Your Wedding at Pilgrim

PILGRIM UNITING CHURCH

12 Flinders Street, Adelaide

Ph: 08 8212 3295           Fax: 08 8212 9637

Thank you for considering Pilgrim Uniting Church as a venue for one of the most important days in your lives. Couples who marry in this lovely old National Trust building choose a traditional setting where the ceremony becomes a service of worship, conducted according to the rites of the Uniting Church in Australia.

SUMMARY OF STEPS

• Check availability of church
• Book the church
• Confirm church booking by paying deposit
• Contact the minister and arrange for meeting
• Complete Prepare form and arrange for Prepare Counselling
• Contact Organist and discuss music
• Complete planning and legal documents with minister
• Complete Prepare Course
• Confirm Order of Wedding Service and print
• Complete payment for church fourteen days prior to wedding
• Participate in wedding rehearsal
• Celebrate the day!

In planning your wedding there are some particular aspects that you need to take into consideration. The following few paragraphs will provide a guide as to what is expected if you eventually make Pilgrim Church your choice.

INITIAL ENQUIRIES

Your initial enquiry is made to the Administrator, in the Pilgrim Office. The Administrator will offer assistance regarding possible dates for your wedding and the process for planning for your wedding.

A tentative booking can be made with the Administrator, however the booking is not confirmed until a deposit is received. You need to book and confirm as early as possible.

MINISTERS

A minister associated with Pilgrim Church will celebrate your wedding, according to the rites of the Uniting Church in Australia. Any requests for participation by a visiting minister will be dealt with on an individual basis and will not change the remaining provisions set out in this brochure. You will need to contact the minister who marries you a minimum of two months before the service so that the necessary documentation and planning can be arranged.

PRE-MARRIAGE PROGRAM - PREPARE

The Church has a commitment to help you in establishing a rich and lasting relationship and requires all couples to participate in a pre-marriage Prepare program. 'Prepare' is a short, confidential program designed for couples who are planning to be married. Its aim is to identify and encourage those things, which build up a relationship and strengthen a marriage.

`Prepare' involves a couple in up to three interviews with a trained facilitator:

• once to fill in a questionnaire with your opinion on a number of issues,
• further meetings to go through the results of the questionnaire after they have been processed by computer.

The questionnaire used by 'Prepare' is NOT an examination or a compatibility test. There are no right or wrong answers. It is not a screening process to sort out who should be married. Its purpose is to help you understand more about yourself, your partner, and your relationship. All information is confidential between you and the facilitator, who has been carefully trained in this sensitive work.

THE MARRIAGE SERVICE

The marriage service is based on the rites of the Uniting Church and is planned in conversation with the Minister, who will discuss the flow of the service, its meaning and the vows that you will make to each other. This conversation will include discussion of hymns and readings as well as setting a time for the rehearsal.

ORDERS OF SERVICES

Some couples choose to provide an order of service, either through a professional printer, or using a word processor. If you inquire at the Pilgrim Church Office you can be shown a range of samples used in the past. The minister can assist you with questions concerning copyright and content when you are preparing your order of service. The minister needs to see the Order of Service before it is printed.

MUSIC

Pilgrim Church has a long musical tradition and many couples happily leave the choice of music to the organist who will also arrange a soloist or choir if required. If special musical arrangements are desired the organist should be consulted. The organist will have the final discretion.

Secular or 'pop' music and amplified or taped music is inappropriate within the traditional religious setting which Pilgrim Church offers. This could be used in the less formal atmosphere of the reception, if desired.

Hymns with the ceremony are optional and their use and choice should be discussed with the officiating minister and organist.

Organist:   Peter Kelsall   Telephone 8346 0684              

THE REHEARSAL

It is usual to have a rehearsal for the wedding and this takes place a day or two before the wedding date. It takes about half-an-hour and requires the attendance of the full bridal party and anyone else, such as readers, who are involved in the service.

PHOTOGRAPHS/VIDEOS

The general rule is that there should be minimal photography during the church service. We know how important visual records are to you as a memento of your wedding day. For this reason, photographs and video may be taken by professional photographers in an unobtrusive manner, and without the use of flash photography. The professional photographer must speak to the minister prior to the service regarding appropriate photography during the service.
Couples are asked to ensure that this conversation with the minister take place.

FLOWERS

Two large vases of flowers are provided in the main body of the Church and one small vase in the Chapel. Depending on the availability of flowers an attempt is made to tone in with a variety of colours since there can be more than one wedding on any day. This overcomes the problem of different colour schemes. In addition to these flowers, the candles on the communion table and the candelabra are all lit and together they provide a beautiful setting for your wedding. There may be occasions during the year when the setting of the church will mean negotiating alternative arrangements with the minister.

CONFETTI

The throwing of rice, petals, confetti or other litter is not permitted on Pilgrim grounds, which are under the jurisdiction of the Adelaide City Council. A bond of $400 will be required in addition to the wedding fee to ensure adherence to this request. This bond will be refunded within the week after your wedding if this requirement is adhered to.

FEES

The fee charged by the Church covers all costs associated with the wedding including those of the counselling course. If a soloist or choir is requested there will be an additional charge. The deposit and final fees must be paid to the Administrator, at the Pilgrim Church Office, 12 Flinders Street, Adelaide or posted to GPO Box 116, Adelaide, 5001, Telephone 8212 3295.

It is important that all fees be paid no later than two weeks prior to your wedding. Information regarding the amount of the fee can be obtained by calling the Church Office, hrs 9-3.30pm.

FURTHER QUERIES ?

These guidelines provide for much flexibility. The details of your service will be finalised between you and the minister involved. Any queries that you have need to be raised with the minister.

Updated: March 2009