Elmwood Baptist Church

Wedding Policy

Dr. Gary L. Randall

Senior Pastor

Pastor Chris Knutsen

Assistant Pastor

Pastor Josh Lehman

Assistant Pastor

Pastor Ryan Fox

Assistant Pastor

Pastor Mark Alber

Assistant Pastor

13100 E 144th Ave.

Brighton, CO

303-659-3818

Congratulations

We at Elmwood Baptist Church want to congratulate you on your desire to be united in Holy Matrimony. Please know that it is our desire that your wedding be the happiest event of your life, and that it not only be a testimony of your love for each other, but that it also show the deepest reverence and respect possible for God Almighty.

So, at your request we share with you our Biblically based standards, from which we will never deviate in the fulfillment of Holy Matrimony.

God is the creator of the Marriage relationship. HE best knows how to build a happy marriage. To this end HE says in Psalm 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: …”

The Bible contains the “blue print” for marriage, these bonding principles when understood, and applied bring the blessing of God on the union of two people. There lies within us a deeply held conviction that God desires us to hold up the purity that is embodied in the terms “Holy Matrimony”

Many churches have different standards, or no standards at all for which to perform this sacred ceremony, and we fully honor their right to do as they wish.

Without prejudice, we understand that it may be that our high expectations will not meet the desires of others... we accept this, knowing that Elmwood Baptist Church, and it’s staff, are not at all necessary for you to move forward with your marriage plans.

If it should to be your strong desire that you want a ceremony that will be sacred, and God Honoring, then Elmwood Baptist Church and it‘s staff will be happy to help.

Biblical Standards

1. An initial wedding interview will be conducted by the EBC Pastor performing the marriage. An evaluation and decision will be made as to whether pre- marital Counseling will be required. Age and maturity of the couples involved will be considered.

If in the event one or both parties are teenagers, they will be required to complete pre-marital counseling.

It must be understood, that if pre-marital counseling is required, the date of the wedding will be set AFTER the conclusion and final determination of the counseling. I Cor. 14:40 “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

2. All public or private weddings, which take place at EBC, must have the ap proval of the Senior Pastor. If for any reason a Pastor on the EBC staff has declined to marry a couple, no other Pastor of the Church will be permitted to perform the ceremony. Mark 3:25 “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”

3. Weddings are performed for members only. This means that at least one of Wedding couple, or one of the couple’s parent (s) or grand parents must be a current faithful members of Elmwood Baptist Church in good standing. I Cor. 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

4. Weddings between one who by verbal testimony is a born again Christian and another who is not, cannot be performed. II Cor. 6:14 “Be ye not un equally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath

righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”

5. In cases where one or both of the parties have been divorced, the Pastor asked to perform the ceremony must decide, in light of the specific circum- stances and applicable Scriptures, whether or not to perform the ceremony. Mark 10:11-12 “And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. [12] And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she commit- teth adultery.”

Matthew 19:9 “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”

6. Only couples who have the expressed blessing of their parent (s) will be wed at EBC (Age of persons involved, and circumstances can alter this policy). Eph. 6:2-3 “Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) [3] That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

7. Wedding dresses and the dresses of all attendants must be modest! Strapless, backless, low-cut and above the knee dresses are not modest and honoring to God. 1 Tim. 2:9 “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;”

8. Wedding Coordinators may be hired by the Wedding Party to handle specific details or decorations, however the Pastors of EBC will be in charge of the rehearsal and performing of the wedding if it is held in the buildings of EBC.

9. The Marriage Ceremony will not be performed if any person in the Wed ding party is under the influence of alcohol or drugs before or after the re- hearsal or on the wedding day (other than those legally prescribed by a doctor). NOTE: Any member of the wedding party coming under the in- fluence of alcohol or drugs on the wedding day will cause the wedding to be cancelled immediately, with complete forfeiture of the Wedding deposit. Proverbs 20:1 “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

Habakkuk 2:15 “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!”

Ephesians. 5:18 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”

1 Cor. 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

The Ceremony

1. There is appropriate music for all occasions in life including Weddings. No one piece of music is appropriate for every occasion.

All music to be played or sung at the Wedding must be first approved by the Pastor performing the ceremony. We do not allow any taped back ground music.

We understand that everyone believes their tape music is appropriate for this sacred occasion… some indeed may well be…. some certainly would not be… We will not make the distinction) Elmwood Baptist Church musicians will provide beautiful live music for the wedding ceremony.

We are clearly more concerned with the sacredness of the ceremony than with its entertainment quality.

2. From the rehearsal to the wedding ceremony, no changes will be allowed without the approval of the officiating Pastor.

3. The Marriage license must be brought to the Wedding ceremony. NOTE: No wedding can legally be performed without an official State Issued Marriage license.

4. Decorations requiring alterations or damage to the building in any way are not permitted.

5. SMOKING is not permitted on Church property. This is God’s property. Those who must smoke may do so in their cars, showing honor to God’s property by leaving their cigarette debris in their vehicle.

6. We ask that No rice or confetti be thrown inside the building. This will involve extensively more clean-up or expense by the family.

7. Sunday wedding will not be scheduled. No exceptions

Saturday Weddings begin NO LATER than 2:00 pm.

Friday Weddings begin NO LATER than 7:00 pm.

These times are necessary to insure that the Church will be ready for Church services on Sunday.

8. We insist on BEESWAX or mechanical candles because they do not drip. Wax is almost impossible to remove from carpet, and requires professional cleaning. This of course would be an additional expense of the Wedding couple.

9. Baby sitting and child care will not be provided. Nursery facilities of EBC are not made available for weddings.

10. It is the full responsibility of the Wedding couple to make sure that all involved understand these policies, and to insure they are complied with.

Receptions

1. It is recommended that receptions and parties be held at a separate location than the Church.