Weddings at Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church

Weddings at Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church are open to both members and non-members who meet the legal requirements for marriage in the state of Pennsylvania. Ministers of the church, staff or other professional clergy approved by Old Pine Church and the state of Pennsylvania, may perform the wedding service. The pastor of Old Pine Street Church is not normally available for non-member weddings.

The Christian marriage ceremony is a service of worship before God.Reverence shall be expected on the part of all present, and the service shall be planned in advance with the presiding minister. All aspects of the wedding service should reflect this spirit of Christian worship and the inclusion of any secular or military aspects in the service are not permitted. However, we also appreciate that each wedding should be unique and special. Therefore, the officiating minister should discuss with you, your ideas for a suitable ceremony in advance of the wedding rehearsal date so he/she may consult with the church. The rehearsal is not the time for last minute surprises.

All music used in a wedding should be appropriate for the worship of God and should direct attention to God. Secular music selections, including sentimental favorites of the wedding party, should be reserved for the reception and are not appropriate for the wedding ceremony.

The church Director of Music shall ordinarily be organist for all weddings and the Director of Music must approve all music to be used during the wedding ceremony. If the Director of Music is not available for the wedding, only a church approved alternate may serve as organist for your wedding. The same guidelines and rules for types of music permitted also apply to any guest organist and/or musician.

Musical instruments in the church sanctuary include a rebuilt, two manual, twenty-three rank 1892 J. W. Steere & Sons tracker pipe organ and a Boston grand piano.

SCHEDULING PROCEDURES and OTHER POLICIES

Weddings are scheduled through the Parish Administrator. The date and occasion must be cleared with the Pastor, the Director of Music, and approved by the Session (the governing body of the church).

Weddings on or near holidays and Sunday weddings are generally not approved.

Non-members holding their wedding at Old Pine Church are required to use the services of our wedding coordinator. The coordinator is to assist and answer questions during the planning period and is present at both the rehearsal and the wedding to assist with details of the service. All meetings with the church wedding coordinator for scheduling, visiting the sanctuary, etc. are by appointment only.

Please have your officiating pastor contact the pastor of Old Pine Street Church as soon as possible to discuss worship and space issues relative to your wedding service.

The rehearsal is scheduled for one hour and should start and end on time. It is important to plan the rehearsal at a time when all of the participants can be present.

Those attending the wedding are NOT permitted to take pictures during the ceremony. Only official photographers are permitted to take photos during the wedding ceremony, following these guidelines:

* Flash photography may be used by the professional only during the processional and with the consent of the presiding minister. After the processional, only natural light may be used and the photos must be taken from the rear of the sanctuary.

*Video photography is permitted only if the camera operator remains in a stationary position in the balcony.

In order to provide a reverent setting for the marriage ceremony, the service will be conducted in front of the communion table and not on the chancel platform. No furniture in the church sanctuary may be removed or moved elsewhere, except by the church staff and only by prior consultation with the church office.

No alcoholic beverages or smoking are permitted and nothing should be thrown (rice, confetti, bird seed, flower petals) or any item that would litter church property. Persons using the facilities must assume full responsibility for any damage caused by carelessness both inside the church building and in the churchyard. Please respect the church and what it represents.

The church is normally available two hours before and two hours after the time of the scheduled wedding, subject to prior approval."mso-spacerun: yes;"> Please check with the Wedding Coordinator.

WEDDING FEE SCHEDULE

Member of Old Pine Non-member

Sanctuary: Waived $1,200.

Wedding Coordinator: $200.

Organist:* $225. $225.

Custodian: $100. Included in Sanctuary fee

Duffield Room: $150. $150.

$600 of the sanctuary fee is due with the application form in order to tentatively reserve your chosen date, until church Session approval. The balance is due by the evening of the wedding rehearsal, in addition to all other fees (organist, soloist, etc.) Checks are to be made out to: “Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church.”

*The organist’s fee includes a music selection consultation and the wedding service. Additional rehearsals with soloists or other musicians will require another additional $50. fee per rehearsal.

If a soloist or instrumentalist is desired, the Director of Music can suggest names of professional musicians in the area. he fees for these musicians will vary depending on the individual and the amount of music requested.

For additional questions, please contact the church office.