These guidelines are designed to give you information about the philosophy, policies and traditions of weddings at Epiphany Parish. One of the clergy will go over it with you at your initial visit. You are requested however, to read it carefully yourselves and refer to it throughout the time of planning for your wedding.

WEDDING TOPICS

• CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE IN THE EPISCOPAL TRADITION
• EXPECTATIONS IN PREPARATION FOR YOUR MARRIAGE
• COST
• THE WEDDING CEREMONY: CHOOSING A DATE AND TIME
• HOW TO PROCEED
• PLANNING THE SERVICE
• DAY OF THE REHEARSAL AND CEREMONY
• DECORATIONS
• MUSIC
• RICE
• PHOTOGRAPHS / VIDEOS
• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
• SUGGESTED FLORISTS
• TRAFFIC AND PARKING
• DIRECTIONS TO EPIPHANY PARISH
• Photographer Information and Agreement

CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE IN THE EPISCOPAL TRADITION

1. Marriage is intended by God to be a lifelong union of husband and wife in body, mind and spirit. It is a covenant (contract) which two people make with each other in the presence of God and witnesses. The canons of the Episcopal Church require you to sign a statement called the Declaration of Intention.
2. Marriage is intended by God for the mutual joy of the couple. It is also one of the most difficult of human relationships. As such, it is meant to be lived out in a community of faith where it can be supported and nurtured.
3. Marriage is intended by God to safeguard the well-being of children. By choosing to be married in the Church, you are stating that, should you have children, you intend to raise them in the Church.

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EXPECTATIONS IN PREPARATION FOR YOUR MARRIAGE

1. Requirements for marriage at Epiphany: One or both of you must be an Episcopalian and the service will be taken from The Book of Common Prayer. We do not allow outside clergy to officiate.
2. Meeting with clergy: After you have read this wedding booklet, make an appointment to meet with one of the clergy of Epiphany Parish who will go over the Marriage Guidelines and financial arrangements, and assist you in your planning. This is the first prerequisite for having a wedding at Epiphany. The second prerequisite is payment in full before your wedding date can be confirmed.
3. Premarital counseling: Typically, this involves 3 sessions with a trained marriage counselor. We ask that you use Epiphany Counseling Service, which operates on a fee-for-service basis. Please call Carmen Hoffman or Amanda Franklin at 324-0721. We expect that you will complete your counseling at least two months before your wedding.
4. Contact an Altar Guild Wedding Sexton, to start coordinating your wedding. One will be assigned to you. The clergy has entrusted the Wedding Sexton with the responsibility for day-to-day consultations about your wedding. She will:
   • attend the rehearsal at the church to finalize the details of the ceremony with the clergy and bridal party.
   • arrive at the church 90 minutes before the service to unlock the facilities and provide information and general assistance, working with any outside wedding coordinator
   • answer questions about the facilities, assist your florist in placing your wedding flowers and decorations in the church on the day of the ceremony, and assist the bridal party dressing for the church service at the Christie House Library.
   • remain after the service to close the facilities. The bridal party may stay up to 30 minutes after the service.
5. Baptism: At least one person must be baptized in the Christian Church.
6. Previous marriage: If either of you have been married before, the priest is required to ascertain the circumstances of the previous marriage. If there was a divorce, consent must be obtained from the Episcopal Bishop of Olympia (the Diocese of Western Washington).
7. Marriage license: You will need to obtain a marriage license from King County. You may obtain this in person at the King County Administration Building or through the mail. The law requires at least three days between the date the license is obtained and the first day it can be used. It is good for 60 days. Please have it completed so it can be signed during the rehearsal.
8. Regular worship: If you live in the area, we invite you to worship with us at Epiphany. If you live elsewhere, we encourage you to attend an Episcopal Church where you live.

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COST

These fees include

• The use of the Church or the Chapel
• 1 hour for the wedding rehearsal and up to 3 hours on the day of the wedding
• Honorarium for the clergy 
• Wedding Sexton
• Organist
• Use of the Christie House Library and the Church or Chapel Vesting Room for dressing
• Custodial Staff
• Sound
• Utilities
• Use of parking facilities

These fees do not include

• Costs for additional musicians (see the section on MUSIC below)
• The use of other parish facilities, such as the Great Hall
• Epiphany Counseling Service's fees

Payment is due 30 days after the initial clergy consultation. Please make your check payable to "Epiphany Parish", with the date of the wedding and the bride's and groom's last names in the lower left corner.

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THE WEDDING CEREMONY: CHOOSING A DATE AND TIME

1. Please clear all dates and times, and any changes, with the parish secretary.
2. Weddings are to be scheduled to begin between 10 am and 7 pm.
3. Weddings are not scheduled on Sundays or during the season of Lent. The primary focus of our Sunday worship is celebrating Christ's Resurrection. Lent, as a traditional season of simplicity and fasting, is less suited to the feasting and celebration that rightly accompanies marriage.
4. As a rule, the rehearsal will take place at 5:00 pm the day before the wedding. All participants should be present at the rehearsal and on time.
5. On the day of the wedding, the Wedding Sexton is available to open the church up to 90 minutes before the wedding.
6. You may stay up to 30 minutes after the wedding.

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HOW TO PROCEED

1. Make arrangements to speak with one of our parish clergy as soon as possible.
2. Return the Wedding Information Sheet, Wedding Checklist and Declaration of Intent with your check within 30 days of your meeting with the clergy. Dates are confirmed on a first- come, first-served basis. Your date will not be confirmed until we receive your check. If we do not hear from you within 30 days following your meeting with the parish clergy, we will remove you from our calendar.
3. You will then need to contact Epiphany Counseling Services (324-0721) for further guidance. You will receive detailed information on this phase of your marriage planning at your initial interview with our priests.

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PLANNING THE SERVICE

1. Please read in detail the service in the Book of Common Prayer - "Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage" on page 423.
2. Please read the Scriptures listed on page 426 and be ready to indicate your preferences.
3. Give some thought to whether you wish to celebrate the Eucharist at your wedding.
4. Contact our Music Department. The Director of Music will assist you in choosing appropriate music for your ceremony. The section on music provides details.
5. We encourage the participation of friends and family members in the reading of the lessons and in offering the prayers on page 429.

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DAY OF THE REHEARSAL AND CEREMONY

1. Please bring your wedding license to the rehearsal so that the priest may obtain necessary signatures before the wedding. Also, please inform all participants that cell phones must be turned off during the rehearsal and prior to the ceremony.
2. At the rehearsal, only those participating in the ceremony are invited. All other visitors, friends and relatives are asked to wait either in the Great Hall or the rehearsal dinner location. You must be on time. The rehearsal will start at the time designated, it will not be held up to wait for anyone.
3. The wedding party may dress at the church. The bride and bridesmaids may dress in the Christie House Library. Groom and groomsmen may use the church vesting room to dress.
4. The facilities are not locked during the rehearsal and ceremony, therefore we cannot be responsible for any valuables left in these rooms.
5. The Christie House Library and kitchen are available for wedding party snacks and beverages. No alcoholic beverages may be consumed on the church grounds.
6. Please have someone remove all personal belongings, including snacks and beverages, immediately after the service. Please leave the Christie House Library as you found it.
7. Our Wedding Sexton will be at the rehearsal and at the service to assist. She will arrive 90 minutes prior to the wedding.

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DECORATIONS

1. Any service that takes place in the church is a worship service and the decorations used must be in keeping with a worshipful atmosphere. A list of approved florists is provided below. In choosing flowers and decorations, the customs of the Episcopal Church and Epiphany Parish are to be considered. Any questions about decorations can be directed to your Wedding Sexton.
2. Although a wedding may take place without a single blossom, if you do decide to have flowers in the sanctuary area, they must be placed on the credenzas on either side behind the altar.
3. You are required to leave these flowers for use during the following Sunday services. The orders of service will acknowledge that they are given to the glory of God in thanksgiving for your marriage.
4. Flower vases and urns:
   • Epiphany has two different sets of urns that may be used for altar flower arrangements. They are designed so that standard inserts used by professional florists fit into them. Both urns must be used - one on each side of the altar - if any flowers are to decorate the church at your wedding. Simple arrangements in the smaller vases are just as welcome as larger ones. The wedding florist should contact the Altar Guild Wedding Sexton to arrange a time before the service to deliver and place the arranged flowers in the church's altar urns. If there are additional floral arrangements and decorations, they can be placed appropriately and safely at this time.
   • Sketches and dimensions of Epiphany's vases and urns for main church and chapel have been provided to the approved florists. Questions regarding flowers and/or decorations should be directed to the church office. Urns and vases may not be removed from the church premises under any circumstances.
5. Additional flower arrangements should not overshadow those in the altar area. With the exception of the chancel flowers, all flowers and decorations must be removed from the church immediately after the ceremony.
6. Due to the narrowness of our central aisle, small pew arrangements (when used), secured only with plastic clips, must be placed on alternating pews. There are 18 pews on each side of aisle. No stanchions are permitted. Altar Guild-supplied clips may be used, but must be left behind in the church after the service.
7. The church can provide two pairs of stands for flowers that may be placed at the base of the steps or at the entry. They are 30" and 36" high, bronze with glass tops. No other pedestals or stands are to be used.
8. Only real flowers and greens are to be used. No tape may be used.
9. Because of fire danger, no other candelabra are permitted. The church also provides individual candleholders that can be placed in the eight windows, three per window, and decorated simply with greens by your florist.
10. Runners are not permitted at Epiphany.
11. No church furnishings, chapel furnishings, or fixtures in any of the buildings may be removed or taken down. This includes outdoor fixtures such as benches and signs. Only minimal rearrangement of some furnishings, such as the church piano and choir chairs, may be permitted, but only in consultation with the clergy or the Wedding Sexton.

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MUSIC

1. Please contact the Epiphany Parish Music Director before making any plans for music. Music for weddings at Epiphany Parish is subject to the same standards and policies as music for any other parish service. Only sacred or classical music may be performed. Epiphany's Director of Music may be contacted through the church office to help you choose music appropriate to a wedding ceremony at Epiphany Church. All musical selections, instruments, solos and hymns must be cleared through him; all arrangements must be finalized 30 days prior to the ceremony.
2. The Director of Music will make arrangements for any additional musicians you may wish to have at your wedding ceremony. The liturgical configurations of Epiphany's church and chapel and the special nature of the Episcopal wedding ceremony require that all singers and instrumentalists be acquainted with our liturgical protocol and, ideally, have experience making music at Epiphany. The Director of Music has a complete list of musicians who have had such training and experience. The list offers a wide range of outstanding local musicians, including bagpipers, wind and string players, brass players, guitarists, choral ensembles and instrumental ensembles. If vocal solos are desired, it will be necessary to use one of Epiphany's professional soloists whose voices work well in the acoustics of our church and chapel. The Director of Music can also share with you a list of approved texts and solos for your Epiphany wedding, and a current schedule of fees for additional musicians.
3. All music is to be performed 'live' and on acoustic instruments -- no recorded music or background tracks are allowed. Amplifiers or speakers are not permitted.
4. Your organ music will be provided by one of Epiphany's Music Director or his designate. The organist fee is included in the overall package of charges. It includes
   • the use of preview tapes of music for organ solo, organ and trumpet, and brass ensemble;
   • one appointment session to finalize choices of music;
   • rehearsal with additional musicians on the day of the wedding (if applicable);
   • a prelude recital to the wedding ceremony, and
   • music for the ceremony itself.
5. Please note that the organist does not attend the wedding rehearsal.
6. Feel free to contact our Organist/Director of Music as questions arise in your musical planning. Once again, please make no plans for music without contacting Epiphany's Music Director.

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RICE

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PHOTOGRAPHS / VIDEOS

1. The sacred character of the buildings is respected. Cameras, photographers and videographers; are not permitted beyond the chancel steps.
2. Please complete all photographs and remove all equipment at least 15 minutes before the ceremony and 30 minutes after the ceremony.
3. Photographs of the bride may be taken in the narthex just before she processes down the aisle; photographs of the bride and groom may be taken as they recess from the chancel at the end of the service.
4. Photographs may be taken during the service only from the balcony or the narthex with a quiet shutter and no flash.
5. Videotaping is permitted during the ceremony from the balcony only.
6. Failure to observe these rules will result in an interruption of your ceremony and the removal of the photographer.

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TRAFFIC AND PARKING

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Can my flower girl toss flower petals?
   Yes.
2. Can we meet to talk about my wedding ceremony?
   With the clergy, always.
3. What readings should I use in my wedding service?
   The clergy can provide this information to you.
4. Can we use the Christie House/church/chapel any earlier than ninety minutes before the service?
   Yes, if there is no conflict with any church-scheduled event. The Wedding Sexton is paid for only the ninety minutes before the service and the service itself. If you want to pay her for the extra time, you can arrange that with her privately, but it is her choice whether to work the extra time or not. The caretaker may be able to open up earlier, but the Wedding Sexton or anyone else will not be present. You will be on you own until the ninety minute mark.
5. Can my videographer stand behind the priest/minister and record our service?
   Epiphany clergy do not allow this.
6. Can my videographer record from anywhere else besides the balcony?
   Yes, but must consult with clergy.
7. Can my photographer take flash photos during the service?
   Epiphany clergy do not allow this. Photos may be taken with high speed film, however, as it does not require a flash.
8. Do we have to have flowers on the altar?
   No, but let us know in advance.
9. Can I take the flowers on the altar to the reception and bring them back?
   No. Flowers remain on the altar for Sunday services and are then taken to the ill and shut-in.
10. Can we move the piano somewhere else?
    Yes, but must consult with clergy.
11. Where can I put pictures of my family/friends?
    Contact the clergy.
12. How many pews/windows are in the church/chapel?
    There are 36 pews on the main floor of the church, and 12 more in the balcony. In the chapel, there are 26 pews, with two extra against the back wall. For decorating purposes, there are 8 windows paralleling the aisles, and 7 in the chapel.

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SUGGESTED FLORISTS