Word of Life
Community Church

Wedding Information for Word of Life Community Church

SCHEDULING YOUR WEDDING

The first step is to get your wedding on our church calendar. Please contact our Events Coordinator as soon as you determine a date. We will tentatively schedule your wedding date until you meet with our minister. Following your first meeting the date will be made firm and a non-refundable scheduling fee of $50.00 is due at this time.
Normally, our minister officiates at all weddings. He may require pre-marital counseling. If another clergyperson participates in the ceremony, it must be with the approval and by the invitation of our minister.

Friday night or Saturday afternoon weddings are preferred. A Saturday night wedding should be arranged only in cases of extreme necessity.

THE MARRIAGE LICENSE

No wedding can be solemnized without a Marriage License. This is one detail that cannot be overlooked. There is a 3 day waiting period so you are encouraged to get the license early. Don’t get it too early, though. The license expires after 60 days. It must be given to the minister no later than the rehearsal.

PLANNING YOUR WEDDING

Wedding Coordinator:
The bride and groom must provide their own wedding coordinator. Our wedding consultant will be available to answer questions.

Seating Capacity:
Our sanctuary can comfortably seat 395 guests.

Music:
The church organist/pianist is usually available and should be engaged as soon as possible. The bride should consult with the organist/pianist and wedding consultant regarding suitable music which is in good taste for the sacred occasion. To engage your own organist/pianist, approval by our minister is required.

If you will require more than one microphone or will play pre-recorded music, you will need to engage our sound technician.

Flowers and Decorations:
Whether your wedding will be simple or elaborate, all flowers and decorations are to be provided by you. Decorations for pews should be attached with clips provided by your florist.
Weddings scheduled during holiday seasons of the church will need to use the decorations that are “in place” at the time.

Candles:
Our church has two brass candelabras, each requiring 9 candles plus 2 brass lighters. Additional candelabras may be rented from a supplier. You will need to provide your own candles. They are to be 15 inch dripless tapers. An extra set will be needed if you light them for your pictures. The candles may be lit before the guests arrive or you may choose to designate candle lighters.

Many couples choose to use a Unity Candle. This too must be provided by you.

Photographs:
Flash pictures are not allowed during the ceremony. Available light pictures are acceptable but should be taken as unobtrusively as possible. We encourage couples to consider having their posed wedding pictures taken before the ceremony. This is when you and your flowers will be “freshest.” Also, your guests will not have to wait for you to get to the reception.

Video and Audio Taping:
Your wedding may be video-taped or digitally photographed. We suggest that a tripod be used. No extra lighting may be used. No wireless microphones are to be used. You may plug directly into our sound system which is equipped to play audio tapes and compact disks. Please clear details with our minister.

THE REHEARSAL

A rehearsal is necessary to enable the participants to know in advance where they are to be and what they are to do. The entire wedding party will need to attend, including ushers and parents. It is required that all involved be on time. The minister, organist, wedding consultant, sound technician and security person will allot one full hour. Your wedding coordinator and our wedding consultant will direct the wedding party and mothers to the sanctuary door at the proper time.

WEDDING DAY

Arrive at the church early, at least an hour even if you are dressing in advance and having pictures taken after the ceremony. We suggest that pictures before the ceremony be scheduled two hours before the wedding begins. If you are dressing at the church, you will want to allow ample extra time. Rooms are available for the bride, groom and their attendants to dress at the church.

• The bride must notify the wedding consultant regarding all deliveries.
• The use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs is strictly forbidden on church property.
• No rice, confetti or birdseed is allowed inside or outside the building.

RECEPTION

Our Fellowship Hall will accommodate up to 248 guests. The bridal party and guests should vacate the Fellowship Hall within three hours after the start of the reception. If the Fellowship Hall is left as found, the $100.00 deposit will be refunded.

The church provides:

Tables and chairs (to be set up and put away by help provided by bride and groom).

• Punch bowl
• Silver tea service
• Two lace tablecloths

Bride and groom provide:

• All decorations, flowers, candles, cake, punch and ice, coffee, cream, sugar, nuts, candy, napkins, paper plates, cups and tablecloths for round tables, if desired.
• People to cut and serve cake, pour punch and coffee, keep nut and candy dishes filled.
• Someone to have guest book present at reception for those who failed to sign in the sanctuary.
• Someone to transport flowers and candles from the sanctuary to the reception, if desired.
• Two or more people to receive gifts and cards at sanctuary and possibly at reception.

People to take home all decorations, food and gifts at end of reception.

If you wish to have a buffet or sit down dinner it is the responsibility of the bride and groom to hire catering service.

FINANCIAL MATTERS

The following fees are to cover the expenses and to compensate the time given to your wedding and reception. All fees are due and payable two weeks before the wedding.

Word of Life Community Church
4927 N.E. 55th Ave.
Portland, OR 97218
(503) 284-7145

TELEPHONE NUMBERS

• Events Coordinator Anita Carlson(503) 284-7153
• Minister Randy Pearson(503) 493-0450
• Organist/Pianist Marguerite Penner(503) 281-9645
• Wedding Consultants
  • Joanne Krieger(503) 252-6623
  • Nancy Allen(503) 284-1548