Weddings
COVID-19 AND WEDDINGS
During the current pandemic, this congregation is committed to providing ministry that is faithful and safe. We are committed to doing all that can be done to conduct the Rite of Marriage. Practices regarding weddings are being regularly reviewed and updated. Scheduling a wedding is done case by case. Public distancing and number of people who may gather is subject to the congregation’s policies and the judgment of the pastors. Be prepared to change your plans as the situation demands. We ask for your patience and understanding as we respond.
During the current pandemic, this congregation is committed to providing ministry that is faithful and safe. We are committed to doing all that can be done to conduct the Rite of Marriage. Practices regarding weddings are being regularly reviewed and updated. Scheduling a wedding is done case by case. Public distancing and number of people who may gather is subject to the congregation’s policies and the judgment of the pastors. Be prepared to change your plans as the situation demands. We ask for your patience and understanding as we respond.
Weddings at Holy Trinity
We are pleased that you are interested in having your wedding at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.
Marriage does not belong exclusively to the church. While marriage is ordained by God and celebrated by the church as a step in the baptismal journey, it is also a social contract, governed and regulated by the state for the purpose of protecting individuals and providing stability to the social order. But to the Christian it is more:
We are pleased that you are interested in having your wedding at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.
Marriage does not belong exclusively to the church. While marriage is ordained by God and celebrated by the church as a step in the baptismal journey, it is also a social contract, governed and regulated by the state for the purpose of protecting individuals and providing stability to the social order. But to the Christian it is more:
- We believe God ordained marriage to enrich the lives of couples, and to provide a sound basis for family life.
- We believe God’s intention for marriage is that it be a life-long relationship based on the commitment by the couple.
- We believe God’s self-giving love and faithfulness toward us is the foundation of a committed relationship between couples. In the words of St. Paul, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
- We believe God, along with the church, desires marriage to be a source of faith, joy, love and fulfillment. Marriages rooted in God’s steadfast love will be the most likely to experience these qualities.
Policies And Fees
Who can be married at Holy Trinity?
Because of pastoral staff limitations and demand, Holy Trinity is only able to celebrate weddings in the following cases:
One of the parties must be an active member of the congregation;
C8.04: It shall be the privilege and duty of members of this congregation to: a. Make regular use of the means of grace, both Word and sacraments; b. Live a Christian life in accordance with the Word of God and the teachings of the Lutheran church; and c. Support the work of this congregation, the synod, and the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America through contributions of their time, abilities, and financial support as biblical stewards.
B3.04: Confirmed members who do not commune and contribute for a period of two years shall no longer be considered voting members of the congregation and may be removed from the record of membership of the congregation. These members shall remain persons for whom the congregation has a continuing pastoral concern and will be welcomed to re-establish membership at any time. B3.05 Members, who have resigned, transferred to other Lutheran congregations, or who are definitely known to have become members of another congregation without transfer, shall cease to be voting members.
Because of pastoral staff limitations and demand, Holy Trinity is only able to celebrate weddings in the following cases:
One of the parties must be an active member of the congregation;
- A parent of one of the parties must be an active member of the congregation.
- The Congregation’s Constitution defines membership as follows:
C8.04: It shall be the privilege and duty of members of this congregation to: a. Make regular use of the means of grace, both Word and sacraments; b. Live a Christian life in accordance with the Word of God and the teachings of the Lutheran church; and c. Support the work of this congregation, the synod, and the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America through contributions of their time, abilities, and financial support as biblical stewards.
B3.04: Confirmed members who do not commune and contribute for a period of two years shall no longer be considered voting members of the congregation and may be removed from the record of membership of the congregation. These members shall remain persons for whom the congregation has a continuing pastoral concern and will be welcomed to re-establish membership at any time. B3.05 Members, who have resigned, transferred to other Lutheran congregations, or who are definitely known to have become members of another congregation without transfer, shall cease to be voting members.
Confirm the Date
The first step is to request use of the building on the date of your wedding. You can download a form or stop by the church office to pick one up. The completed form and the reservation fee (below) must be received before the date will be reserved. Please note that there are some dates and seasons of the year that are unavailable due to the celebrations and mission of the congregation. Weddings will not be celebrated during the season of Lent, during Holy Week, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Pastors reserve the right to not schedule weddings on holiday weekends.
A wedding date and time should be reserved well in advance (six months is the minimum) with the Minister of Administration. There will be a limit of 5 hours in the church the day of the wedding. The congregation celebrates weekly worship on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. A Saturday wedding must be out of the building and all cleanup must be completed by 4:30 p.m. If wedding pictures are being taken before the ceremony, the service can begin no later than 3:00 p.m. If pictures are taking place after the service, then it can begin no later than 2:00 p.m. A reception in the Fellowship Hall must begin by 2:00 p.m. A rehearsal will also be scheduled at this time. For a Saturday wedding the rehearsal will be the Friday night before the wedding at 5:30 p.m. Friday night wedding and reception times can vary.
The first step is to request use of the building on the date of your wedding. You can download a form or stop by the church office to pick one up. The completed form and the reservation fee (below) must be received before the date will be reserved. Please note that there are some dates and seasons of the year that are unavailable due to the celebrations and mission of the congregation. Weddings will not be celebrated during the season of Lent, during Holy Week, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Pastors reserve the right to not schedule weddings on holiday weekends.
A wedding date and time should be reserved well in advance (six months is the minimum) with the Minister of Administration. There will be a limit of 5 hours in the church the day of the wedding. The congregation celebrates weekly worship on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. A Saturday wedding must be out of the building and all cleanup must be completed by 4:30 p.m. If wedding pictures are being taken before the ceremony, the service can begin no later than 3:00 p.m. If pictures are taking place after the service, then it can begin no later than 2:00 p.m. A reception in the Fellowship Hall must begin by 2:00 p.m. A rehearsal will also be scheduled at this time. For a Saturday wedding the rehearsal will be the Friday night before the wedding at 5:30 p.m. Friday night wedding and reception times can vary.
Wedding Coordinator
A wedding coordinator who is authorized by the congregation is required for all weddings. After your date is reserved, a wedding coordinator will be assigned to your event. They will be in touch with you to set up an initial planning session. If you have a private wedding coordinator working to arrange the reception, photos, etc., they will not be allowed to be involved in the wedding service or use of the church facilities.
The Wedding Coordinator is responsible for:
A wedding coordinator who is authorized by the congregation is required for all weddings. After your date is reserved, a wedding coordinator will be assigned to your event. They will be in touch with you to set up an initial planning session. If you have a private wedding coordinator working to arrange the reception, photos, etc., they will not be allowed to be involved in the wedding service or use of the church facilities.
The Wedding Coordinator is responsible for:
- Initial meeting with the couple.
- Provide support from the initial meeting through the wedding.
- Meet with the couple and suppliers when necessary to view church facilities.
- Give contact information on music for the ceremony.
- Schedule sound system tech.
- Final meeting with the couple about 1 week prior to the wedding (if needed).
- Assist pastor at rehearsal and wedding day.
Pastor
Once a Wedding Coordinator is assigned, a pastor of the congregation will be assigned responsibility for your wedding service. Ordained pastors or priests outside the congregation may be authorized by one of the pastors of the congregation to officiate if they are pastors in good standing with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) or one of the ELCA’s full communion partners (Episcopal Church USA, Presbyterian Church USA, Reformed Church in America, United Methodist Church, Moravian Church). The pastors reserve the right to change the assignment if necessary up to and including the wedding day. See Planning the Service.
Once a Wedding Coordinator is assigned, a pastor of the congregation will be assigned responsibility for your wedding service. Ordained pastors or priests outside the congregation may be authorized by one of the pastors of the congregation to officiate if they are pastors in good standing with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) or one of the ELCA’s full communion partners (Episcopal Church USA, Presbyterian Church USA, Reformed Church in America, United Methodist Church, Moravian Church). The pastors reserve the right to change the assignment if necessary up to and including the wedding day. See Planning the Service.
Musicians
The primary musicians of the congregation provide musical leadership at a wedding service in the congregation. Your wedding coordinator will advise you on how to contact the congregation’s organist and /or soloist, pianists etc. If you wish to have someone from outside the congregation provide music, organists and pianists will need to consult with the music staff to ensure that they are capable and qualified to use the equipment of the congregation.
The primary musicians of the congregation provide musical leadership at a wedding service in the congregation. Your wedding coordinator will advise you on how to contact the congregation’s organist and /or soloist, pianists etc. If you wish to have someone from outside the congregation provide music, organists and pianists will need to consult with the music staff to ensure that they are capable and qualified to use the equipment of the congregation.
Pre-Marital Counseling
All couples are required to participate in pre-marital counseling sessions with the pastor. Plan to meet for one-three sessions. Occasionally group sessions are available. Contact the pastor after your wedding date is confirmed to determine plans for premarital counseling.
All couples are required to participate in pre-marital counseling sessions with the pastor. Plan to meet for one-three sessions. Occasionally group sessions are available. Contact the pastor after your wedding date is confirmed to determine plans for premarital counseling.
Secure A Wedding License
Iowa law requires couples to secure a license to marry. You may apply for a license at the office of any County Clerk of Court in the state of Iowa. The license is due to the church office the Monday prior to your wedding along with all payments.
Iowa law requires couples to secure a license to marry. You may apply for a license at the office of any County Clerk of Court in the state of Iowa. The license is due to the church office the Monday prior to your wedding along with all payments.
Wedding Fees - Weddings at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Prices are subject to change
A non-refundable wedding reservation fee of $100 is due when booking your date at the church. The fee for a wedding at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church is $1,000.
This includes:
Additional Fees:
Prices are subject to change
A non-refundable wedding reservation fee of $100 is due when booking your date at the church. The fee for a wedding at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church is $1,000.
This includes:
- Pastor fee
- Organist/pianist
- Wedding coordinator
- 1 hour rehearsal
- 5 hours wedding day
- Pre-martial counseling
- Sound system tech
Additional Fees:
- Reception at the church-$350
- Additional instrument & extra soloist-$150
Wedding Fees - Off-site Weddings
The fee for a wedding that takes place offsite is $400 plus travel expenses.
The fee for a wedding that takes place offsite is $400 plus travel expenses.
Planning the Service
Schedule a meeting with the pastor two-four weeks before your wedding. As you meet with the pastor to plan your ceremony, you are encouraged to bring ideas about ways to personalize your wedding. What is done in the service should be appropriate to a service of worship and consistent with the Christian understanding of marriage as expressed in the Order for Marriage, pages 286-291 of the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Hymnal. Click here to review sample of the typical elements of the service.
Choose two or three scripture readings including one from the Gospels before your meeting with the pastor. Select a scripture that will be consistent with the theme you want to emphasize in your ceremony. You may wish to choose a psalm to be sung, either by a soloist or the congregation. Members of your family or wedding party may serve as the readers of the scripture that you select.
Some options of selections appropriate for wedding ceremonies are as follows. Click here to read the full text of each reading.
Schedule a meeting with the pastor two-four weeks before your wedding. As you meet with the pastor to plan your ceremony, you are encouraged to bring ideas about ways to personalize your wedding. What is done in the service should be appropriate to a service of worship and consistent with the Christian understanding of marriage as expressed in the Order for Marriage, pages 286-291 of the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Hymnal. Click here to review sample of the typical elements of the service.
Choose two or three scripture readings including one from the Gospels before your meeting with the pastor. Select a scripture that will be consistent with the theme you want to emphasize in your ceremony. You may wish to choose a psalm to be sung, either by a soloist or the congregation. Members of your family or wedding party may serve as the readers of the scripture that you select.
Some options of selections appropriate for wedding ceremonies are as follows. Click here to read the full text of each reading.
- Genesis 1:26-31---Male and Female created by God
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12---The value of relationships
- Psalm 98---Sing a new song of joy
- Psalm 100---Praise and thanksgiving for God’s love and mercy
- Matthew 5:13-16---Live your Christian vocation in your marriage
- Matthew 6:25-34--- Have Faith in God
- Matthew 19:4-6---Wise builders of faith
- John 2:1-11---The wedding at Cana
- John 15:9-17---Love one another
- Romans 15:5-6---Harmonious Living
- Romans 12:9-12---Exhortation to Love
- 1 Corinthians 13---Love, the greatest gift and way
- Ephesians 3:14-19---A prayer for God’s wisdom
- Ephesians 5:21-23---Marriage and the church
- Philippians 4:4-8---Rejoice in God & receive God’s peace
- Philippians 2:1-5---Imitating Christ's humility
- Colossians 3:12-17---Clothed in gifts of God
- 1 Peter 2:4-9---Christ is the foundation of our relationships
- Phillipians 2:1-5
- Colossians 3:12-15
Music
All music selections should be approved by the Pastor two-four weeks before the wedding and be in accordance with the nature of the wedding.
All music selections should be approved by the Pastor two-four weeks before the wedding and be in accordance with the nature of the wedding.
Rehearsals
The rehearsal will take place the evening before the wedding at 5:30pm. All participants need to be present. The Wedding Coordinator leads the rehearsal in partnership with the pastor. The rehearsal needs to start on time to respect the schedules of those leading and will take usually no more than 30-60 minutes.
The rehearsal will take place the evening before the wedding at 5:30pm. All participants need to be present. The Wedding Coordinator leads the rehearsal in partnership with the pastor. The rehearsal needs to start on time to respect the schedules of those leading and will take usually no more than 30-60 minutes.
Bulletins
Printed bulletins will NOT be done by the Church office, but are to be approved by the presiding minister before printing.
Printed bulletins will NOT be done by the Church office, but are to be approved by the presiding minister before printing.
Decorations
The marriage service is a time to praise God for bringing the two of you to this point in your relationship, to ask God’s blessing on your marriage, and to make your vows public to the community of witnesses. You are encouraged to focus on your marriage more than on planning this one day. Much time and money can be invested in your wedding day, but it makes more sense to invest it in your days and years ahead. A simple wedding displays celebration and common sense. It is not necessary to go into debt to have a lovely wedding. Make your investment in your marriage.
The marriage service is a time to praise God for bringing the two of you to this point in your relationship, to ask God’s blessing on your marriage, and to make your vows public to the community of witnesses. You are encouraged to focus on your marriage more than on planning this one day. Much time and money can be invested in your wedding day, but it makes more sense to invest it in your days and years ahead. A simple wedding displays celebration and common sense. It is not necessary to go into debt to have a lovely wedding. Make your investment in your marriage.
- Decorations are not necessary, but if desired must be provided by you.
- No flowers are allowed on the altar
- Unity candles and other aspects of the ceremony can be used but again are not a necessary part of the service. They will be placed near the altar on an appropriate table.
- The color of the paraments on the altar and lectern are determined by the season of the church year. They cannot be changed or removed for weddings.
- Liturgical furniture shall not be moved.
- The candles on the wall behind the altar are oil candles and may be used for your wedding.
- Decorations may not be affixed to the pews in any way.
Conduct of Guests
THE USE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IS NOT PERMITTED ON THE CHURCH PREMISES (BUILDING OR PARKING LOT). Persons under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances will not be permitted to participate in the wedding. Smoking is prohibited on the church premises. The Pastor reserves the right to halt the ceremony if a member of the wedding party or a guest is behaving in an inappropriate manner.
Please inform your family and friends that no pictures are to be taken during the service.
THE USE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IS NOT PERMITTED ON THE CHURCH PREMISES (BUILDING OR PARKING LOT). Persons under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances will not be permitted to participate in the wedding. Smoking is prohibited on the church premises. The Pastor reserves the right to halt the ceremony if a member of the wedding party or a guest is behaving in an inappropriate manner.
Please inform your family and friends that no pictures are to be taken during the service.
Photographers and Videos
Floodlights or flash are not permitted during the ceremony. Any pictures taken during the ceremony, after the processional, must be taken from the back of the church. All pictures should be taken prior to the wedding ceremony.
Floodlights or flash are not permitted during the ceremony. Any pictures taken during the ceremony, after the processional, must be taken from the back of the church. All pictures should be taken prior to the wedding ceremony.
Arrangements and Notes
- Sanctuary: The Sanctuary seats approximately 352 people.
- Aisle Runners are NOT permitted.
- The Fellowship Hall and Gathering Space are available for serving lunch or snack on the day of your wedding, but food is restricted to these areas only. You are responsible for the cleanup of leftover food and beverages in these areas. Designate someone to do this for you.
- Anyone planning to leave their vehicle at the church after the wedding should park in the overflow parking lot which is located on the east side of the church on Elm Street.
