Wedding Information

With a Pastor from CROSSROADS CHURCH

Christian marriage is one of the most significant, God-given privileges attainable. Therefore, your wedding should reflect dignity, joy and reverence in every detail. Your wedding ceremony is not a show to impress friends. It is a testimony before God and those dear to you of your desire to live and grow together in the Lord. This WEDDING GUIDE has been prepared for your assistance in planning your wedding.

I. PREMARITAL COUNSELING Since it is our purpose to prepare couples for marriage as well as to perform the ceremony which unites them in marriage, the church requires all couples to spend a minimum of three (3) counseling sessions to discuss various aspects of marriage and life together. These sessions will be held with the officiating pastor or with another trained counselor, pending the couple’s permission. At least one additional session with the Wedding Director will be required to plan the ceremony. These sessions are arranged at your convenience when you first contact the pastor and should begin a minimum of three (3) months prior to the wedding date. A background information form is requested from a couple that asks about each person’s faith history. The pastor does not officiate at weddings in which one person is a born-again believer and the other person is not a believer. Changes and situations not covered in the above policy must have prior approval from the officiating pastor.

II. YOUR WEDDING PLANS This is a joyful time for you and your fiancé. It is a time for commitment not only to each other but also to God. Since you are committing your lives to each other in the presence of God, it should be a ceremony that is fitting and honoring to the Lord. The policies and instructions of CROSSROADS CHURCH are set forth in this way to help make your wedding a worshipful experience.

III. OTHER ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST Wedding Director: A Wedding Director from CROSSROADS CHURCH is assigned to every wedding at CROSSROADS CHURCH. The Wedding Director assists the wedding party and the officiating pastor in the details of the wedding ceremony, provides resources upon request and assists at the rehearsal and wedding ceremony. The Wedding Director will contact you to set up an initial consultation. The fee for the Wedding Director is the responsibility of the wedding party (see Wedding Fees sheet). Music: Your wedding will be a Christian wedding and the music should reflect Christian values. Since the wedding ceremony is uniquely personal and special to the bride and groom, the music should provide you an opportunity to testify of your love and devotion to one another and to the Lord. The music is a very important part of the ceremony and needs to be carefully planned and coordinated with the ceremony. The officiating pastor must approve the entire service, including the music. Photographs: Flash photography or special lighting may not be used during the portions of the service in which there is speaking. Procession and recession photos with flash are permitted. The bride and groom are to inform the photographer about this. It is also recommended that you include a statement indicating this in your program/bulletin for your guests. Video Taping: Video recording shall be planned in consultation with the Wedding Director. Sound System: The church sound system is available for your wedding. It will be the responsibility of the bride and groom to communicate technical needs to the Wedding Director. A CROSSROADS sound technician must be scheduled for most weddings; arrangements for a sound technician will be made through consultation with the Wedding Director. Decorations: All decorations need to be pre-approved by the Wedding Director. It is the responsibility of the wedding party to remove all decorations immediately following the wedding. Name(s) of the person(s) responsible for removing the decorations should be provided to the Wedding Director in advance. Gifts: All gifts must be removed from the church immediately following the wedding. It is recommended that you assign someone to be responsible for the care of gifts while at the church, and for transporting them after the ceremony. Alcohol and smoking: Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on church property; smoking is permitted in designated areas outside the building. Send-off: No rice or birdseed is to be thrown on the property. We suggest bubbles as an alternative to throwing rice or birdseed. Nursery: The church nursery can be available for weddings and receptions. The wedding party must supply nursery workers. Arrangements should be made with the Wedding Director.

Required Fees

Fee	Amount	Date Due	Notes
Damage Deposit	$250	Due upon scheduling of church	This deposit is returned the week following the event, providing there is no damage done.
Wedding Director	$100/ wedding only$150/ wedding and reception	Due 2 weeks prior to wedding	§ Liaison between CROSSROADS CHURCH and couple§ Assist couple in planning wedding ceremony§ Coordinates CROSSROADS CHURCH personnel for wedding§ Collects/distributes fees§ Attends rehearsal and wedding
PREPARE Inventory	$35	Due at first counseling session	§ Life Innovations, Inc§ Offers a $50 rebate on MN Marriage license
Building Use	Refer to building fee schedule	Due 2 weeks prior to wedding	§ Building use contract must be signed and returned, with the deposit, upon scheduling of the church.
Officiating Pastor	$175	Due 2 weeks prior to wedding	§ Includes 3 counseling sessions§ Officiates ceremony
Sound Technician	$50	Due 2 weeks prior to wedding	§ Required if using prerecorded music or more than one vocalist.§ Other services are available for an additional fee per contract with CROSSROADS Audio Visual Evangelism (CRAVE).

RATES FOR ROOMS:

Great Room (Ceremony)……….. $400* Community Room (Reception) 100 Kitchen……………………………… 100**

Bridal Area…………….…………… 0

Nursery………………………………. 0 *$100 For regular attendees**Fee waived for regular attendees Regular attendees are persons who consistently attend worship services at CROSSROADS CHURCH.*Certain exceptions may be made at the pastor's discretion.

Supplemental Fees

Sound Technician/ Videographer	Per Contract with CROSSROADS Audio Visual Evangelism (CRAVE)	Due 2 weeks prior to wedding	§ Please discuss additional technology needs with the Wedding Director.
Instrumentalists*	$100	Due 2 weeks prior to wedding	§ Confer with couple on music selection§ Attend and play at rehearsal and wedding
Vocal Soloist*	$100	Due 2 weeks prior to wedding	§ Confer with couple on music selection§ Attend and sing at rehearsal and wedding
Wedding Programs	$20	Due 2 weeks prior to wedding	§ Microsoft Publisher Set-up and printing fee§ Paper must be provided by wedding couple 2 weeks prior to ceremony

*Refers to CROSSROADS CHURCH musicians, as arranged through the Wedding Director. Any other musicians participating in the wedding are the bridal couple’s responsibility to payor compensate.

Premarital Counseling Covenant

For couples planning to have their wedding with a Pastor from CROSSROADS CHURCH

A covenant is a binding agreement. It is our desire to not merely perform a wedding ceremony, but to prepare people for a lifetime of marriage. In order to best facilitate this, we require a minimum of three (3) counseling sessions with the pastor or another trained counselor. This includes the PREPARE Inventory computer profile of the couple, which is to be paid by the couple at the first counseling session.

Also, since it is our desire as a church to honor God with all our ministries, including weddings, we have here outlined some of the responsibilities of the couple that we feel will best honor and represent our Lord. This covenant also represents our desire to serve you, not only in your wedding, but also in your spiritual growth as individuals and as a couple. It assures you of having the best start possible for your marriage. Any questions or hesitations you may have should be directed to the officiating pastor. Please read over these items carefully, then sign and date the sheet as indication of your willingness to complete the covenant. Return this sheet to the Wedding Director. Thank you. 1. We will read and follow the CROSSROADS CHURCH WEDDING GUIDE. 2. We will be on time and prepared for each counseling session. 3. We will attend each counseling session with an honest and open heart. 4. We will keep ourselves sexually pure before God and each other during the time of our engagement and counseling. 5. We will regularly attend church together. 6. We will faithfully seek to honor each other as we prepare ourselves for a lifetime together.

Bride: ___________________________________ Date _______________

Groom: __________________________________ Date _______________

Thank you for your cooperation!

Contract and Rules for Use of CROSSROADS CHURCH

1 You are responsible for reading and signing this contract prior to the event. All arrangements for use and all payments should be made through the Wedding Director. 2 You may decorate tastefully, in consultation with the Wedding Director. All areas used should be left as you found them. 3 The kitchen refrigerator and microwave are available for use if the kitchen is rented. It is expected that the kitchen will be left in the condition in which it was found. All tableware, linens and paper products will be supplied by the bride and groom. 4 There are to be NO alcoholic beverages on the church property. Smoking is permitted only in designated areas outside the building. 5 Any beverage or food spilled is to be cared for promptly. 6 All food and decorations are to be removed by the responsible persons before leaving the premises. All trash should be removed to the dumpster. 7 Use of candles must be pre-approved by the Wedding Director. 8 You are responsible for any damages to the church property or equipment. 9 A $250.00 damage deposit shall be due at the time the wedding is booked. The Wedding Director will refund the deposit amount 1 week after the wedding, upon satisfactory inspection of the building. 10 All fees are to be paid in full two (2) weeks prior to the date of the Wedding. Each service rendered will require an individual payment submitted to the Wedding Director for distribution. I have read and agree to the contract rules and fees for use of facilities of CROSSROADS CHURCH.

Rooms we plan to Use ______________________________________________________

Signature______________________________________________ Date______________ …………………………..

For Wedding Director’s Use Only…………………………Amount of Deposit______________

Date received___________by_______________

Fees (in full) due on____________Received_______________by_______________ ………………………….

Tear-off Receipt…………………………Bride/Groom: ________________________________________________________ Amount of Deposit____________

Date received___________by_______________ Fees (in full) due on_________________

Background Information - Bride

Please complete and return to the Wedding Director prior to first counseling session.

Name: _______________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________ _______________________________________ Zip: __________________________

Phone Number: _______________________ Birth Date: _______________________

Occupation: ___________________________ Phone: _________________________

Education: ____________________________________________________________

How long have you attended CROSSROADS CHURCH? _______________________

Are you a member of another church? ______________________________________

Have you been married before? __________Widowed or Divorced?_______________

Does your family approve of this marriage? __________________________________

If divorced, please respond to the following: When were you divorced? ______________________________________________

What were the circumstances for your divorce? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What steps did you take to attempt reconciliation? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Do you have children? _________________

If so, explain their attitude about your marriage: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

Has your former spouse remarried? _______________________________________

Tell about your family (parents, brothers, sisters, where you grew up, etc.)church background and conversion experience: Family: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Church and spiritual experiences: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Conversion experience (when and where did you become a Christian?) ______________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Background Information - Groom