pre-marital meetings. You will be informed by your advising pastor by which meeting your reading assignment should be completed.
6) There will be two post-marital meetings that will be required as a follow-up.
7) It is the couple’s responsibility to obtain the Marriage license. For ceremonies within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the license may be obtained from the clerk of any Massachusetts city or town. The license must be obtained in ample enough time to turn it in to the church office seven days prior to the ceremony. In Massachusetts, you may apply within 60 days of the wedding day: however, you must allow three business days between when you apply for the license and the day you can pick it up. If the ceremony will be in a different state, speak with your advising pastor for further details.
Any exceptions made to the above-mentioned guidelines will be at the discretion of the Senior Pastor.
Wedding dates should be set only after the advising pastor has approved you to get married and has verified the availability of the desired date.
For our Premarital Questionnaire or our Fee's and Checklist click here!