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Clifton Presbyterian Church Guidelines & Building Use Policy for Weddings |
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Thank you for your interest in holding your wedding at Clifton Presbyterian Church (CPC). To request approval, a completed Application For the Use of Church Facilities, a Church Use Agreement – signed by the bride and groom, Application Form A – confirming participation in a minimum of 3 sessions of pre-marital counseling and your check for $750 must be received by the church office. The Session (governing body) of CPC meets on the fourth Thursday of each month, whenever possible, and can consider applications at that time. Please see the application form for details of our cancellation/refund policy. When you receive written notification that your request was approved, the $250 Refundable Security Deposit must be submitted and will be banked before your ceremony will be confirmed on the schedule.
Clifton Presbyterian Church is not available for ceremonies conducted by justices of the peace, magistrates, judges or other civil servants.
Please contact the church office prior to submitting your application for availability of dates and/or the Minister’s availability. The Minister of Clifton Presbyterian Church officiates at member weddings or weddings of those looking for a church and who are interested in membership at CPC. Our minister requires three sessions for pre-marital counseling. The fee for our minister is $500.00, which is due at the wedding. If you would like to include the pastor in your rehearsal dinner and/or wedding reception, please send an invitation.
For non-members or those not interested in joining Clifton Presbyterian Church, our Parish Associate, The Reverend Lewis Johnson (703-631-2888) is available for referrals. If Reverend Johnson is not available for the date you requested, the church office can provide additional referrals. CPC welcomes ordained ministers from other churches and denominations to officiate here. We do require the minister to fill out Application Form A and to personally conduct the rehearsal. Out-of state ministers may only officiate if authorization has been obtained from a Circuit Court in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We also require that you participate in pre-marital counseling before your wedding either with your officiating minister or another qualified counselor. The provider of these services must also sign the lower section of Form A before your application can be processed.
If you plan to have organ music, please call our organist/pianist, Ellen Thacher directly to make arrangements (703-250-0215). Her fee for the rehearsal and wedding is $250.00. Please call her even if you are only planning to have your own organist/pianist use either of the church’s keyboard instruments. We welcome other forms of live, musical accompaniment provided there is sufficient space to accommodate the performers and their instruments. Any alternative requirements must be discussed with an audio representative from the church and may require a fee for services.
PLEASE NOTE:We respectfully request that photographers, florists, wedding consultants, or other members of the bridal party do not remove or reposition the candles, the cross or other pieces of church furniture from their existing placement in the Sanctuary.Photographs may be taken before and after the wedding ceremony. Photographers should limit the amount of time for taking pictures after the service to 20 - 30 minutes. We do ask that the designated photographer respects the sanctity of the occasion and takes photographs during the actual wedding ceremony only from a stationary position at the rear of the sanctuary, without flash. Video taping of the ceremony is permissible provided that the camera is stationary for recording the service itself. The best location for this purpose is in the front corner of the Sanctuary that is not occupied by the organ.
Flowers, palms, greenery (etc.) may be placed on the communion table and on windowsills. Please see that no moisture comes in contact with the paraments or any wood surface. Please use clear plastic bases under all flower containers. Do not remove or turn the communion cloth around on the communion table. The use of aisle runners, rice or birdseed is not permitted.
The library on the second floor is available for the bridal party as a dressing room. The groom’s men may assemble downstairs in classroom #105. Please indicate on the application form whether or not you will need these additional rooms.
If the Bride and Groom so choose, some or all of the wedding flowers and greenery may be left for use in the worship service on the following Sunday. To do this, please circle the appropriate response on the application form and the church bulletin will announce your name and your gift of the flowers. (When your wedding takes place near a holiday, our Sanctuary will be decorated for the season. Please plan your decorations and flowers accordingly.)
No sticky tape of any kind is allowed on the brass candelabra, on the church pews or on any wood surface in the church. If candles are to be used in the windows, they must be enclosed in glass hurricane chimneys, supplied by the church. The bridal party must supply the candles (10" tapers are recommended). Please speak to our wedding coordinator to arrange for use of the chimneys.
A volunteer Wedding Coordinator will be happy to answer your questions about wedding arrangements at the church, and will also be present to assist you at your rehearsal and before your ceremony. Please contact Chairperson Mrs. Peggy Cranston at (703) 266-9744 once your request has been approved.
The bridal party/florist may only be guaranteed access to the church a maximum of two hours prior to the ceremony as there may be another wedding scheduled that day and the church may still be in use. For this reason, we require a 4-hour window between consecutive ceremonies and the church office can advise you if this applies to your selected date. If the reception is being held in the Fellowship Hall, your ceremony must begin no later than 4:00 p.m. as your bridal party and guests are required to vacate the premises by 9:00 p.m. to allow sufficient time for the room to be cleaned and prepared for its regular Sunday, or other weekday use.
Approved by the Session, October 26, 2006
Online forms referenced above may be printed, filled out, signed and mailed to the church. To receive the forms by mail, please contact our church office either by e-mail using the “Request Forms by Mail” link below or by calling 703-830-3175. Prior to submitting your application, the church office must be contacted for availability of dates.
