Weddings

Grace Lutheran Church is here to help with your wedding preparations. As you come to the altar, you are asking God to meet you here, where we worship and offer praise and thanksgiving to God. As you seek to come together in the best of human relationships, we will help you create a deeply meaningful event within the context of worship. The wedding ceremony is a worship service; respect for the sanctuary and the church building is imperative.

Once you have narrowed down the possible dates for your wedding-–ideally nine months to one year before the date needed––you should contact the church Wedding Coordinator, Melissa Jones, to check for availability of the pastors and the church. The following weekends are excluded from consideration for weddings:

News Years Eve Day
New Years Day
Easter
Mothers Day
Fathers Day
July 4
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve Day
Christmas Day

Due to the large number of events held at Grace Lutheran Church, additional days may be excluded from consideration.

Melissa Jones can be contacted directly at 952-292-0871, or call the church office at 952-432-7273 for her e-mail address.

Once your date has been determined, we will tentatively hold that date on our calendar. When we receive your non-refundable, $100 deposit that date will be held for your wedding.

Marriage Preparation Classes:

Couples are required to attend a two-session Marriage Preparation class presented by Bonita Johnson, a licensed family and marriage counselor. She can be reached at 763-720-1910.

Your first session will include completing Prepare, a pre-marital counseling inventory that will serve as the basis of your second session with the counselor. During that second session, an all-day retreat, you will have the opportunity for both individual- and small-group interaction.

The cost of the class is $150 and includes the fee for scoring the Prepare premarital inventory. Completion of this class will qualify you for a discounted rate of approximately $70 on your marriage license. (To receive your discount, present your Pre-Marital Education Certificate when you apply for your license.)

The course is offered at different times throughout the year at the following churches. If you are unable to attend one of the all-day retreats, couples can meet directly with Bonita Johnson for three sessions. The fee is slightly higher for this process and would need to be arranged in advance.

1.  Grace Lutheran of Apple Valley, 7800 W. County Road 42, Apple Valley, MN 55124

        First Session: Thursday, February 21, 2008 – Prepare – 7:00 p.m.
        Second Session: Saturday, March 1, 2008 – Retreat – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  

2.  Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 7217 W. Broadway, Brooklyn Park, MN

        First Session: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 – Prepare – 7:00 p.m.
        Second Session: Saturday, February 2, 2008 – Retreat – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

        First Session: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 – Prepare – 7:00 p.m.
        Second Session: Saturday, April 5, 2008 – Retreat – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

        First Session: Tuesday, September 2, 2008 – Prepare – 7:00 p.m.
        Second Session: Saturday, September 13, 2008 – Retreat – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

3.  St. Philips Lutheran Church, 6180 NE Highway 65, Fridley, MN 55432

        First Session: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 – Prepare – 7:00 p.m.
        Second Session: Saturday, March 29, 2008 – Retreat – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Marriage License:

Minnesota law requires couples to apply for a marriage license at any Clerk of Court office a minimum of seven days before the wedding. The Apple Valley location is in the Western Galaxie Center (County Road 42 and Galaxie Avenue). Contact Dakota County Vital Statistics at 651-438-4313 for additional information. Only one person need apply, but he/she must have the following information for both persons: proof of age, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and information on former marriages, divorces, or death of a spouse. There is a fee for the license. (Present your Pre-Marital Education Certificate when you apply, to receive your discount.) The license should be given to the wedding consultant at the rehearsal so that it can be completed, signed on the day of the wedding and mailed to the county offices for filing.

Sanctuary:

Our sanctuary, which easily seats five-hundred guests, provides a beautiful worship setting. Church furnishings may not be moved; altar colors and decorations are determined by seasonal directives and are not changed for weddings.

No food or beverages are allowed in the sanctuary at any time.

No items are to be placed on the altar, as it is a worship table. The church has three wooden pillars (3 feet, 2 feet and 1 foot tall) that flowers can be placed on in the front of the sanctuary.

Rehearsal:

Typically, weddings are held on Saturday with the rehearsals on the preceding Friday evening. Rehearsals are an opportunity to walk through the ceremony so all can feel confident about their roles. We ask that you gather one-half hour before the scheduled rehearsal time to allow for traffic delays, for families and friends to be introduced, etc. Please urge each person in your wedding party and family to be present by the beginning of the gathering time. Rehearsals last approximately one hour. Please note that the pastor and/or the wedding coordinator will be present for rehearsal; however, should you want the organist present, there is an additional fee of $75.

This is also a time to bring printed bulletins, the unity candle, guest book, marriage license, honorariums and any other items you would like to have for your ceremony.

The Wedding Service:

A marriage ceremony is a worship service that is personal, meaningful for you and all who gather. As we plan weddings, every attempt is made to personalize the format of a traditional wedding ceremony. Our pattern for service is from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal. The service, which is approximately one-half hour, will include scripture readings, marriage vows, and prayers. We work with great flexibility and creativity in our preparations. Having large numbers of guests or attendants at your wedding is not necessary for a beautiful ceremony. We have developed very meaningful and intimate wedding styles for weddings of all sizes.

Wedding Bulletins:

Bulletins need to be provided by the couple. (At your request, the wedding coordinator can provide samples of previous bulletins.) Bulletins should be available to the pastor and the wedding coordinator a minimum of one week prior to the ceremony.

Wedding Communion:

Grace Lutheran Church does not provide communion during the wedding ceremony.

Florist/Decorations:

You may want to select a florist or someone to decorate the church. At your request, the wedding coordinator can provide names of florists who have provided flowers for past weddings. Flowers may be placed on the entrance tables in the sanctuary and in front of the church on one or all of the three wooden pillars provided by Grace (3 feet, 2 feet and 1 foot tall). Should you use flowers on the pews, they cannot be taped, only hung with ribbons or floral wire. Although aisle runners are not forbidden, they are rarely used.

Candles add a lovely touch to the ceremony. Unity candles are a recent tradition, but certainly not a requirement. Should you decide to use a unity candle, the church has a gold stand that can accommodate a candle from two-inches to four-inches wide, and one-inch wide tapers. The couple must provide the candles (these can be brought the night of the rehearsal). In addition, the church has two gold candelabras which hold seven taper candles, and six matching gold aisle candle stands that each hold one taper candle. There are no extra charges for the use of these candle stands.

Photographer:

Photographs of your wedding create beautiful memories. It is your responsibility to secure a photographer. At your request, the wedding coordinator can provide names of photographers who have photographed weddings in the past. Pictures can be taken before the wedding; however, we ask that they be completed at least 45 minutes prior to the ceremony. Pictures can also be taken after the ceremony. All photographers should check-in with the wedding coordinator the day of the wedding to determine where they may stand during the ceremony. Because this is a worship service, photographers will not be allowed to use flash during the ceremony. We ask that once the bride has come down the aisle, all photographers stay in the back of the sanctuary.

Audio/Video Taping:

It is your responsibility to secure a videographer, if so desired. At your request, the wedding coordinator can provide names of videographers who have worked at Grace in the past. Discretion must be used by the person(s) taping so as not to disrupt or interfere with the ceremony. Stationary video stands can be set in the front of the church but the videographer cannot be in the front of the church during the ceremony.

Childcare:

Childcare is NOT available during the wedding; therefore, the nursery must remained locked.

Custodian/Building:

The custodial staff will make sure the church is cleaned before your wedding and will ensure the church and necessary rooms are available for your use. Specific areas will be provided for the wedding party to dress, and will be assigned at the rehearsal. Custodial staff will provide a full-length mirror and a hanging rack in the bridal dressing room and a hanging rack in the groomsman’s dressing room. Please arrange for the removal of any decorations you want to keep as soon as your guests have left the sanctuary. After the wedding, we will dispose of any items that are left behind.

Please note that no confetti of any kind may be used in the building or on the premises. Bubbles may be used in non-carpeted areas and outside.

Tobacco, Alcohol and Drug Policy:

Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the building or on the grounds. Use of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs on church property is prohibited. A fine of $250 will be incurred for violation of this policy. The wedding couple will be responsible for this fine.

Responsibility:

The couple being married is responsible for the premises and for their guests. If any physical damage to the church is incurred by the guests or wedding party, the couple will be responsible for the cost of repairs.

Music:

Grace Lutheran Church’s organist is available to play at your wedding. Because the wedding is a worship service, care should be given to ensure all music is in keeping with the sacredness of the ceremony. Whether classical or more contemporary, selections are to be discussed and approved by the organist/pianist. The organist should be contacted at least three months before your wedding to discuss your music requests. Our organist is Margaret Gohman, who can be reached at 651-423-1846.

Fees for the organist to play at your wedding are included in the member/non-member fees. For attendance at the wedding rehearsal, the organist shall receive $75. Additional remuneration shall be made if special music, and/or rehearsal and performance with additional musicians, is required. If our organist is not available, she will assist in the hiring of a substitute. It shall be the obligation of the organist to secure said fees. Pre-recorded music is not allowed because of its artificial effect and the difficulty of insuring quality reproduction.

FEES:

Members: (You must be a member of Grace at the time of your inquiry.)

The charge for weddings at Grace Lutheran Church for members is $500. This fee includes the wedding coordinator, custodial fees, organist/pianist and general church maintenance. A deposit of $100 is required to hold your date on a definite basis, with the remainder due two weeks prior to your wedding date. Payment can be made in the form of cash and/or check (made payable to Grace Lutheran Church of Apple Valley).

Please note that for members, there is no charge for pastoral counseling and officiating at your wedding. At your discretion, a honoria may be given directly to the pastor in appreciation for the time spent in preparation and officiating at your wedding. Honoria range from $150 - $200. This should be given to the pastor the night of the wedding rehearsal.

Non-Members:

The charge for non-member weddings is $900. This fee includes the pastor, wedding coordinator, custodial fees, organist/pianist and general church maintenance. A deposit of $100 is required to hold your date on a definite basis, with the remainder due two weeks prior to your wedding date. Payment can be made in the form of cash and/or check (made payable to Grace Lutheran Church of Apple Valley).

Any questions regarding wedding policies at Grace Lutheran Church of Apple Valley can be directed to:

Melissa Jones
Wedding Coordinator
Grace Lutheran Church of Apple Valley
Phone: 952-432-7273 (work); 952-292-0871 (cell)