Getting Married at Evangelical Baptist Church, Newton
Click here for a printable version of our wedding policies (pdf)
If you are a newly engaged couple and making your wedding plans – Congratulations! We are happy with you in this altogether worthwhile commitment to one another. We hope that your wedding day will mark a solemn and joyful entrance into life together.
Because we believe that marriage is ordained and blessed by God, we are eager to ensure that every aspect of the wedding ceremony pleases Him. God has kindly given us a beautiful building to worship Him in and to serve the community with. With that in mind, please think through the following policy for weddings at Evangelical Baptist Church.
Theological Ground Rules
- We believe that a marriage is a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
- Since ours is a Christian church, the wedding participants must confess to be Christians in order to wed at EBC. This applies to the man and woman: God does not permit a believer in Christ to marry those outside of the faith. (2 Corinthians 6:14ff)
- We cannot marry any couple that is living together before the wedding. If an engaged couple that lives together agrees by conviction to separate and abstain sexually until the wedding, we will consider performing the ceremony.
- If one or both persons have been married previously and have been divorced, the pastor will talk carefully with the couple to see if he can in good conscience perform the ceremony.
- Because we respect the high place of the local church, a couple whose membership is in another church can only wed at EBC with the blessing of their pastor.
- In connection with this, other Christian pastors are permitted to participate in the wedding ceremony. In most cases, though, a pastor of EBC will actually officiate the wedding; although in a few cases we will permit the couple’s pastor to do so.
- Every couple is required to meet with a pastor of EBC at least once before the decision is made to solemnize the vows at EBC. Once that decision is made, they will need to meet three more times. The purposes of these meetings are to get to know one another, to ensure that there are similar understandings of marriage, and to work out the practical details of the ceremony.
On to the Practical Stuff!
- The wedding date can be established after the couple has met with the pastor and both sides agree in good conscience to hold the wedding at EBC
- Fees for Weddings held at EBC:
| Members | Free! |
| Non-members; Sanctuary Only | $700 (Seating Capacity: 200) |
| Non-members; Sanctuary + Reception Hall | $900 |
| Cold Months Surcharge | $15/hour that heat is turned on (subject to price change) |
These fees cover the rental, clean-up, pastoral service, and wedding coordinator. A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required upon reserving the time and date for the ceremony.
- Working with the EBC wedding coordinator is mandatory, even if you choose to also have an outside coordinator. The EBC coordinator will answer questions and organize the scheduling. All outside vendors must be approved by the wedding coordinator.
- No alcohol may be served on the property.
- The use of candles to light the sanctuary is permitted within very strict guidelines. You are responsible for having someone light, extinguish, and remove all candles. Only smokeless, dripless candles are permitted, and all candles must be placed on protective coverings to catch any unforeseen wax drippings.
- No thumb tacks, nails, or adhesive of any kind may be used in decorating the sanctuary. Any florist can provide appropriate hangers. Nothing may be attached to fabric-covered surfaces.
- All decorations must be removed immediately following the ceremony.
- EBC musicians may be available for hire, or you can use outside musicians. If outside musicians are used, they must contact the church organist/pianist. Generally the music used should be similar to that used in a worship service.
- For evening and weekend services, the parking lot across the street from the church is available.
- Other activities may be taking place concurrently with the rehearsal and the wedding that do not interfere with these.