Booking The Wedding
Congratulations on your engagement.
A wedding is one of the most sacred sacraments of the church and we honour the importance of that committment with you.
Our weddings can be booked through our parish office at 519-660-8177.
Each couple is given a total of two hours for decorating the church, the wedding ceremony, photographs and clean-up. This means that a couple with a wedding at 1:00 p.m. have the church from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for set-up, ceremony and take down. The wedding ceremony itself takes between 30 and 45 minutes. We apologize but we are unable to offer longer times.
We do not perform weddings on Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and some other dates.
If Rev. Murray or our organist is unavailable we will assume responsibility for securing the services of another minister or organist. Our organist is paid whether his/her services are used.
As from January 1, 2010, the cost for a wedding for non-parishioners is as follows: Restoration fee $1000; administration fee $500. This fee includes payment for the minister, organist, custodian, wedding coordinator and the use of the church. Cost for parishioners is a different amount. Please see the Minister for details.
The first step is to view the facilities. You are welcome to attend any Sunday service when you will be able to see the church in daylight and hear the organ being played. You may also arrange with our Minister to view the church at another time.
If you wish to go ahead to book your wedding at St. John the Divine, you will need to pay a non-refundable deposit to hold your date ($300.00 for a Friday or Saturday wedding) The balance is due two months before the wedding date. Cheques should be made payable to St. John the Divine Anglican Church, Arva.
Contact our parish to make your arrangements, and answer any questions. Rev. Wendy can guide you on any innovations you may consider in your service, and will advise you if we are, or are not able to accommodate them.
(Please note: if you are looking at our facilities calendar for church availability, this calendar may not be 100% up to date, so you should confirm dates with the Minister.)
Pre-marriage
Our church requires that couples being married here enroll in a Marriage Preparation Course provided by the Anglican Church of Canada. For more details please talk to Rev. Murray.
Music
If you have indicated a desire to have the church's organist (pianist) perform at your wedding you may contact the Music Minister Mr. Sean Kim directly before your wedding date to discuss suitable music selections for your ceremony.
The Music Minister’s office number is 519-660-8177.
Parish Address
On your invitations be sure to print the Church address as:
St. John the Divine Anglican Church
(At the corner of Medway Rd. and Richmond St.)
Arva, Ontario
Marriage License
If you are a member of the parish (attending a minimum of six months), your banns will be read in church and you will not need a marriage licence. If you are not a member, you will need to obtain the appropriate marriage licence. Each couple needs to provide the church with the bride & groom’s father’s full name and the bride & groom’s mother’s full maiden names. The birth place (city and country) of each parent is also required for the marriage license. As we need the form to complete the church register for preparation of your ceremony, please bring the license and the balance of your fees to the church office two months prior to your wedding. Immediately after your wedding, we will mail your marriage license back to the government who will also register your marriage in their records.
Candles
The parish has two seven-candle candelabras. If you wish to use the candelabra, bring fourteen 12" tapers to the rehearsal. White candles photograph better than dark-coloured candles. Label the candles with your name, wedding date and time, and give them to the wedding host. He will set them up at the wedding. If you wish to perform the unity candle ceremony, you will need four additional tapers and a centre pillar candle (plus candle holders for the pillar and the two tapers that will stand beside the pillar). Also give these (all labelled) to the wedding host at the rehearsal. She will take care of lighting the candelabra before the service and she will put out a lighter for the unity ceremony if you perform it.
Order of Service
Some couples wish to have a printed order of service for guests to read. We do not provide this but can provide an outline of a typical order of service if you wish to print your own. Our wedding service is from the Book of Alternative Services.
Parking
We have ample parking to the side of the church.
Flowers
The wedding couple is responsible for providing flowers. Please check with the Minister as to set up times and availability of the Church.
Pew Bows
Are welcomed.
Church Decorations
There are some days when your wedding will have to accommodate decorations already in place in the church. For instance at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
Confetti etc.
We ask that you inform your guests not to throw confetti, rice or birdseed in or near the church.
Photography
We co-operate fully with your photographer, giving ample opportunity for good pictures. Please ask your photographer to speak to the minister before the ceremony. During the ceremony, only non-flash may be used. Videos are allowed with discretion.
Receptions
We do not provide receptions.
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