Weddings

Weddings at First Congregational Church

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.  For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end.  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.  For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face.  Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.  And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

The Church

The sanctuary seats approximately 225.  There is room in the balcony for approximately 25.  We request that no rice, confetti, flower petals, etc. be thrown in the church building.  No tape may be used on any finished wood surface, including the pews.  Please instruct the limousine driver to deliver the bride and her bridal party to the side door on the day of the service.  The use of alcoholic beverages is not permitted on church premises.  Smoking is not allowed in any part of the building.

Intentional Interim Minister – The Rev. Dr. Barry J. McCarthy, bjmccarthy AT mac.com

Couples desiring a Christian marriage service should attend a Sunday worship service at First Congregational Church prior to meeting with Rev. Jane Hawken.  The couple should call at least four months in advance of the intended wedding date to make an initial appointment.  Two sessions (approximately one hour each) will be planned during which  the couple’s relationship, their

understanding of Christian faith and marriage, and specific wedding plans will be discussed.  The Pastor will officiate at the wedding unless other arrangements are agreed upon. 

Wedding Coordinator/Sexton – Ann Labby, labbyannm@gmail.com

Ann Labby, the Wedding Coordinator/Sexton, helps to oversee and organize the wedding.  In addition, she cleans and opens and closes the church for the rehearsal and wedding ceremony.  She is available to unlock the church for the flower delivery, and is present for the rehearsal and wedding.  Her fee for a maximum of five hours of work is set and cannot be waived.  An additional fee of $25 per hour is charged for work exceeding five hours.

Music – Kasha Breau, Music Director & Organist, kasha.breau@sbcglobal.net

All music must be arranged at least three months in advance with the Music Director, Kasha Breau (Home: 860-295-1176 or Cell: 860-983-6065).  Kasha plays the piano and the organ.  If the couple desires additional music, they must make the arrangements with the Music Director.  The fee for the Music Director, who serves as consultant and musician, cannot be waived.  There is an additional fee for the Organist to attend wedding rehearsals.

Photography and Video Taping

Guests should refrain from flash photography.  At no time during the service is the photographer to be in the front of the sanctuary.  Please advise your guests and photographer of these policies.  Photographs may be restaged after the service.

License

If the couple lives in Connecticut, the marriage license can be applied for in the town where either the bride or groom reside or in the town they will be married.  The license should be brought to the church office one week before the wedding.

Fees

Non-Church Member

Total Cost $1300.00

Please make checks payable to:

Sanctuary Fee:  $500 payable to:
The First Congregational Church                          

*A deposit of $500 is necessary to reserve the date and is applied towards the Sanctuary fee. 

Intentional Interim Minister, The Rev. Dr. Barry J. McCarthy – $400.00

 Director of Music: Kasha Breau – $200.00  

 Wedding Coordinator/Sexton: Ann Labby – $200.00

Church Member

*A deposit of $300 is necessary to reserve the date.  While there is no sanctuary fee for members, the couple may wish to use their deposit as a donation to the church.  

Please make checks payable to:

Deposit:  The First Congregational Church     

If requested, the check will be returned following the ceremony.

The minister’s honorarium is at the discretion of the couple.

Music Director: Kasha Breau – $200.00

Coordinator/Sexton: Ann Labby – $200.00

*The sanctuary deposit is nonrefundable if the Church is not given 60 or more days notice.
Additional fees may be imposed for snow-plowing, cleaning or  repair (above and beyond normal use). Preparing your wedding takes careful planning and many hours. The fees above are intended to reflect the time and skills the staff provides you for your wedding. If these expenses are beyond your means, please discuss this with the Pastor.

(revised January 2021)