Weddings

So you'd like to be married in this church.

A wedding is a joyous event. This is a faithful community and a lovely building. A worship service celebrating your commitment to each other before God is a wonderful way to begin your life together. As we consider your plans, including the use of our church, there are some things we will need to know! and many questions that you will want answered. This document is designed to answer some of your questions.

Before you do anything else, if you are hoping to be married here, talk to our pastor. Don't rent a hall or have invitations printed only to find the church is unavailable or the pastor will be away. Meet with the pastor in plenty of time to get comfortable with her and the church before your plans are final, or your deadlines are pressing upon you. Permission for a wedding service is granted through the Board of Deacons, so if you are not members of the church, please send a letter to the Board of Deacons explaining your interest in being married in this church to the post office box address.

We ask that you attend worship services in our church so that you have experienced worship where your wedding will take place. 

Is there a fee for the use of the church?

There are costs involved in maintaining a lovely building like this and having a minister available to the church community.  There are also additional costs for special services. Weddings involve ten to fifteen hours of the pastor's time and during the winter the heating of the sanctuary is required. 

Although there is no fee for Church Members to use the church or the facilities, compensation is required for the pastor and any church musicians.  You may also donate to the church if you wish.  

For NON members the costs are as follows:  

  1. Sanctuary use fee:  $250 (includes cleaning before and after the service) 

  2. Kitchen use fee:  $50 

  3. Pastoral services:   $250  

  4. Church Basement Reception fee $200 (includes cleanup before and after)

Any additional donation made to the church will go into the Pastor's Fund for special purchases and needs not covered by our regular church budget.

Approved on April 29, 2026 by the Board of Deacons



  • Amy Davin, Pastor  

    (802) 436-2224 (Office)  

    revamydavin@gmail.com

    fcchartland@gmail.com

  • The pastor will want to get to know both of you. The traditional wedding service states: " Marriage is a gift of God, sealed by a sacred covenant.   Therefore. . . . marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God. 

    The pastor will want to know how you came to a decision to be married, and why you want to be married in this church in a Christian service of worship and celebration. She will want to discuss the wedding vows with you to determine that you have seriously considered the sacred vows you will make. She will want to know what kind of wedding you have in mind and what you need and expect of her.

  • Most couples meet with the pastor at least twice before the wedding rehearsal. The first meeting is to get acquainted and to give the pastor an idea of your hopes and plans and to obtain the necessary information for the wedding. The last meeting is to finalize all plans for the worship service and to be sure all details are considered and covered. Any potential additional meetings would be to explore questions and problems you may have, considering the meaning of the vows you will take, talking about the service in general, and planning your wedding in particular.

  • Yes, there is a chance. If you do not want or are uncomfortable in a Christian church, this is the wrong place.  If either party is unable or unwilling to meet with the pastor, it raises questions about commitment.  If you cannot seriously commit to the vows you will make, a wedding here is inappropriate. Additionally, no wedding may be performed without a valid marriage license.

    But if you love each other, if your commitment is steady and mature, if you want your wedding to be a time of worship as well as celebration, then any questions or problems can be resolved and nothing should interfere with your wedding here.

  • No. This church ministers to the whole community. Many people are not actively involved in the Church at some periods in their lives, but are still faithful people desiring to thank and worship God at this important moment—and member or not, you will always be invited and welcome to worship with us. 

  • Zoom and FaceTime provide an easy solution to this issue. As long as the couple can meet virtually with the pastor, distance is not a problem. 

  • Christian worship, by definition, acknowledges and seeks the presence and guidance of God. Since a wedding recognizes and solemnizes your commitment to each other, all weddings include vows and a proclamation that you have become one another’s spouse, and it is generally assumed God-language will be used. However, this does not have to be a hard and fast requirement, and if there are issues around our traditional wedding liturgy, you are urged to speak to the pastor about this, and possible alternatives.  You may want to include other scripture passages, poetry or prose, songs, etc, and that’s great— but vows are the basics required.

  • When either party or their families has a close personal tie to an ordained minister other than the pastor of this church, it is appropriate to invite the guest minister to share in the wedding celebration. The invitation should come jointly from the couple and the pastor of this church after consultation with our pastor. No one may officiate at a wedding in this church unless they are ordained and/or licensed to perform weddings. The pastor of this church will meet with the couple; will be involved in planning every wedding held here, and will participate in every wedding ceremony in this church unless a specific decision is made by the pastor and the Board of Deacons to have another minister in charge.  Special exceptions may be made by the Board of Deacons.

  • Yes. Music, readings, prayers or other contributions by friends and family can help to make your wedding personal and special. Talk over your ideas with the pastor.

  • Yes. Special arrangements will have to be made if you want to use our stoves. No alcoholic beverages are permitted in the church building.  See the fee schedule at the end of this document for the use of the church and facilities. 

  • Of course. However, it is important that the picture-taking does not intrude on your experience or distract from the sense of worship. Photographers should be encouraged not to move around obtrusively.

  • Nothing inconsistent with the church’s values should occur. That does not mean everything has to be serious or "religious", but some events are better left for the reception. Careful thought and planning will have to go into services involving people of different faiths.

  • You may speak to the pastor about a church musician’s availability.

  • 1. No confetti or rice may be used inside or outside the church building. 

    2. All church appointments and furniture must be returned to its original place and wedding decorations in the church must be removed. You may not move the organ or the piano.

    3. There is no smoking in the church. 

    4. No alcoholic beverages are permitted in or around the church building.

    5. The kitchen facilities may be used with permission.