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The First Steps
All prospective couples need to speak with the Rector (or designate) in order to initiate the wedding preparation process. The parish priest, either the Rector or an Assistant Priest, cannot agree to perform any marriage ceremony until he/she has met both of you and is satisfied that you are eligible for marriage. Under normal circumstances at least 60 days notice must be given before the marriage takes place.
If St. George’s is your church home, great! If not, it is important that we get to know each other. We invite you to come and experience our worship, fellowship and community events. Introduce yourselves to the clergy and people of the parish. As a couple, finding a church home is one way to build up your relationship and create support systems that will be life-giving to both of you.
After your initial contact with the Rector (or designate), you will be given the contact information for the Church Secretary. At this stage in the process, the Church Secretary will be able to help you with availability of potential dates, specific arrangements and wedding fees.
The Marriage of Divorced Persons
If either or both of you have been previously married plans for your wedding cannot be confirmed until the officiating priest has seen the Certificate(s) of Divorce.
Pre-marital and Pastoral Counseling
The canons (rules and regulations) of the Church require that each couple preparing for marriage in the Anglican Church must undergo pre-marital counseling. Clergy cannot marry couples who have not completed pre-marital counseling.
You will be required to attend three marriage preparation interviews. The first takes place when the marriage is arranged. The second interview will take place about six weeks before the wedding. The third interview will take place about a week before the wedding. In addition, you must attend a Marriage Preparation Seminar or counselling before marriage. You should plan to do this as soon as you have reserved the date for your wedding ceremony so that you can attend one before you get too caught up in taking care of all of the other details of your wedding.
If you should choose to work with a different pre-marital counselor (whether a priest or a therapist), you must provide their contact information to the clergy.
Wedding Policies and Guidelines
Scheduling
Weddings are normally scheduled between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm on weekdays and Saturdays. Sunday weddings may be scheduled only with permission from the Rector of the Church. Weddings are not normally scheduled during the season of Advent (the four weeks preceding Christmas), Lent (the forty days preceding Easter) or on major holidays.
The Officiating Priest and the Liturgy
All weddings at St. George’s Church will conform to the rules and practices of the Anglican Church of Canada. The vows exchanged will come from the authorized texts. It is normative that a priest of the St. George’s Church staff officiates at the ceremony. Other diocesan clergy are welcome to officiate, with the permission of the Rector of St. George’s. The participation of guest clergy will be determined by the officiating priest.
If you are working with an outside wedding consultant, please inform that person that s/he will not play an active role in the ceremony or the rehearsal.
Church Staff and Fees
A complete wedding fee schedule is available from the Church Secretary.
Music
The church organist, Dr. Gerald Manning, is normally available to play at all weddings, or will arrange for a competent substitute if he is unable to be present. However, if you wish to have someone other than our church organist play at your wedding, you must receive permission from the Rector of St. George’s. In a case such as this, the church organist still receives the regular fee. (This regulation complies with the Canadian College of Organists guidelines and is part of the organist's contract with St. George's Church.) The organist is not required to attend the wedding rehearsal.
If the wedding ceremony includes a soloist, the organist should be notified at least three weeks prior to the wedding concerning the selection of music and the scheduling of a rehearsal. Most weddings at St. George’s do not include a soloist, but if you wish our organist to provide a soloist for your wedding, please contact him as soon as possible so that he can make the arrangements. (Extra fees will apply.)
Choice of Music
We remind people being married in St. George's Church that a wedding is a religious ceremony; some music is not suitable, or may be inappropriate for the organ, although it may be fine for the reception. Playing recorded music over the P.A. system is also inappropriate for a wedding ceremony held in St. George’s. Listed below are appropriate and effective pieces. The opening phrase of each may be heard on a CD available ON LOAN from our church office. Unless indicated, these pieces may serve either as processionals or recessionals. Please inform the church (519-822-1366) or Dr. Manning (519-836-0153) of your selections by designating the item number.
Music for Wedding Processionals and Recessionals
1. Henry Purcell Trumpet Tune in D
2. Jeremiah Clarke Trumpet Voluntary (Prince of Denmark's March)
3. David Johnson Trumpet Tune
4. G.F. Handel Trumpet Processional
5. J.J. Mouret Rondeau ("Masterpiece Theatre")
6. Hymn Tune Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven (Hymn 30)
7. Henry Purcell Westminster Abbey (Hymn 145)
8. F.J. Haydn St. Anthony Chorale (processional only)
9. J.S. Bach In Thee Is Gladness (recessional only)
10. G.F. Handel Hornpipe (from “Water Music”)
11. S.S. Wesley Choral Song
12. F. Mendelssohn Wedding March from Midsummer Night's Dream
13. J. Pachelbel Canon in D
14. J.S. Bach Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
NOTE: During the signing of the register, the organist will play a quiet piece of music. Two examples are included at the end of the tape in case you want to select a particular piece for him to play. “Canon in D” by Pachelbel could also be used for a quiet processional if desired.
Carillon (optional – extra cost)
St. George's has a 36-bell carillon that can be played after the wedding for about 15-20 minutes. If you should decide to have the carillon played, the officiating priest will make arrangements to have one of our carillonneurs present on the day of your wedding.
Marriage Licence
A marriage licence must be obtained from the City Clerk's Office at City Hall not more than three months before the wedding. One of you must be a resident of the Province of Ontario for a minimum of three weeks prior to obtaining it. The licence, along with the fees, should be brought into the church office at least four weeks before the date of your wedding ceremony. Your wedding (or rehearsal) cannot take place if the licence and/or fees have not been received.
The Rehearsal
Rehearsals are directed by the officiating priest and will last approximately 45 minutes. The rehearsal time must be scheduled with input from the officiating priest, and then through the Church Secretary.
Photographs and videos of the rehearsal are discouraged. However, photographers and videographers are welcome to attend the rehearsal to receive instructions from the officiating priest.
Decorations and Flowers
Installations of artworks within the Church will not be removed for weddings.
Flowers will be discussed with the Church Secretary. Your financial contribution assists with the cost of the altar flowers only. If you wish to have additional flowers, such as baskets of flowers at the chancel steps or on the chancel rails, this must be arranged with your florist and billed directly to you.
If you wish to have bows for the pews, you will need to provide them yourselves.
If you wish to have candles down the main aisle, please see the list of fees as there is an additional cost for them.
The popular custom of lighting a Unity Candle is not part of the Anglican service.
For safety and aesthetic reasons, aisle runners are not permitted.
Please notify guests that throwing confetti, rice, birdseed or rose petals, or blowing bubbles or releasing balloons is not permitted, either inside or outside the Church.
Photography and Videotaping
You may engage a professional photographer to take pictures during the processions and the signing of the register. Because Christian marriage is a solemn and sacred rite, photography during the ceremony is strongly discouraged, and use of flash is strictly forbidden.
It is permissible to video tape the marriage ceremony, but the person doing the video taping must remain in the same place throughout the service, as directed by the officiating priest. This person should be in place fifteen minutes prior to the ceremony. If your videographer is a family friend, it is a good idea for him/her to come to the rehearsal so as to become familiar with the surroundings before the day of your ceremony.
Photographers and videographers are to contact the officiating priest prior to the wedding to ensure their understanding of this policy. Please note that all scheduling of photography must be cleared with the officiating priest.
Schedule of Fees for Weddings:
Church: $1275
or
Chapel: $1025
The dates and times for both the rehearsal and the wedding ceremony are not reserved until a deposit of $500 has been received – 75% of the deposit will be refunded if the wedding is cancelled at least 3 months prior to the date that has been reserved.
AT LEAST FOUR WEEKS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE WEDDING, A CHEQUE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FEES, ALONG WITH THE LICENCE, MUST BE BROUGHT INTO THE CHURCH OFFICE. (CHEQUES ARE TO BE MADE PAYABLE TO “ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH.”)
Optional Fees:
Carillonneur:
$50.00
Plays bells in tower as wedding party leaves at conclusion of ceremony.
Assisting Clergy:
Determined in consultation with assisting clergy.
Soloist:
As arranged with the church organist
Candles in Centre Aisle:
24 candles $125.00
12 candles $70.00
Contact Information:
St. George’s Church
99 Woolwich Street
Guelph, ON N1H 3V1
Phone: 519-822-1366
Fax: 519-822-7906
Rector:
The Rev. Ralph Blackman
rector@saintgeorge.ca
Priest Assistant:
The Rev. Canon Jean Mitchell
priestassistant@saintgeorge.ca
Organist:
Dr. Gerald Manning
musicdirector@saintgeorge.ca
Church Secretary:
Kelly Knox
office@saintgeorge.ca
Sexton:
Ron Leonard
sexton@saintgeorge.ca
Carillonneur:
Don Hamilton
dhamilton@rogers.com
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