Changing Rooms
The EFCC Chapel has a Bride’s room. You are more than welcome to get ready in our bride’s room or use the room to relax, eat snacks and hang out prior to the wedding. We recommend that you do not arrive at the church too early. We have observed that it’s best for the bride to get ready and wait in another location and then come to the bride’s room to do minor touch ups and snack or take photos. The Chapel also has a vestry with bathroom behind the stage for the groom. You are more than welcome to bring in snacks and drinks for your bridal party and set them up in the Bride’s Room & Vestry. Please do not take any food or drink (except water) in to the chapel where the wedding ceremony will be held.
Musicians and Vocalists
All music shall be appropriate for a Christian wedding service. Pre-approved Guest Musicians/soloist/vocalist are welcome. Pre-recorded music must be received by the church sound technician two weeks prior to the wedding. Please contact the Wedding Team to find out which EFCC musicians or vocalists are available to perform at your wedding.
Should you choose to hire outside musicians or vocalists, it is your responsibility to find out their fees, coordinate their availability and to ensure the delivery of payment to them. It is customarily the Best Man’s job to deliver or pass out payments to your vendors the day of the wedding.
It is your responsibility to inform the Wedding Team of your musician’s / vocalist’s needs, such as a chair/stool, microphones, music stand, direct box, etc.
Rehearsal
The wedding rehearsal may be held beginning no later than 6pm. It is important that everyone involved in the bridal party is present and on time. A maximum of 1 hour is allotted for the rehearsal. If anyone in the bridal party is unable to attend or is running late, we will use stand-ins for that person in order to move forward with the rehearsal to ensure that your rehearsal dinner plans are honored.
It is the couple’s responsibility to communicate the correct date, time & location to everyone in the bridal party. The EFCC sound crew will not be at the rehearsal, although if you are bringing in any musical vendors, it’s a good idea for them to be there to acclimate themselves with the building, and know where they are going to be placed and communicate at that time any other technical needs they may have. (The EFCC sound crew will be at the wedding one hour before start time, if your vendors cannot make it to the rehearsal, they can arrange to do a sound check at that time).
Please bring any props that you are planning to use in the wedding, such as, the flower-girl basket, ring-bearer pillow, your bridal-shower bouquet, etc.
Photography
No flash photography is permitted during the ceremony, from the end of the processional to the start of the recessional. The ceremony may be videotaped, with available light only, from a designated stationary position in the back of the church or from the sides of the chancel in the choir loft. This policy applies to the professional photographer and guests. Please request that your professional photographer to arrive at least 1 hour prior to the wedding. It is the couple’s responsibility to inform the photographer of our “no flash photography” rule and to arrange the schedule of the photo shoots accordingly.
Communication and Conflict Resolution
Any changes to the wedding plans, as it relates to working with the Wedding Team, must be communicated to the Wedding Team in writing via email and followed up with a phone call. The Wedding Team will work to the best of its ability to facilitate the wedding as stipulated in this handout. We will strive to work together, communicate well and resolve between us any misinformation that might arise, (Matthew 18:15-17; First Corinthians 1:9-11).
Safety Issues
The Wedding Team will inform you of any fire codes or safety hazards that the wedding and/or reception set up might violate, please be willing to comply with those laws. As you leave the Chapel, or church facility, we ask that you do not throw rice, confetti, birdseed, or any other item that may result in someone slipping and falling. Bubbles may be blown outside only.
Marriage License, Honorariums and Payments
The bride and groom are responsible for obtaining the marriage license and turning it in to the officiating pastor. The EFCC Wedding Team is not responsible for obtaining the license nor are they responsible on the day of the wedding to make sure it is signed. The license needs to stay with the groom and/or the pastor. It is not the Wedding Team’s responsibility to deliver fees/or payments to the pastor, musicians, or facility payments. A recommended honorarium for the pastor is $100.00 or more depending on your budget.
Other Recommended Options
A Welcome Table in the foyer
One personal option for the service is for you to bring in your engagement photo or any special items that you would like to display. Items that can be displayed are photo boards, programs, a card basket and memorabilia. EFCC can provide standing easels for large photos.
