HISTORIC ST. LUKE'S CHURCH WEDDING GUIDELINES

We are delighted that you have chosen Historic St. Luke’s Church to celebrate your wedding vows.   Because it is a National Historic Landmark and a house of worship, we have prepared some guidelines.   We make the church available to all Christian denominations.   Any points not covered by these guidelines must be discussed in advance with the appropriate St. Luke’s wedding representative.   It is best that you clarify and confirm all aspects of the guidelines before printing invitations and finalizing the services of those individuals who will be involved with your wedding.

Please understand that our basic mission is to protect and show the church to visitors. When you reserve the church for a wedding, we will suspend tours 30 minutes prior to the wedding to allow you to seat your guests.   If you need some time ahead of this to set up unity candles, etc., we will work with you while still showing the church.   Likewise, after the ceremony is over, we will allow visitors into the sanctuary.   This may be while your party is still taking pictures.  We will allow you time to take pictures, but please understand that we will not deny visitors access to the church at this time.

You are asking to be married in an historic church that has many valuable artifacts.   Please do not assume to use, move,
or handle any items not designated for your use.   Please inform your minister and other members of your wedding party of this as well.   We will do our best to accommodate you, but cannot guarantee that we will be able to satisfy all of your wishes.

SCHEDULING – Weddings may take place on Tuesday through Sunday. Weddings are not conducted during Holy Week (Palm Sunday through Easter).  

REHEARSALS – The rehearsal should start at 4:00 p.m., or earlier if agreed upon, and one hour is allotted in the church. The purpose of a wedding rehearsal is to allow the wedding party to practice the logistics of the ceremony.   Normally, the person conducting the ceremony will be in charge of the rehearsal. If you plan to have a wedding coordinator working with you, please determine who will be in charge of the rehearsal in the church as St. Luke’s staff members are not in charge of conducting your rehearsal.

CLERGY – It is the responsibility of the couple to provide their own ordained clergy who will conduct a religious service. Civil services are NOT permitted.

DECORATIONS – The only decorations allowed are live floral arrangements to be placed in or on top of the two brass altar vases. The altar flowers are to remain in the church and are considered a donation.   The arrangements may not be taller than the altar cross. There are 24” between the top of the vases and the top of the cross. No loose flower petals may be distributed inside or immediately outside the church and neither rice nor bird seed may be tossed on the premises. Any other decorations in the church must be approved by the Historic St. Luke’s representative and become a part of this contract. (See Special Arrangements and Variations) We provide altar candles and the other candles in the pews.   These will be lit by the staff approximately 30 minutes prior to the service.   Unity candles may be used, but the candles and holders must be provided by the wedding party.   We allow the use of the 17 th century credence table near the altar for the unity candles.   Because dripping wax is difficult to remove from the glass top, we require that you provide a cloth or cover to catch the drips from the candles.   The top of the table measures 21” by 23.5”.   The credence table is over 300 years old and, therefore, delicate.   Please do not move it.   Lifting the table is damaging.

SEATING – The church seats approximately 130 people.   The balcony is off limits except to the musicians and for video set up. The great door of the church is opened to allow ease of entrance and egress.   Because of the effect on our climate control, it will not be kept open during the service.   Please restrict, or advise, your guests accordingly.   Only the Historic St. Luke’s staff will operate the door.

MUSIC – The Walker organ in the balcony is available for all weddings.   A list of organists and other musicians is provided in the wedding packet.   Any organist not on this list must be approved by the St. Luke’s Staff representative.   Other instruments, as approved, may be used. If any musician wishes to practice in the church during the weeks prior to the wedding, please have them call the office to schedule their time.   We often have large tours or other events scheduled and practice may not go on during those events. click here for a list of musicians

PHOTOGRAPHY – Please see the attached copy of the Photographers’ Guidelines as part of this agreement..

• NO PHOTOS MAY BE TAKEN DURING THE CEREMONY: Pictures are permitted in the church before and after the ceremony. For clarification, the ceremony begins when the Bride processes through the Chancel screen and ends when the Bride and Groom recess through the Chancel screen. Cameras may not be used by guests during the service.   If a wedding program is printed, we request that you include a reference to no pictures during the service. VIDEO CAMERAS:   Video cameras may be used ONLY in a stationary, unmanned and unobtrusive position in the balcony or in an altar box pew.   The camera may not be moved during the ceremony.
• After the ceremony is over, we will begin showing the church.   This may be while you are still taking pictures.   We will work with you on this to allow you time to take pictures, but please understand that we will not deny visitors access to the church at this time.
• The photographer is to provide a photograph, as permitted and selected by the wedding couple, to Historic St. Luke’s for use on our website, documentation, and/or other publications.

BRIDE’S ROOM – We provide a room in the Administration Building for the Bride and Bridesmaids to dress. It will be available 1 hour before the ceremony. All items belonging to the Bridal Party should be removed from the room prior to the wedding.   No food, alcoholic drinks, or smoking is permitted in the Bride’s Room or rest room provided.

PARKING LOT – Please inform your guests that after the rehearsal or wedding ceremony, the gates to the church parking lot will be locked at 7:00 p.m. E.D.T. and at 5:00 p.m E.S.T.   If your car is locked inside the gates, you must retrieve your vehicle the next day after 8:00 a.m.

ST. LUKE’S STAFF – A staff member will be in the church at all times.   This person serves to supervise the care of the church and to interpret the wedding guidelines in the absence of the director.   The staff represents St. Luke’s Church and can address any area of dispute. Please use their expertise.

NOTE:   PLEASE DESIGNATE PEOPLE TO
-Remove floral decorations, guest book, left over programs, unity candles, and other articles brought by the wedding party and used in the church.