St Peter's Wedding Services
The wedding service is a very special day. It is a milestone for the couple dedicating their lives to one another as well family and friends witnessing their vows. Most importantly, it is a time of worship and commitment to God. We at St. Peter’s encourage you to enjoy and appreciate both of these facts. To help assure your wedding day is everything it is intended to be, we offer several ideas, suggestions, and policies.
Premarital Counseling
Premarital Counseling is required of all couples wishing to be married at St. Peter’s. Typically this begins four to six months prior to your wedding date, and consists of two to four one hour discussion sessions with Pastor. This is a time to learn about the commitment you will be making to each other as well as relationship tools that will assist you in your marriage. If distance is a factor and you cannot make it to St. Peter’s for premarital counseling, you can fulfill this requirement with your local pastor or agency. Please note that premarital counseling is not optional.
The Marriage Service
A marriage ceremony is a setting of worship to God in the church. Aside from the liturgy and vows, music is an important aspect of any worship and is especially meaningful at a wedding. While hymns are fine, remember there are also numerous contemporary Christian songs that are also suitable. It is best to use “live” music rather than recorded music for solos, duets or congregational singing. Recorded music is often difficult to sing with and requires a higher level of expertise on the part of the singers. Persons who are asked to provide special music should have the skill and talent to perform the music well.
If you need referrals for an organist, a pianist, or a soloist please contact the church secretary at 641-816-4346. Also, please remember that Pastor must approve all music selections prior to rehearsal.
Use of Church Facilities
Please visit the facilities page for more detailed information concerning use of the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall as well as fees assigned.
Wedding Bulletins
Wedding bulletins are another opportunity for you to personalize your ceremony. Couples may opt to design/print them independently or order bulletins through St. Peter’s. If you choose the latter, the cost is typically $10.00 per 100 bulletins. Please keep in mind, this price will vary depending on the style you select. Additionally, our church secretary is available to assist you in arranging the information appropriately and printing the necessary copies. Please contact Robin at 641-816-5531 regarding labor, material, and printing costs.
Pictures
In cases, where the couple wishes to host their reception in the Fellowship Hall, 6:00 p.m. Saturday night worship is simply moved from the Fellowship Hall to the Sanctuary. Thus, if you are planning both your ceremony and reception at St. Peter’s, we ask that you consider formal pictures prior to the ceremony. In turn, you avoid feeling rushed and everyone involved is able to enjoy more fully the wedding / reception. Please inform your photographer of the need to begin your ceremony on time so they can schedule photos accordingly.
Videotaping
Your wedding day is a time to cherish for future years. For this reason, you may choose to hire a professional videographer to tape your ceremony. While this is permissible at St. Peter’s, please note that your videographer must consult with Pastor as to appropriate camera placement, etc. If this conversation does not take place at least one week prior to the ceremony, your videographer may be denied access or asked to leave the ceremony.
Hot Summer Days
Due to the tremendous difficulty architecture poses in keeping our Sanctuary cool during hot weather, we ask that each couple keep the curtain doors closed as much as possible. For this same reason, we also lock the front entrance. The Narthex is very small and directly accesses the Sanctuary, which allows for cool air to quickly escape. Guests are asked to enter via the main Fellowship Hall entrance instead. While these seem like trivial details, your guests will thank you for it!
Dressing
Brides and bridesmaids greatly appreciate the air conditioned classrooms in the Fellowship Hall basement. There is plenty of dressing room, full-length mirrors, and a nearby bathroom. Additionally, these rooms may be locked if you wish to store items overnight.
Grooms and groomsmen may choose to dress in the Fellowship Hall Conference room or basement classrooms.
If additional room is required, the old basement also is an option however these classrooms are not air conditioned.
Decorations
The Sanctuary may be decorated according to the couple’s taste. However, only flowers may adorn the altar and only bows placed on the candelabra. Please note that any/all altar decorations require prior approval by Pastor.
The Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall are generally left open for decorating the day prior to your ceremony. As a courtesy, we ask that you call our church secretary at 641-816-4346 with an estimate of day and time you will need facility access for decorating. If a funeral occurs and requires use of either the Sanctuary or Fellowship Hall during the times you had arranged, our secretary will contact you to reschedule.
Exit from Church
While the main entrance is locked preceding the ceremony, it is opened for the bride’s and the groom’s triumphant exit. Note: rice, bird seed, or confetti may not be used at St. Peter’s.Flower petals, bells, bubbles, etc. are suggested substitutes.
Alcoholic Beverages
No alcohol or drugs are permitted in or near St. Peter’s. If in the judgment of Pastor, a member of the wedding party is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the wedding will not begin until that person is sober or leaves the wedding. Thus, to avoid embarrassment, please inform your wedding party of this policy.
Suggested Scripture Readings
Scripture provides another opportunity for you to personalize your ceremony. Perhaps there is a specific verse that is significant to you or a special person you would like to participate by reading the selected scripture? This is accepted and encouraged. If you are unsure of where to begin in this process, there are some possible verses below. Additionally note that unless you request a particular passage as basis for the homily, Pastor will choose one.
- Genesis 1:26-31
- Genesis 2:18-24
- Isaiah 63:7-9
- Song of Solomon 8:7
- Matthew 19:4-6
- John 2:1-10
- John 15:9-12
- Romans 12:1-2
- 1st Corinthians 12:31-13:13
- Ephesians 5:21-33
- Philippians 4:4-7
- 1st John 4:7-12
If you are still having difficulty, please do not hesitate to consult with Pastor. You can make an appointment by contacting our church secretary at 641-816-5531.
Ceremony Music
There are several copies of the Lutheran Book of Worship in each Sanctuary pew. This is a wonderful source for hymns that you may choose to have sung by the congregation. For your convenience, a few suggestions are listed below.
- O Perfect Love - #287
- Hear Us Now, Our God and Father - #289
- Heavenly Father, Hear Our Prayers - #289
- Eternal God, Before Your Throne - #354
- Love Divine, All Loves Excelling - #315
Please remember this is not a musical event for a compilation of favorite secular songs. Your wedding is a time of worship. Keeping this in mind, please select your music wisely and accordingly.
Typical Order of Worship During a Wedding Service
The following is an example of a typical wedding service. While this area allows for flexibility, the order of worship must be finalized with Pastor prior to your wedding rehearsal. The rehearsal is usually held the night before the ceremony between the hours of five and eight p.m. Please note that this can be scheduled for the day of the wedding if it is necessary for the sake of long distance friends or relatives. However, after rehearsal, there will be no last minute or surprise changes allowed to the service.
- Prelude
- Parental Promise
- Invocation
- Prayer
- *Song or Hymn
- Scripture
- Homily
- *Song or Hymn
- Intentions and Exchange of Vows
- Exchange of Rings
- The Blessings
- *Song or Hymn
- Prayers and Lord’s Prayer
- Benediction
- Recessional
- Postlude
A Message from St. Peter’s
We sincerely pray that your wedding might not only be memorable, but the beginning of a joyful life found in living for each other and for the sake of your Lord.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to bring them to our church secretary by calling 641-816-5531. If you desire to schedule a time to meet with Pastor, you can make those arrangements by contacting our church secretary as well.
We are grateful that you are considering St. Peter’s in your planning. May God bless you as you continue to prepare for your wedding and marriage.