Little Current United Church Pastoral Charge
Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! We celebrate with you as you explore the possibility of solemnizing your marriage within a church context. It is our hope that this policy will give you a better sense of our beliefs and understandings of Christian marriage at the Little Current United Church Pastoral Charge, serving the Little Current, Cold Springs, Green Bay, Honora, Rockville, and Sheguiandah Circuit.
This policy applies equally to all members, adherents and non-members of this church.
At Little Current United Church Pastoral Charge (LCUCPC)
· We celebrate marriage as both a civil ceremony and a religious rite.
· We celebrate marriage in the context of a Christian community of faith that is broad, diverse and affirming.
· We celebrate the marriages of those who have been previously divorced, annulled, or widowed.
· We celebrate the marriages of those who have children, have no children, or have children from previous relationships.
· We celebrate the marriages of those who regularly attend worship and those who do not.
· We celebrate the marriages of inter-faith and multi-faith couples
· We celebrate the marriages of couples of all sexual orientations, gender identities and races.
Marriage Ceremony
All marriages conducted through LCUCPC must follow the governing laws of Ontario and Canada, and the policies of the United Church of Canada. A marriage ceremony performed by a Christian Minister is both a civil contract and a religious ceremony. The Minister of Little Current United Church PC is a registered religious official, certified to solemnize marriages within the province of Ontario. They are responsible for seeing that all official legal requirements are met and that the policy and belief of the United Church of Canada is upheld. Couples who feel uncomfortable with this should consider a civil ceremony. Civil ceremonies are officiated by a judge, justice of the peace, or authorized municipal clerk. This means we do not offer “fully secular” marriages. There must be some Christian element within the service.
Our Minister is available to perform weddings both within the church building and at off-site locations at their discretion. Other Ministers may share in the service, or in extraordinary circumstances, conduct the marriage ceremony themselves, but this must first be approved by both the LCUCPC Council and the Minister of LCUCPC.
Marriage Counseling
Before marriage, the Minister will meet with you for a guided conversation around the “big issues” that can threatened a marriage such as finances, sexuality, and time management. They will encourage you to discuss these with each other and offer resources that may help you two to thrive. This is usually over coffee or tea and is non-judgmental.
Marriage Application and License
All couples must apply for a marriage license through Service Ontario no more than 90 days before the service. Or, communicate their intention to the Minister to use Banns at least 2 months before the service. A marriage vow renewal is not a civil contract, but a religious ceremony. Therefore, no marriage license or Banns are needed.
Elements of a Marriage Ceremony
There are many different styles of marriage ceremony and they can be as simple or as unique as you desire. All aspects of the ceremony need to be discussed with and agreed to by the Minister, and must comply with this marriage policy. In all Christian marriages, God is praised as the source of love and the initiator of covenant. Scripture is read and proclaimed in some form; promises are made between the couple and with God; and a prayer of blessing is said for all. Each wedding ceremony is a reflection of the couple being married. We will work hard with you to make sure that your big day is a faithful and meaningful reflection of who you are.
Music
Music is an important element in the wedding of many couples. At LCUCPC, we have the capacity to play pre-recorded music through our sound system, and can accommodate some special music requests. For a fee, with the assistance of our music director, you can discuss options such as having the church provide someone to play organ or piano during the ceremony, the possibility of having a choir, congregational singing, or something else that is appropriate and meaningful to you. This is optional and you may provide your own music, or musicians, if you wish.
Decorations and Flowers
Decorations and/or flowers are the responsibility of the couple to arrange. Please be aware that we do not permit the use of rice or confetti at any time in the sanctuary or anywhere else on church property. Bubbles are permitted outside. You, or a family member, are encouraged to bring decorations and flowers to the church on the date of the rehearsal. If you would prefer to do this at another time, you may contact the Minister or the church office to make suitable arrangements. It is not the responsibility of Little Current United Church to remove decorations and flowers. Please ensure someone is designated to do this following the ceremony and/or reception.
Do not remove any items belonging to the church – permanently or to borrow them. Many weddings happen on Saturdays. We still have service Sunday morning. Therefore, please intend on leaving the church ready for Sunday morning service.
Parking and Accessibility
On-site free parking is available. Parking over-night in the church lot (such as for receptions) is permitted only with approval from the Minister and LCUCPC Council due to others’ use of the building. Council meets once a month, so it is best to alert us early if you’d like to use the lot overnight.
The sanctuary is wheelchair accessible. The hall has a ramp but a wheel chair user would need assistance. A washroom with handrails, and a baby-changing station, is available. There is a pew removed for walkers or chairs to be among the congregation.
Photography and Multimedia
Photographs are a wonderful way of celebrating and capturing the joy of your wedding day. Friends, family and other guests are certainly invited to take pictures if you wish. We do have the capacity for projection and the use of video or livestreaming within our sanctuary, if you are interested, however, this must be discussed beforehand with the Minister to ensure it is used appropriately.
Bulletins
It is the couple’s responsibility to purchase and print bulletins if they are desired. After finalizing the order of service, the Minister will provide you with a copy of this information for you to distribute to the guests and the wedding party if you choose.
Witnesses and Identifications
As required by law, every marriage must be witnessed by two persons over the age of 18. These are most often close friends or family members of the couple. Please make sure to let the Minister know who you have chosen for this role. They will need to bring photo ID to the wedding rehearsal or service in order to sign as witnesses. The couple, too, will need to bring a photo ID in order to sign with the Minister the required paperwork. Some couples like this to be part of the ceremony. Others like to handle it at the rehearsal.
Unity Candles, Sand Ceremonies and other Rituals
Your friends and family play a big role in helping you celebrate your marriage. We encourage family members and friends to be involved in the ceremony in whatever way you would like. We recognize that there are many different family configurations and are happy to work with you to include children in the ceremony, if you wish. Honouring and remembering those who have passed away or are unable to present with us may also be something for you to consider. Occasionally, couples also like to include Holy Communion within the wedding ceremony. This is a sacrament of the church that acknowledges the transformative and living presence of God within our lives. In the United Church of Canada, we celebrate an open table, which places no barriers upon the receiving of communion. Anyone who feels called to partake is invited to consume the gluten free bread and non-alcoholic juice. If you are interested in including communion as part of your ceremony, please let the Minister know.
Wedding Rehearsal
Once a date for the wedding has been agreed upon, the rehearsal date can be scheduled. A rehearsal is optional. Typically, this happens a day or two before the ceremony. All members of the wedding party are encouraged to attend, and you may invite any other guests you wish. The wedding rehearsal is an opportunity to do a dry-run of the ceremony to make sure that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities and to help relieve some of the last-minute jitters that appear at times like this.
Alcohol and Cannabis
Please be advised that according to Canadian law, a couple must be completely sober during their marriage ceremony. Therefore, please do not consume alcohol or cannabis before the service. We understand that you may be nervous during the rehearsal or before the wedding ceremony, but please wait until the wedding reception. If the Minister has any suspicions that the couple is not sober, they will postpone the marriage.
Marriage Certificates – Post-Ceremony
There are three pieces of paper that need to be completed for the wedding ceremony – the marriage license, the LCUCPC marriage register, and the Record of Solemnization of Marriage. Following the ceremony, the Minister will mail the completed marriage license to the provincial government to be registered. The marriage register is kept at LCUCPC as a secondary record of the marriage, and the Record of Solemnization will be given to the couple as their personal record of the marriage. The Record of Solemnization is accepted by the province as legal proof of marriage. You will need this for tax purposes and to assist in other updates of information, such as any name changes. After the ceremony, you may contact ServiceOntario if you wish to apply for a formal, permanent marriage certificate, which will then be mailed to you within 4-6 weeks. For more information, visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/getting-married
Personnel Fees
Minister: $300.00 (plus current CRA tax mileage rate per km if at another venue)
Church Music Director: $75.00 (plus current CRA tax mileage rate per km if at another venue) - optional
Church Sanctuary and Hall Rental: $175.00 – optional. $100 of this is a "damages deposit." This $100 is returned to you if the church is returned to a state ready for Sunday worship by those you designate to remove décor, vacuum, and sweep.
**All fees are due in full 2 weeks prior to the date of the ceremony via cash, a cheque, or etransfer to lcucoffering@bellnet.ca
Revised 2025
Revised 2001
Revised 1996
Revised 1990