Wedding FAQs 

John 2:1&2   "...there was a wedding...and Jesus and His disciples...were                also invited to the wedding."

For your convenience we listed some of the most commonly asked questions abou weddings at First Assembly. For more questions, please call the office Monday, Thursday or Friday, from  9 am - 2 pm. 

Q: If I'm not a member of your church, may I still use the church to get married?                                                          A: Yes. We will never pressure you to become members or even attend.

Q: Is there a fee for using the church?                                                                                                                              A: There are fees for cleaning, etc.  Please call the office as posted above for a complete list.

Q: How many people will the church sanctuary hold?                                                                                                       A: It can hold up to 550 people.

Q: Does the pastor require premarital counseling?                                                                                                           A: No. We have one premarital counseling session on married life with the pastor and his wife available, if requested. This should be set up about a month before the wedding.

Q: Is the church a non-smoking facility?                                                                                                                            A: Yes, as well as a non-alcoholic facility.

Q: How soon should I reserve our wedding & rehearsal dates?                                                                                       A: As soon as you can.  We can "pencil" your date in, but you will need to pre-pay the deposit to hold the dates.

Q: When should we have the wedding rehearsal?                                                                                                             A: Most people schedule it the evening prior to the wedding – usually around 6:00-6:30 followed by a rehearsal dinner at a restaurant.

Q: Does the pastor or minister lead the wedding rehearsal?                                                                                            A: Though he is there to help, we prefer a wedding coordinator. This can be the bride, family, friend or hired person. Please let the pastor know beforehand who the person is, so he can help direct the wedding party to this individual.

Q: Who do we ask to the wedding rehearsal?                                                                                                                   A: Normally, both parents (and grandparents) of the bridal couple, entire wedding party, techs and minister.  

Q: Can we use real candles at our wedding?                                                                                                                     A: Yes, as long as they are guaranteed drip-less and placed safely.

Q: What about music?                                                                                                                                                        A: We can supply qualified sound techs for a nominal fee. Usually one tech is all you need. We also have musicians and/or singers you may hire if you want "live" music versus CDs. Check with the office for fees and availability.

Q: How will your techs know when to play what song?                                                                                                     A:  Print an "order of ceremony" for the techs (click onto this link for a template you may use). If you have singing, request the soloist to ask the techs for a voice/sound check. If using CDs, label them with numbers according to the order. Have your name marked clearly on each so you may have the CDs returned to you after the wedding.

Q: Do we buy our own unity candle?                                                                                                                                  A: Yes. You will buy your dripless tapers and unity candle with candle holder. We have a small table to place it on, or you can supply a table or stand. Don’t forget your lighter.

Q: When do I (or the wedding coordinator) give the checks to the tech, minister and musicians?                                  A: At rehearsal.  

Q: Is there a place at the church for bride to get dressed?                                                                                             A: Yes. We have a large "Bride's Dressing Room" with spacious multi-stall restrooms nearby. Please check back in the near future to view photos of the room.    

Q: When should we have the minister sign the wedding certificate?                                                                                A: Give him the certificate at the rehearsal with the witnesses’ signatures. He will date it, sign it and mail it for you.

Q: Can I choose my own vows?                                                                                                                                          A: Yes. You need to submit them to Pastor to approve and incorporate into the ceremony no later than three weeks before your wedding date. You can memorize your vows, read them or repeat them after the minister.