Welcome to the joy of planning your wedding. We offer you this information to make this sometimes daunting task a little easier. This web page takes you from the beginning of your premarital instruction sessions to your wedding day. The priest you choose to officiate at your wedding will give you a complete package of information when you meet with him or her.

St. George’s follows the Canon Laws of both the National Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia concerning Holy Matrimony. According to these Canons—which govern the operations of the church—at least one partner must be a baptized member of the Body of Christ. These Canons also require that if either or both of you have been married before and ended that marriage by legal annulment or divorce, you must ask our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Shannon Sherwood Johnston, for permission to be remarried in the Church. (The priest will help you do this.)

An interview with the officiating priest is required to schedule a wedding here

At least six months prior to the wedding, both members of the bridal party should make an appointment for an initial interview with the clergy member that they wish to officiate at their wedding. While you are at the interview, the priest will provide a Wedding Packet and arrange for premarital instruction sessions.

We need your information

Once the clergy member agrees to officiate at your wedding—and at least five months prior to the wedding—the bridal couple must return their wedding information sheet to Deborah Shepard, the Parish Administrator (info@saintgeorgeschurch.org). She will reserve the rooms you need for the wedding and the rehearsal, review the various fees, and let the Music Director and Sexton know about your wedding. You also should contact the Music Director, Ben Keseley, at 703-525-8286 or bkeseley@saintgeorgeschurch.org and to arrange for your music.

Multiple premarital counseling sessions are required

Counseling sessions are required, but vary depending upon the officiating priest. Arrangements for premarital instruction sessions should be made when you initially contact the priest about your wedding. There are counseling fees, which vary depending on the type and number required, and will be paid individually to whoever provides the counseling. Consult the priest for more details.

The reception needs to be somewhere else

Given the heavy building use by three congregations, St. George’s facilities are not available for wedding receptions.

The Altar Guild will help

St. George’s Altar Guild prepares the church for weddings, so throughout your wedding planning you should be in periodic contact with the Altar Guild director or designee to ensure a smooth rehearsal and wedding ceremony.

We will provide:

• The candles, at a cost of $2.50 each, and two-branch candelabras (14 candles total);
• Altar candles, if there is to be a service of Holy Eucharist; and
• A needlepoint wedding kneeler.

Please note the following items are not permitted:

• Wedding runners;
• Rice, confetti, wheat or birdseed thrown either inside or outside the church; and
• Balloons (for ecological reasons).

Information you will need about wedding flowers

You need to make arrangements directly with a florist (or through your wedding planner) for any flowers you desire at your wedding. St. George’s has flower vase liners that you or your florist may use if you make arrangement one month prior to the wedding for pickup and delivery of the flower vase liners, and if you agree to leave the altar flowers at the church after your wedding. You may consult Ann Gray, who heads the Altar Guild, if you have questions.

Information your florist will need about wedding flowers

We ask your consideration when placing decorations for the wedding and reception. Please refrain from using tape, wires, brads or anything that might mar the woodwork or walls.

Flowers for the wedding may be delivered to the church if they arrive before 11:00 AM on the day of the wedding. If the flowers for the bridal party or the wedding are to be delivered to the church, please ask you florist to have them delivered when you or someone you designate is at the church to receive them (i.e., 60 minutes or less before the wedding). That person can check that the order is complete and distribute the flowers to members of the wedding. Please note: flower girls may carry a basket of flowers, but may not scatter loose petals on the floor of the aisles.

Information about wedding music

All music that takes place at St. George’s Church is under the direction of the Music Director, who acts under the authority of the Rector.

The Music Director, or his designee, must approve (in advance) all music, musical texts, soloists, and instrumentalists. The Music Director maintains a roster of instrumentalists and soloists that are available for hire and will help decide where solos and/or instrumental pieces should occur within the liturgy.

The organist does not usually attend the rehearsal, but at your request will attend for an additional fee if scheduling permits.

Guest organists may be used upon the approval of the Music Director. If you choose to use a guest organist, you are still required to pay the Music Director’s fee.

Costs

A schedule of fees for the participation of church staff and for use of church facilities will be provided when you meet with the clergy.

You need to bring your own bulletins

The church does not provide wedding service bulletins. Please consult with your officiating priest about what your bulletin should include. It’s a good idea to include a statement on the wedding bulletin reminding guests that no flash photography is allowed during the service.

Please bring your marriage license by early

Two weeks prior to the wedding, bring the marriage license to the parish office for recording. The Arlington County Courthouse will give you the necessary information. Please call them at 703-228-4510 Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM to obtain the civil requirements for marriage in Arlington County.  Information also is available on the Arlington County web site.

Photography

Please note that the starting time of your marriage service will not be delayed for the purpose of photography. The following information is for your photographer or videographer. The wedding party may use the church for taking photographs no earlier that 60 minutes prior to the ceremony beginning, and/or no longer than 30 minutes after the service ends.

• At St. George’s, we ask that no flash photographs be taken during the ceremony.
• You may take flash photos as the bride enters and as she leaves and take available light photos at other times.
• We ask that photographers refrain from placing themselves between the congregation and the bridal party.
• We recommend that you take photographs in the church up until ten minutes prior to the service, because there is only a very short time after the service (15-20 minutes) before clean-up begins.
• Video taping is possible from a single fixed position using the available light in the church; however, this position must be approved by the officiating priest prior to the wedding.
• No photographs of any kind may be taken from the main or side aisles during the service.
• Photographers are not allowed to enter the sanctuary (the area between the communion rail and the altar) at any time.
• Chairs and prayer desks within the chancel area are not be be moved.

Use of our facility

St. George’s is a smoke free building. You may smoke outside on the premises if you clean up after yourself. In accordance with the custom of this congregation and the decision of the vestry and the rector, it is permissible to serve alcoholic beverages at any function taking place on the premises in compliance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

About the wedding rehearsal

Bridal parties usually schedule rehearsals on the evening prior to the wedding day and rehearsals usually last about 45 minutes. Please make sure that all members of the wedding party have directions to St. George’s and arrive on time as scheduled. The bride and groom will make the Declaration of Intention and the witnesses will sign the Parish Register at this time.

About your wedding day

You must arrive early for the wedding. Please ensure that members of the wedding party are aware that they must arrive at least thirty (30) minutes in advance of the scheduled wedding time—or earlier—if you have arranged for photographs to be taken before the ceremony.

Dressing rooms are available if arranged in advance. The Rhodes Room, located in the back of the parish hall, is available as a dressing room for the bride and her attendants. Contact the Parish Administrator at info@saintgeorgeschurch.org in advance to reserve the room.

There are additional rooms available for the men in the wedding party should they wish to dress at the church. Contact the Parish Administrator at info@saintgeorgeschurch.org in advance to reserve the room.

Have fun

The clergy, altar guild and staff look forward to making your wedding at St. George’s Church a smooth and happy event. We extend our best wishes and congratulations to you as you embark on your life together. We hope that you enjoy your day.