Weddings

The Wedding Coordinator is your main contact with the church for your needs as you prepare for your wedding day.  Her name and number are provided on her business card in the packet.  It is best to schedule an appointment with the Wedding Coordinator to start your special plans.  She is the church contact that is most qualified to answer wedding related questions.

Pastor.  If our pastor is performing your ceremony, it will be necessary for you to schedule a meeting at least two weeks prior to your wedding date.  Please contact the church office at 818-346-0820 to make an appointment. If you have opted to not have our pastor officiate the wedding, you must have approval prior to your wedding date.  All bridal couples should call and schedule an appointment with the Pastor to review their procedures of the ceremony.

Counseling. Although pre-marital counseling is not required, you may wish to participate.  Please contact the Pastor to arrange this at least one month before your wedding date.

Ceremony. A bride and groom may write their own ceremony, or use a standard ceremony such as the following:  

Opening: A wedding is that occasion when a man and a woman publicly proclaim their love and declare their commitment to each other.  By its very nature, it is both a solemn and a happy event.  For some of you gathered here this ceremony will prompt a flood of personal memories, for others it will set in motion dreams and aspirations.  For all of us it will be a sharing in a most intimate and love filled moment in the lives of two people that we know and appreciate.  But for ________ and ________, this ceremony seals and proclaims the love that has grown between them.

They are both pleased and honored that you have responded to their invitation to share these happy and sacred moments with them, and are prayerful that the blessing of God will be upon us all as we gather here.

Prayer:  O God our helper, source of infinite love, bless us with a sense of your presence as we gather here.  Keep us sensitive to the wonder of things that fill our days and give meaning to life.  Especially do we pray for your divine blessing on ________ and ________, who come here in this high moment of their lives.  Be near them as they make their promises to each other, that they may pledge their vows with deepest sincerity, knowing full well the meaning of the words they say.  And do grant us all a heightened sense of the joy of life because we share this moment with them.

Address to People:  Let us remember that marriage has been established for the welfare and happiness of people individually and of society as a whole.  It is a commitment of two people to each other, a commitment that sees the establishment of a new home.  But because our whole future as a society depends upon the quality of home life, this is not just a notable event in the life of these two individuals, but also in the larger life of humanity.  It is a private commitment to be sure, but it is one celebrated before witnesses, and before God.  Because we believe this, we continue this service with reverence, joy and praise, believing that great heights of fulfillment can be achieved by this man and woman and by all of us as a caring community.

Question of Intention:  ________and ________.  Do you freely choose to bind yourselves together in marriage?  Will you help your love to grow?  Will you receive into your own understanding the other's feelings, thoughts, and intentions?  Will you be partners with God, the source of all creativeness, to see that your lives reveal a quest for truth, beauty and goodness?  Will you at all times be faithful to and honor your love?  (I will)

Address to the Couple: Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.  A good marriage must be created.  It is never being too old to hold hands.  It is remembering to say, “I love you” at least once each day.  It is never going to sleep angry, or taking the other for granted.  The courtship shouldn't end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years.  It is having mutual values and common objectives.  It is standing together facing the world.  It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.   It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.  It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating your gratitude in thoughtful ways.  It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo, or for the wife to have the wings of an angel.  It is not looking for perfection in each other, rather it is cultivating flexibility, patience and a sense of humor.  It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.  It is giving each other an atmosphere where each can grow.  It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.  It is establishing a relationship where the independence is equal, the dependence is equal, and the obligation is reciprocal.  It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.  Because to love is one thing.  To be loved is something.  To love and be loved is everything.

Vows:  And now as an expression of your willingness to engage in these vows and obligations, I ask you to join right hands and speak your vows.  In the presence of God and before these people, I ________ take you________ to be my wife/husband.  To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, to love and to cherish and to honor our love as long as we both shall live.

Exchange of rings:  I give you this ring, as a symbol of the vows that we have made this day and as a symbol of all we will share together.

Pronouncement of Marriage:

Unity Candle:

Presentation of Newlyweds:

Note:  Couples may like to have family and/or friends participate in the ceremony.  This could be done by reading scripture, poetry, songs or statements of their own design.  

Wedding Day Arrivals.  A bridal party dressing room is available in the sanctuary.  This may be occupied up to two hours before your scheduled wedding time and must be vacated within one hour of the completion of your wedding ceremony.  When leaving, this area should be left in an orderly and clean manner.  Additionally, the groom's party may use another area for changing and dressing if necessary.  Most men come already prepared however.

The Wedding Package. Your wedding package contains:  The wedding coordinator, Pastor, Musician, runner, candles, pew bows, seating for up to 200, the rehearsal and the sanctuary for your wedding.  The cost for a wedding in the Sanctuary is: $800.00; the cost for a reception lasting four hours in Harter Hall is: $600.00.  The cost for smaller weddings in the Garden or Chapel for up to 25 people is $450.00 and receptions in Smith Lounge will cost $400.00.   A charge for a simple office wedding is $200.00.

Deposits.  There will be a $200.00 non-refundable deposit collected at the time of booking for your wedding ceremony.     If you are using our facilities for your reception, there will be an additional $200.00 non-refundable deposit for the hall.  If you are utilizing our kitchen facilities there is a cleaning/security deposit of $150.00 as well.  After we have received your deposit, the wedding coordinator will mail a confirmation letter to you.

Fee Payment. Your final payment must be received at least thirty days before your ceremony.  Please make checks payable to Woodland Hills Community Church.   If the payment is received less than 30 days prior to the wedding date, it must be made in cash.

Alcoholic Beverages. Champagne or wine service  is acceptable as long as the wedding party is holding their reception on the property.  No other alcoholic beverages are permitted.

Hours of Operation.  In response to neighbor requests, we have agreed to have all premises cleared by 11:00 p.m.  There will be no extension of your event allowed beyond those scheduled hours.  It is good to know that most weddings last no longer than one hour and when booking a reception, the reception is booked for a four hour block of time.

Staffing Your Events.  We can help obtain and welcome your outside staff (DJ, florists, photographers, etc.)  But names and responsibilities of each member of your outside service people should be provided to the wedding coordinator, so that she can better oversee the coordination and flow of your wedding.  Flowers should not be delivered more than two hours prior to your wedding.

Wedding Licenses.  The Bride and Groom are responsible for obtaining their marriage license from the designated courthouse, the closest of which is located at 4601 Van Nuys Boulevard in the city of Van Nuys.  The church does not issue marriage licenses; however, we can provide information on obtaining all services for your wedding.  Please note that the wedding license must be in the hands of the wedding coordinator just before the ceremony.

The Wedding Rehearsal. The wedding coordinator will schedule a rehearsal with each bridal party.  All efforts will be made to meet the needs of the bride and groom's timetable; however, this event should not exceed two hours total.  Please encourage your bridal parties to be on time.  Rehearsals typically take place the night before your wedding day.

Music.  The Pastor and the Musician will be glad to discuss music selections with you.  If you have any special request for music, please be sure to let the wedding coordinator know one month in advance, so she can contact our musician or provide proper sound personnel.  If sheet music is needed, you will be notified and it will be your responsibility to provide same to the coordinator.  A cassette tape player or CD player is available within the sanctuary.    If you desire a soloist, we encourage your to supply your own, but if you would like some recommendations, we can provide that as well through the coordinator.

Photography and Video. We ask that all professional photographs and videos are taken from the choir loft or the back of the church.  We ask that flash pictures be limited.  After the ceremony, the wedding party may return for 45 minutes of pictures.