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Wedding Planning Information

We are very pleased that you wish to be married in the Congregational Church of Hollis, and we want to be as helpful as possible in your understanding of and the preparation for this joyous event.

The wedding ceremony is an act of worship. By placing marriage within the framework of the church’s worship, a civil act is thereby filled with religious meaning. And by careful preparation, your wedding day — and your marriage — can be a creative and happy event as you stand together before God, aware of and seeking God’s will throughout your lives. To that end, the church offers its support, its concern, and its blessing.

Please contact the church office far enough in advance to preclude any conflicts in scheduling a date for your wedding ceremony. The Church Administrator will then have you contact the pastor to confirm the wedding date and schedule a time to meet with him in order to engage in a conversation about marriage, discuss details relating to your wedding ceremony, and become better acquainted.

Other arrangements that may be required:

ORGANIST:

The church’s organist, Ed Scibilia, has right of first refusal to play for church weddings. As you begin your wedding planning, please contact him directly (603-888-8003) to plan your wedding music. The organist should also be aware of soloists and/or instrumentalists who may be part of your plans.

SOLOISTS/INSTRUMENTALISTS:

Soloists, instrumentalists, and special music must be approved by the pastor before firm arrangements can be made. If you want other musicians to play at your wedding, they must be present at the rehearsal. You may be asked to bring a copy of any secular music you wish to use in the service.

VISITING CLERGY:

Special situations arise when clergy in addition to the pastor on staff at the Hollis church may be involved as officiants or assistants. This requires the approval of the pastor of the Congregational Church of Hollis.

If the approved visiting clergy person is performing the ceremony and the pastor of the Congregational Church is not available to co-officiate, an additional fee of $100 will be charged for the services of the Deacon who will open the church and assist with lights, heat, and sound system.

PHOTO/VIDEO POLICY:

Photographers/videographers may use a flash during the processional and recessional only. During the ceremony, they must use existing light and are to remain in one place to take pictures.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS:

· All appointments in the Meetinghouse are there for a purpose and should not be moved about or removed for wedding ceremonies.

· Throwing rice or confetti on church premises is not permitted. These are difficult to clean up and can be a safety hazard.

· Occasionally couples will make use of a wedding consultant. However, wedding consultants have no part in the planning of the wedding service, the rehearsal, or conducting the wedding. All of the wedding planning is done with the pastor.

· Decorating the Meetinghouse needs to be done in such a way as to ensure that paint is not marred or scratched. You will need to request that your florist use pew bouquet holders if you wish to place bouquets on the pew ends. Thumbtacks, nails, screws, or tape of any kind may not be used. The meetinghouse will be opened one hour prior to the time of the wedding service.

· If you use an aisle runner, it should be 50 feet long.

· The time for the rehearsal and wedding will be set with the pastor. Sometimes more than one rehearsal or wedding is scheduled for a particular day, so it is important that rehearsals and weddings begin promptly on time. Be certain that everyone in your wedding party is aware of this.

· If Unity candles are used, please arrange for a member of the wedding party to take these immediately after the service as the church cannot be responsible for their storage after the ceremony.

WEDDING FEES:

The Church Council has prepared the following list of fees for use of building and services:

Pastor $300.00

Use of Meetinghouse $500.00

Deacon (if pastor is unavailable and visiting clergy used) 100.00

Organist $150.00

Fees should be paid by the time of the wedding rehearsal in order to avoid confusion on the day of the ceremony. The pastor’s fee is to be paid directly to the pastor (The Rev. Larry Smith); the organist’s fee is to be paid directly to the organist (Edward J. Scibilia). Use of building fees are payable to “The Congregational Church of Hollis” and also should be given to the pastor by rehearsal time. All expenses and fees are adjustable for situations where financial need dictates as approved by the Church Council.

Additional fees for optional items:

Hardy Parish Hall (including kitchen) $100.00

LICENSE INFORMATION

1. The marriage license for a wedding to be held in the State of New Hampshire must be applied for by both parties at any town/city hall (Clerk’s Office) in New Hampshire. Each party must: show a form of identification such as a driver’s license … will need to know the full names of parents and where they were born (state or country) … and if previously married will need to show a certified death certificate or a certified divorce decree. There is a charge of $45.00. for the application and an additional charge of $12.00 for a certified copy of the wedding license that is mailed to the applicants after the wedding has been performed and the minister has signed and returned the license to the town clerk’s office in the town in which it was issued.

2. The license is available to the applicants on the same day of application and is good for 90 days from the date of application.

3. The license should be brought to the church/other location at the time of the rehearsal (or earlier) and given to the minister.

The Congregational Church of Hollis, UCC

3 Monument Square

Hollis, NH 03049

Phone: 603-465-7797

www.hollischurch.org

Rev. 3/2009

Before you complete and submit this form, you must contact the church office and the pastor to be sure both the building and the minister are available on your wedding date.

WEDDING INFORMATION

The Congregational Church Of Hollis (United Church of Christ)

3 Monument Square, Hollis, New Hampshire 03049

Phone: 603-465-7797

Today's Date_________________________

Date and Time of Rehearsal________________________________________________________________

Date and Time of Ceremony_____________________________________________Day of Week:___________________

Bride

Full Name____________________________________________________________

Address and Zip__________________________________________________________

Email_________________________________________________________

Phone____________________________________________________________

Age and Birth Date________________________________________________________

Birth Place (Town and State)____________________________________________________

Place of Work or Study______________________________________________________

Type of Work or Study_____________________________________________________

Is this your first marriage? If not, which?____________________________________________

Have you been baptized? If so, what church?________________________________________

Are you a member of a church?_________________________________________________

If so, what church? Where?____________________________________________________

Father's full name_________________________________________________________

Father’s address_________________________________________________________

Mother's full name________________________________________________________

Mother’s address (if different from above)_______________________________________________

Groom

Full Name____________________________________________________________

Address and Zip__________________________________________________________

Email____________________________________________________________________