The governing body of the congregation has established the following policies and practices to ensure that the wedding will be a good experience for the church and for the couple.
Availability
Please reach out to our wedding coordinator to check availability of the church sanctuary. Weddings may only be scheduled when the sanctuary is available for such use and does not conflict with regular or scheduled activities of the church or church guests. Dee will also check availability of our pastor, Rev. Kathy Crighton, if you would like to use her services for the ceremony.
Fees
- Sanctuary -- $2000 -- includes wedding coordinator services, sound system, 45 minute rehearsal time, one hour setup time on the day of the wedding and up to two hours for arrival, ceremony, photos, and break down. This fee also include cleaning.
- FPCNO Pastor Officiant -- $200 -- includes rehearsal, ceremony, and marriage license processing
- FPCNO Pastor Premaritial Counseling -- $100 -- includes all premarital counseling and materials
Note: Fees for existing church members are negotiable.
The fee for a wedding includes:
- Rehearsal: Access to the sanctuary thirty minutes before the start of the rehearsal and use of the sanctuary for one hour for the wedding rehearsal (to be scheduled a minimum of one month prior to the wedding, typically the evening before the wedding).
- Wedding: Access to the sanctuary one hour before the start of the wedding and use of the sanctuary for up to two hours for the ceremony, including clean-up of any rice, etc., removal of flowers, and pick-up of remaining programs.
- The pastor’s time for counseling, rehearsal, and ceremony (if selected).
- The church wedding coordinator to secure dates, assist in church ceremony planning, and assistance at the rehearsal and ceremony.
We recommend scheduling both the wedding date and the rehearsal date as soon as possible to ensure that the sanctuary is available. Rehearsals are generally held the evening before the wedding.
A deposit of $500 is necessary to hold the date for a wedding, and no dates will be held until receipt of deposit. Half of the deposit is refundable up to three months before the date of the wedding. The balance of payment to the church must be received by two months prior to the wedding date. The wedding cannot go on as planned until all fees are paid. Payment can be made by check, made out to First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans. Talk to your wedding coordinator about credit card payments. Cash cannot be accepted.
Officiant
As mentioned, Rev. Kathy Crighton is generally happy to officiate at weddings in our sanctuary. If the pastor is not available or if the wedding couple prefers, another pastor can perform the ceremony. We are happy to recommend pastors who have performed weddings in our sanctuary in the past. Any officiant conducting a wedding ceremony at First Presbyterian Church should be a duly ordained minister of a church in correspondence with the Presbyterian Church (USA). This person must be registered with the State of Louisiana, and the service must be consistent with the ones suggested in The Book of Common Worship.
When Rev. Kathy serves as the officiant, the wedding couple will be expected to participate in pre-marital counseling with her. Counseling can strengthen the relationship of the couple to be married and prepare them for their life together. Counseling normally consists of two sessions, one to get to know the couple and discuss family background, marriage expectations, finances, religious background, and other matters. The second session will be devoted to determining how the service will be conducted (methods of procession down the aisle, who is seated, etc.).
The pastor will discuss the elements of the marriage ceremony. Choices will include prayers to be used, forms of marriage vows, various statements on the gift of marriage, and possible Scriptures to be read. The couple will make these choices in consultation with the minister to arrive at a customized marriage ceremony that is satisfactory to both the couple and the minister. The officiating minister (from First Presbyterian or a guest minister) is in charge of the rehearsal and wedding service. They will seek to direct the ceremony in accordance with the wishes of the couple in accordance with the Book of Order and the worship of Almighty God. The wedding couple should make their wishes known in advance of the ceremony, ideally during counseling.
A wedding to be held at First Presbyterian Church is a special service of worship in which two people undertake their solemn responsibilities and relationship of marriage in the eyes of God and with His blessing.
The church wedding coordinator will also be present at the rehearsal and the ceremony to assist the pastor and the wedding party. Additional bridal consultants are unnecessary, but if present shall be limited to assisting the bride and her attendants before they enter the sanctuary.
Non-member weddings
We love to see couples come together in holy matrimony before the eyes of God. If the wedding couple are not members of our church, we ask that at least one of the betrothed be members of a Christian church or express their faith as a Christian.
Marriage license and certificate
Those who present themselves for marriage must, without exception, provide a license granted by the State of Louisiana authorizing a minister to perform the marriage. The state has given ministers authority to function as its legal agent in solemnizing marriages, but a marriage license is required.
Signatures for completion of the marriage certificate will be arranged at the end of the marriage ceremony. As required by law, the minister will mail the completed certificate to the Louisiana Vital Records Registry. A copy of the final certificate will be mailed to the couple. A certified copy, however, is required for legal purposes and the couple is responsible for obtaining this copy from the Vital Records Registry.
Decorations
The sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans is a grand and beautiful location in which to have a wedding. Floral decorations can be added to augment but never overshadow the ambiance of the space. Arrangements should be placed such that they do not interfere with the proper arrangements of the pulpit furniture for a worship service. Wire may not be used to affix bows or flowers to the pews or any wood or metal surface. The chancel furniture also may not be moved. Additionally, any Christmas decor may not be moved.
Candles may be used but care should be taken to avoid getting wax on furniture or carpeting. Safety factors must also be taken into consideration. No candles can be placed in the center aisle or side aisles. The candles and candelabra in the sanctuary are available to be used in the service. No lighted candles may be carried by anyone in the wedding party.
All decorations, extra programs, unity candles, ring pillows, pew bows, and all other wedding accoutrements must be removed from the church when the wedding party leaves. Fresh floral arrangements, however, may be left as a donation to the church for the enjoyment of the congregation at the next worship service.
You are welcome to throw flower petals, dried flowers, birdseed, rice, etc., as long as the remnants are cleaned up before the wedding party leaves. For the health and safety of the birds and other animals in the surrounding area, silk flower petals may not be thrown outside of the church.
Photography & Videography
Photos may be taken before and after the wedding service. Timed exposures taken from the back of the sanctuary or balcony during the service will provide the best experience for the wedding couple and their guests. Flash cameras may be used while the wedding party is making its entrance up the aisle but after the entrance of the bride, only minimal flash photography should be used during the rest of the service. Photographers should refrain from moving about the sanctuary the service to keep the focus on the ceremony and the wedding couple and allow for the best possible experience for your guests. The officiant will be glad to pose after the service with the wedding party for photographs. Note that time should be allowed for photos before the service as there is not additional space where wedding guests may wait.
Video cameras may be used during the service so long as they operate from a fixed position either in the back or front of the sanctuary or balcony. No special video lights are to be used during the service.*
*Guest officiants may choose to waive these restrictions or impose others. Please check with the presiding officiant.
Music
First Presbyterian Church houses a historic 1916 Austin pipe organ with trumpette en chaminade, which may be used for your ceremony. We can recommend an organist or you may provide your own. Please provide the name of the organist to the wedding coordinator prior to the rehearsal.
Similarly, we are happy to provide a list of instrumentalists and soloists experienced in performing church services, or you may provide your own. Please remember that a wedding is a Christian worship service and the music chosen should be consistent with that purpose.
The church has a sound system with corded and cordless microphones. We do not have a CD or mp3 player, but arrangements can be made if you have a component that is compatible with our sound system. We highly recommend that your components be tested for compatibility at least one month in advance to ensure that they will work with our system and so alternate arrangements can be made if needed.
COVID-19 Considerations
The church will comply with all City of New Orleans regulations in place on the wedding date.
