Weddings
General Information
First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale is aware of the importance and joy of your wedding and how meaningful a time it is to you, your family and your friends. Over the years we have found it helpful to develop policies and regulations which will help your wedding run smoothly. We suggest you read this thoroughly and feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Your wedding is a Worship Service. As such, it falls under the rules and jurisdiction of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Book of Order and the policies of its governing body, the Church Session. As with any other Worship Service, we acknowledge our dependency upon God through Jesus Christ and seek His blessing on your marriage. One of the ministers of First Church MUST be in attendance at all Wedding Services. The church, at your request, may invite another Minister, Priest or Rabbi to assist with your wedding service subject to the approval and regulations of the church.
Planning Your Wedding
 Preliminary arrangements for all weddings begin by contacting the church's Wedding Coordinator at (954) 598-9311. She will review initial requirements and dates of availability and - if applicable - provide you with a Wedding Information Form. No wedding date will be confirmed WITHOUT a completed Wedding Information Form and/or deposit check if applicable. A one hundred dollar ($100.00) deposit must accompany all Wedding Information Forms submitted by non-members. This deposit will be held until the requested date and time of the wedding is confirmed. At that time the deposit will be applied toward the Facility Cost. Deposits are not required for First Church members. Additionally, a minimum of six (6) weeks' notice prior to any requested wedding date is required. Any Wedding Information Forms submitted for approval within six (6) weeks of the requested wedding date will not be approved.
Please be as thorough as possible in completing the Wedding Information Form. Pay particularly close attention to the questions concerning first marriage and church membership. Feel free to discuss this form with the Wedding Coordinator or a Pastor at any time.
Upon receipt of the completed Wedding Information Form, the Wedding Coordinator will verbally advise the Bride of approval or non-approval as soon as possible. At that time, she will also advise as to the availability of the requested facilities, as well as to the availability of the requested minister and the musicians if possible. You will also be assigned the services of one of First Church's Wedding Coordinators who will subsequently contact you and schedule a mutually agreeable date and time to meet with you at the church to discuss all arrangements for your wedding.
Your Wedding Coordinator will assist you in working through all the details of your church ceremony. She will ensure that your florist and photographer are fully informed of Session policies and ensure their access to our facility on your wedding day. Additionally, she will work with your pastor and the members of your bridal party at the rehearsal and handle all logistical details on the day of your wedding.
You may request the First Church Pastor you prefer. If that Pastor is available, the request will normally be approved. If, however, circumstances are such that the Pastor you request is not available, another Pastor will be assigned. The Wedding Coordinator will schedule a time for pre-marital counseling with your Pastor which is in addition to required attendance at a Preparation for Marriage Seminar.
 The first step is determining the date and time for your wedding rehearsal and ceremony. First Presbyterian Church is in great demand for use of its facilities and we try to accommodate everyone for their first choice of date and time. Please understand that this is not always possible. The Wedding Information Form provides a place for you to select an alternate date and time. Additionally, a minimum of six (6) weeks' notice prior to any requested wedding date is required. Any Wedding Information Forms submitted for approval within six (6) weeks of the requested wedding date will not be approved.
In selecting a primary and alternate date, please be aware that scheduling weddings is subject to the overall calendar of the church. Weddings are not scheduled on Sundays, nor will they be scheduled at any of the following times:
New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Holy Week, Saturday before Easter, Memorial Day Weekend,
Fourth of July, Labor Day Weekend, Thanksgiving Weekend, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day
The Church's Minister of Music is in charge of all music in the church. He will assign the organist, assist you in selecting appropriate music for your wedding, and provide soloists or additional instrumentalists should you so desire. The Minister of Music makes all final decisions concerning the appropriateness of musical selections, type of music selected, musicians and soloists other than those provided by the church. He will assist you in every way to have a joyful but worshipful wedding service. Please keep in mind that First Church does not allow music on tape or compact disc.
It is usually not necessary for the organist to be present at the wedding rehearsal unless the musicians / vocalists are specifically requested to attend, or the Minister of Music feels it necessary to be present.
A Few Things to Remember
The staff of First Church works on a tight schedule throughout the week. Choosing the time and date for your wedding rehearsal and wedding service is a part of that schedule. Please advise all members of your wedding party to be on time for both the rehearsal and the wedding service.
A dressing room is provided for the bride and her attendants. Please use this area as you would your own home. Be neat and place all refuse in the provided containers. Failure to do so requires additional time and expense for custodial services and additional charges may be made.
These Session policies have been developed over a period of time with the best interests of your wedding and the church in mind. Your wedding service should be a joyful and worshipful experience and we hope to make it so. Please do not think of these policies as restrictive, rather, consider them as the Session's concern for you as you begin this journey of life together.
Preparation for Marriage Seminar
Evidencing our dedication to the strengthening of the family and new marriages, we offer several Preparation for Marriage Seminars throughout the year. These seminars are led by a team of trained members of the congregation. Attendance at a seminar is mandatory for all those requesting to be married at First Presbyterian Church.
The seminars are conducted on a Friday evening and a Saturday morning and provide valuable information to those planning for their future life together. The seminar is in addition to - not in lieu of - a scheduled counseling session with the pastor who will be performing your ceremony. There is a fee of sixty dollars ($60.00) per couple to cover the cost of meals and materials. At the conclusion of the seminar, you will receive a certificate stating that you have participated. Presenting this certificate when you apply for your marriage license will give you a slight discount in the licensing fee.
Please call Barbara Yatrousis at (954) 598-9311, or email her at BarbaraY@firstpres.cc to get seminar dates and to reserve your place.
Worship Facilities and Costs
Our facilities carry an overhead cost to the church in terms of electricity, air conditioning, set-up for the Worship Service, etc. These costs are expected to be underwritten by the couple being married and/or their families.
Main Sanctuary: This beautiful center for worship seats approximately 850-900 guests with easy viewing of the wedding party.
Watts Chapel: This inter-faith chapel, located just west of the Main Sanctuary, is equally beautiful and seats approximately 50-55 guests.
Chapel in the Sky: This facility is located on the third floor of the Neumann Center and is somewhat less formal but equally worshipful. This chapel seats approximately 80-90 guests.
Candles on the Communion Table are standard and there is no charge for them.
If a Unity Candle is to be used as part of the ceremony, the bridal couple is responsible for providing the Unity Candle (the center candle measuring between 3" and 4" in diameter) and the two (2) tapers. Candles provided should be dripless if at all possible. The church has a unity candle holder available for use at no charge.
Fees
For fee information, please call Barbara Yatrousis at (954) 598-9311, or email her at BarbaraY@firstpres.cc.
Restrictions and Policies
The Church Session has a policy that NO DRUGS, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR SMOKING are permitted on church property. This includes any ceremonial wedding champagne for toasts, etc. Violation of this policy will result in the cancellation of the wedding service. Anyone who, in the opinion of the officiating minister, appears to be under the influence of drugs or who has imbibed excessive alcohol will NOT be permitted to participate in the wedding service.
The Church Session's policy concerning floral decorations will be explained by the Wedding Coordinator. Under no circumstance may anything be taped, glued, or otherwise affixed to sanctuary or chapel furniture. Our custodians are here to assist you and they fully understand the policies. Please ask your florist not to proceed in decorating the church without approval by the Wedding Coordinator.
Please inform your florist that Session policy forbids the use of runners, step coverings or any aisle candelabra. The marble aisles and chancel area make their use unsafe.
Photography is an integral part of the memories of this special day. Flash photography is permitted during the processional and recessional but not during the Worship Service. Available light photography only is permitted from the back of the sanctuary during the Worship Service. A maximum of thirty (30) minutes is allotted following the service for photographs.
Video taping must also be taken with available light from one (1) or two (2) fixed points. Flash equipment and auxiliary lighting is NOT permitted. Please ask your photographer and/or videographer to confer with the Wedding Coordinator before making preparations for photography and/or videography.
All guests will be requested to refrain from the use of cellular phones, pages, and/or flash photography during the ceremony.
Session policy forbids the use of rice, bird seed, confetti, rose petals, or other sprinklings on church property. | 
