Christ Church, Fort Lauderdale
Thursday, February 23, 2012

Weddings

First of all, congratulations on your engagement! We will be praying for you as you begin your life together. We believe that a wedding is a service of worship, a celebration of the covenant between God, a man, and a woman. We will work with you to make your wedding as beautiful as it can be— a sacred experience you will always remember.
 
To schedule a wedding at Christ Church, Fort Lauderdale campus, your initial contact will be through our Wedding Coordinator, Patrice Miller, at 954.771.7300 x218. If you want to have your wedding in the historic chapel on our Pompano Beach campus, please contact Louise Wood, Wedding Coordinator, at 954.675.7595. We suggest that you contact the church to schedule your wedding at least six months before your wedding date, but no less than two months before.
 
Here are some frequently asked questions about weddings at Christ Church...
 

Where can weddings take place?

Weddings usually take place in either our Sanctuary or our Chapel. The Sanctuary at Fort Lauderdale can hold 800 guests. The Chapel at Pompano Beach is a more intimate space, and can hold 100 guests. In addition, weddings can be held in other locations on our Christ Church sites (Fort Lauderdale Gym, Pompano Beach Sikes Hall, etc.), and can also take place off-site, dependent on pastor availability.

How do I schedule a wedding?

Your initial contact will be through our Wedding Coordinator. We suggest that you contact the church to schedule your wedding at least six months before your wedding date, but no less than two months before. No weddings will be scheduled on holidays including Easter weekend, July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day (some exceptions may occur). Your wedding date should not be announced until availability is confirmed with the Wedding Coordinator.
To schedule a wedding in the:
  • Fort Lauderdale Sanctuary, please contact Wedding Coordinator Patrice Miller at 954.771.7300 x218.
  • Pompano Beach Historic Chapel, please contact Wedding Coordinator, Louise Wood, at 954.675.7595.
  • For an off-site wedding (not taking place at Christ Church), directly contact the pastor you wish to officiate. If you do not know which pastor you wish to officiate at your off-site wedding, please contact Patrice Miller, the Wedding Coordinator, at 954.771.7300 x218.

What does a wedding cost at Christ Church?

Use of the Sanctuary or Chapel No charge
Pastor's Services (No charge to members) $150.00
Wedding Coordinator's Services $200.00
Wedding Custodian's Services $100.00
Pianist or Organist Fees $175.00
Soloist Fee varies
Sound Technician $75.00
Online PREPARE Inventory (per couple) $29.95
Marriage Seminar (per couple) $50.00
Unity Candle (not available in Pompano Beach) No charge
Aisle Candles (not available in Pompano Beach) $15.00
These fees must be paid to the Wedding Coordinator two weeks prior to the wedding. The Wedding Coordinator will discuss the fees and payment methods with you at your appointment.

Do I have to use the Wedding Coordinator?

The Wedding Coordinator ensures that your wedding will run as smoothly as possible. She directs and manages, in consultation with the officiating pastor, all weddings at Christ Church from the beginning of the process to the wedding itself. The Wedding Coordinator is a vital connecting link between the wedding couple, pastor, office staff, custodians, musicians, florist, photographer, and videographer.
A Wedding Coordinator is not required if your wedding is small: a service for less than 50 family and friends, no musicians or sound system, and no more than two attendants on either side.

What kind of pre-marital counseling is required?

We have a commitment not only to making your wedding day as beautiful and meaningful as possible, but in helping the two of you have a long and happy marriage together. After the initial appointment with the Wedding Coordinator and the confirmation of the wedding date and officiating pastor, you will need to call the Wedding Coordinator to set up a time to take the PREPARE online. 
This is a special inventory taken via the internet used by all of our pastors. A processing fee of $29.95, paid online, will be required at the time you take the inventory.  Three weeks after taking the PREPARE, you will need to call your officiating pastor at 954.771.7300 to set up an appointment for at least two one-hour pre-marital counseling sessions. In those sessions, the pastor will discuss the results of the inventory, your hopes and fears for your marriage, and the wedding ceremony.
Because we are committed to the success of your marriage, it is our expectation that you will participate in a weekend Marriage Seminar through Christ Church. The cost for this workshop is $50 per couple, and it is offered four times each year. Your participation can be scheduled through the Wedding Coordinator.For more information on the Marriage Seminar, visit echristchurch.org/marriage.

Can I choose which pastor officiates at my wedding?

If you would prefer a particular Christ Church pastor to officiate at your wedding, please let the Wedding Coordinator know, and she will check that pastor's availability on your wedding date. However, there is no guarantee that the requested pastor will be available. Pastors are scheduled to perform weddings on a monthly rotating basis.
A Christ Church pastor will officiate at all weddings. If you wish for a pastor from another church to also take part in the wedding, please discuss this with the Wedding Coordinator and the officiating Christ Church pastor.

What about flowers, decorations, music, photos, and videos?

The Wedding Coordinator will discuss all these things and more with you at your appointment. She will be an important resource for you as you prepare for your wedding.

Can I have my reception at Christ Church?

Currently, we do not offer a space for receptions at Christ Church. There are many wonderful restaurants and banquet facilities in the area, and we would encourage you to explore the possibilities. There are very limited exceptions to this rule.

How do I get more information? 

Please call our Wedding Coordinator, Patrice Miller, at 954.771.7300 x218, for more information on weddings, to schedule a wedding, or to discuss options.