Wedding Policies

1. General Information
If you would like to be married at Central Presbyterian Church, please call the Senior Pastor's Secretary at the Church Office (908) 273-0441 as soon as possible to see what dates are available. Once a date is chosen, the Worship Commission is given your request for marriage. Upon approval by the Commission, you will be sent a letter of confirmation. Please contact the Wedding Coordinator as soon as you receive confirmation.

2. Wedding Coordinator
The Wedding Coordinator of Central Presbyterian Church will play an important role in helping you plan your wedding. The Wedding Coordinator is the official representative of the Church in charge of arrangements for your wedding, and will explain our policies and coordinate the details having to do with the use of the Church. Please make an appointment with the Wedding Coordinator as soon as the date of your wedding has been confirmed by the Senior Pastor's secretary.

3. Pre-marital Counseling
"Any Minister asked to marry a man and woman shall participate with the instruction and discussion of the privileges and obligations they will assume in Christian marriage."
~The Directory of the Worship of God, the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Central Presbyterian Church requires a minimum of three pre-marital counseling conferences. These meetings with the Minister should be arranged as soon as possible. Through counseling, the Minister tries to help the bride and groom prepare for Christian marriage. With a practical and realistic approach, he or she attempts to help the engaged couple understand the basic concepts of the covenant of marriage. The Minister will seek to address the spiritual, physical, social, economic and mental adjustments that attend any marriage.

4. Music
The wedding ceremony is a Christian worship service of the church. Music attending such a worship service should be consistent with the Presbyterian understanding of worship. Music accompanying the ceremony should direct attention to God who sanctifies marriage, and special care should be taken to assure that it is suitable and reverent. If desired, the congregation may be invited to join the singing of hymns during the service.

The Minister of Music will play the organ at weddings held in the Church, and will assist you in selecting music for your wedding. We recommend an early conference with the Minister of Music to make arrangements for the music. If the Minister of Music is unable to be at a wedding, he will arrange for the substitute musician.

Our Minister of Music will extend every courtesy of rehearsing with a qualified vocalist of your choice. Talk to the Minister of Music about your soloist. If you desire vocal music but do not have a soloist, you may ask our Minister of Music for recommendations.

5. Flowers and Decorations
Our traditional, neo-gothic sanctuary is most appropriately enhanced by a single bouquet of relative simplicity behind the communion table.

The couple selects the florist and arranges for placing the flowers and candles. Two single candles are always in place on the communion table, and center aisle candles are also available and can be arranged for a fee. The Wedding Coordinator is to be consulted regarding floral decorations. No nails, screws or other hardware that penetrates the woodwork may be used in the sanctuary or chapel. Florists must assume all responsibility for soil damage caused by decorations or the equipment used to decorate.

It is understood that any decorations attending a wedding will be an addition to those furnishings, appointments or banners already in place.

The church has a kneeling bench that matches the decor of the church.

6. The Marriage License
Because the act of marriage is a civil matter in New Jersey, as well as a spiritual one, a license must be obtained in advance of the ceremony. Give the license to the Minister at the beginning of the rehearsal. The license will be signed at the time of the wedding. Your marriage license may be obtained at your local Health Department up to 30 days prior to the wedding. Licenses are filed in the community where the wedding will be performed. For weddings at CPC, that would be Summit, New Jersey.

7. The Rehearsal
The Rehearsal serves to acquaint each participant with the proceedings so that each will feel comfortable about his or her part in the service. The date and time for the wedding rehearsal will be in your confirmation letter. If you need to change it, please call the Wedding Coordinator, who will inform the church office. It is extremely important that the rehearsal begins on time and that the entire wedding party be present.

8. The Photographs
Photographers come at the invitation of the family and are to be instructed in advance as to the procedures by the Wedding Coordinator. A list of guidelines developed by the Worship Commission will be given to the bride and groom. A copy of these guidelines should be given to your photographer and videographer. Flash photographs are not allowed during the wedding ceremony.

9. The Marriage Service
The order for the solemnization of marriage found in the Book of Common Worship, or the Worshipbook of the Presbyterian Church, will be used. The Minister will welcome your suggestions about specific details of the service.

10. Wedding Guidelines
It is neither tradition nor proper etiquette to arrive late for your wedding. Please be considerate of your guests, the Minister, and Minister of Music and arrive on time. Weddings which begin more than 15 minutes after their scheduled time will be assessed a late fee.

It has been found to be practical to have one usher for every 50 guests. Ushers must be present one hour prior to the ceremony and are responsible for checking last-minute details with the Wedding Coordinator.

The Wedding Coordinator has no preferred list of florists or photographers but will suggest any number who have proved satisfactory in the past.

11. Restricted Dates
Sunday weddings are not available nor are the following weekends of: Holy Week (Palm Sunday to Easter); Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day; Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas (including the week before and after).