weddings

We are glad you are interested in using Oakville Church as the location for your wedding.

Oakville Presbyterian Church has a long history of ministry to the folks in the mid Willamette Valley and through its mission outreach throughout the world. We are first and foremost a Christian Church that is Biblically based and Christ-Centered. Therefore, all weddings held here are designed within a Christian context.

However, those who desire to have their weddings here do not have to be a member of this congregation, nor are they required to profess the Christian faith.

There's a wise saying, "A wedding is but a day, a marriage is a lifetime." Weddings involve a lot of preparation. However, preparing for your married life together is much more important than preparing for the wedding. Our role is to help you with both of these. See the Marriage Preparation Policy that Reverend Carpenter has signed and has committed himself to abide by. Please read it carefully. The amount of time and effort you put into preparing for your marriage relationship will make a difference in the quality of your married life. Plan on scheduling four to five pre-marital counseling appointments between now and your wedding date. (These can be arranged to take place Tuesday - Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.)

We are pastors whose ministries include preparation for and care of marriages. In order to establish and nurture healthy marriages, we will endeavor to adequately prepare those who come to us seeking to be married. We will invest our best skills and resources so that we and they may discern their readiness and ability to enter and continue this sacred relationship.

Those intending to be married need and deserve a time to earnestly reflect upon and examine their intention. We take seriously our responsibility to provide ample opportunity for such preparation. We recognize that each pastor's style of offering the time for examination and reflection will vary. We recognize further that pastors have responsibility before God to make conscientious choices about how this policy should apply to a particular case.

By signing this policy, we do not imply that we agree on doctrine. In fact, we have many profound differences. However, we have consulted together and have agreed to strongly recommend that the following elements be included in marital preparation:

We stand ready to continue to help marriages grow after the wedding. We will seek to develop new resources and publicize existing resources dedicated to preparing for and strengthening marriage.

By God's grace, we commit ourselves to implement this policy, and to continue to work together, in order to do our part to support marriages in our community.

Guidelines & Procedures:

Scheduling: Please plan well in advance for use of the church. The church has sanctuary seating capacity of 150, comfortable seating for 135. We suggest that dates be reserved at least six months in advance. No weddings are scheduled during Holy Week, on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day. Facilities must be vacated by 6:00 pm on Saturday evenings in order to clean and prepare for Sunday Worship Service.
Officiating: Normally, the Pastor of the church will officiate at all weddings. However, with the permission of the Pastor and Session, another active or retired Christian minister may conduct the ceremony. The minister chosen would need to abide by the "Community Marriage Preparation Policy." If this pastor is unable to provide pre-marital counseling, another counselor or pastor can provide these services.
Music & Ceremony Variations: A wedding is a service of worship. All music and activities taking place during the ceremony will be in keeping with an attitude of worship. If you have music, you will need to make arrangements well in advance and work out the music plans with the Pastor and the Wedding Hostess. They can give you names and phone numbers of organists/pianists.
Decorations: Decorations should be in keeping with an atomsphere of worship. Simplicity is encouraged. No thumbtacks, nails, or tape are to be used on church furnishings. No rice, bird seed, or confetti may be thrown inside the church or on outdoor steps and walkways. Furniture and floor should be protected from candle drippings. The Sanctuary and its furniture is a place of worship and must be treated with respect and care.
Photographs: No flash pictures may be taken during the ceremony. Non-flash pictures taken quietly by the photographer from the rear of the church are permitted. (The ceremony begins as soon as the greeting is given and concludes when the recessional begins.) The couple may choose to have extensive photographs taken before or immediately after the ceremony. Video cameras must be stationary and in unobtrusive areas.
Wedding Reception: If the Fellowship Hall is desired for the reception or rehearsal dinners, please contact the Reception Hostess as soon as the wedding has been approved. She will go over the fees with you, what is available to use, will arrange for the set up, and help you with what you need.[The Reception Hostess fee is $120 and the use of the Fellowship Hall for a reception is typically $500.]

There is no smoking in or near the church buildings and no alcoholic beverages are permitted on the grounds or in the buildings. It is the responsibility of the wedding couple to see that these policies are carried out.

Wedding Fees and Contributions:

Required fees are as follows:

Sanctuary Use Fee	$300
Refundable Damage Deposit	$200
Questionnaire Processing Fee (For premarital counseling with Pastor John)	$35
Sound Technition	$50
Pastor*	$300
Wedding Hostess**	$120

* Pastor fee includes four Counseling sessions, Rehearsal, and Ceremony.

** Wedding hostess Fee includes Initial meeting, Rehearsal, and Ceremony.

Once a wedding is approved, the date of the wedding is officially reserved upon receipt of a non-refundable down payment of $100.

The cleaning deposit will be returned in full, provided that the facilities are free from damage and are not unusually littered, (i.e. buildings and grounds are free of cigarette butts, gum, and other trash; and carpet and other surfaces do not need extensive cleaning.

The Wedding Hostess will go over the fees with you and let you know who to make the checks out to.