Weddings
We are pleased that you are considering Red Bridge Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as the setting for one of the most important events in your life -- your wedding ceremony. Christian marriage is a basic part of the whole Christian life. When you come to the church to be married, you are saying you want to take God into your marriage partnership.
The following guidelines are made to help you with your planning. They are only suggestions, and whatever changes you would like to make so that the ceremony may be of more spiritual significance to you will be gladly received. We look forward to working with you to launch your marriage in a service of dignity and reverence.
SCHEDULING YOUR WEDDING
Weddings at Red Bridge Christian Church are scheduled on a “first come, first served basis.” Call the church office (816-942-2684) to arrange an initial interview with the minister. At this meeting, the dates for the rehearsal and ceremony will be confirmed and an agreement form completed. A fee deposit of $50 will be due at this time.
During this initial meeting, the minister will also schedule counseling sessions with the couple prior to the wedding.
OFFICIATING MINISTER
Weddings held here are officiated by our minister. If you desire to have another minister perform or assist in the service, please discuss this with our minister.
THE CHURCH WEDDING COORDINATOR
Our church provides a Wedding Coordinator to assist in the smooth running of your wedding. The Wedding Coordinator will meet with you after the initial meeting with the minister to discuss lighting, sound options, rehearsal decisions, florist arrangements, and other wedding details. The coordinator will show you dressing areas and finalize arrangements for the reception set-up, if it is to be held at the church. The Wedding Coordinator will be present to help you during all aspects of the wedding which occur at the church.
BUILDING
We maintain a non-smoking environment inside the church. In addition, alcohol is not permitted on the premises at any time. We ask that the bride and groom make known to all members of the wedding party that no one under the influence of alcohol or drugs may be present at the rehearsal, wedding ceremony, or reception if one is held on church grounds.
The church will be open and available for the wedding party two hours before the actual ceremony. The photographer, organist, singers, et al may plan to arrive at this time also. Flowers may be delivered and set up in the sanctuary, and the wedding cake may be delivered for the reception two hours before the ceremony. We ask that dresses, etc. not be brought in until the day of the wedding.
For weddings with no reception being held at Red Bridge Christian Church, the church building is available for a total of four hours. For weddings with a reception held at the church, the building is available for a total of six hours, or longer by special arrangement.
WEDDING REHEARSAL
We ask that every participant in the wedding ceremony also be present at the rehearsal. This includes the wedding party, parents of the bride and groom, organist, and the soloist, if one is included.. The rehearsal usually takes from 30 minutes to an hour.
THE RECEPTION
The reception is the receiving of guests by the bride and groom, their parents, and the attendants after the ceremony. The reception may be followed with a social hour that may include refreshments and special music. No alcoholic beverages are permitted if the reception is held at the church.
All receptions at the church are held in the Fellowship Hall or garden. If you desire a reception here, it must be catered by you or an outside caterer; the church does not provide a catering service. Rules for using the kitchen are prominently posted. We ask that special attention be paid to adhering to these rules.
THE MARRIAGE LICENSE
A marriage license from the State of Missouri is a prerequisite to the solemnization of matrimony. It should be noted that a waiting period between application for and use of the license may be required by the State (currently three days). The license must be used within thirty (30) days of its issue. Be sure to bring your marriage license to the rehearsal so that it will be here on the wedding day. The appropriate certificates will be given to the couple (or the groom’s Best Man) immediately after the ceremony. For additional information about requirements for obtaining a marriage license in the State of Missouri, call 816-881-4480.
DRESSING AT THE CHURCH
There are suitable dressing rooms at the church for both the bride and the groom and their attendants. Ushers should be dressed and ready to serve at the request of the bride.
THE BRIDE’S ROOM
The bride’s room is used for the bride and her attendants for dressing prior to the wedding. It is supplied with mirrors, couch, chairs, and a place to hang your dresses. It is requested that the bridal party exercise special care if using nail polish and curling irons in the dressing room. The Wedding Coordinator will check on you periodically to see if he/she can be of any assistance. When the wedding party leaves to go to the sanctuary, the room will be locked by the Wedding Coordinator.
THE GROOM’S ROOM
The groom’s room is used for the groom and his groomsmen. They may use this room to dress, put on boutonnieres, etc. There will also be a mirror and a place to hang clothes. The Wedding Coordinator will lock the door after everyone has left for the ceremony.
FLOWERS, DECORATIONS, ETC.
Decorations are to be kept in good taste to preserve the dignity and inherent beauty of our sanctuary. Floral arrangements may be placed at the altar, if desired. Only artificial flower petals are to be used by the flower girl. Decorations are to be removed immediately following the wedding service unless other arrangements have been made with the Wedding Coordinator.
You may provide a Unity Candle for use during the ceremony if you wish. The church will provide two candelabras complete with candles that belong to the church. If special candelabras are brought into the church from a florist or wedding supply house, please use only non-drip candles.
We prefer bird seed, wheat or bubbles to be used in place of rice, confetti or pot pourri. Whichever you use, please note that it is not permitted to be distributed inside the church. Please stress this to the person you have chosen to distribute the packets; they are to be handed out after the guests have moved outside the building.
THE WEDDING MUSIC
Our church will provide the organist/pianist for the wedding unless other arrangements are made with our minister. Special care should be taken to ensure that the music you choose is suitable and reverent. All music is subject to the approval of the officiating minister and the music staff.
The bride and groom will be asked to arrange an appointment with the church musician for the purpose of planning music for the wedding service. The church musician can offer suitable and appropriate suggestions for all the music of the wedding, including processional and recessional music.
PHOTOGRAPHERS AND VIDEO TECHNICIANS
Photographs may be taken before and after the wedding ceremony. In keeping with the sanctity of the service, we ask that the photographer discuss his/her plans for pictures during the
service with the minister. There shall be no video equipment in the choir loft.
We ask that neither photographers nor camera operators get in the way of the wedding processional or recessional. The photographer may take pictures of the processional from halfway up the aisle.
Selecting a photographer who respects your wishes and our guidelines is very important.
THE USHERS DUTIES
Ushers need to be mature enough to serve as good hosts. Their responsibilities are important to the smoothness of your wedding. Suggestions for ushers are as follows:
1. Be at the church 30 to 45 minutes before the ceremony.
2. Know in which sections guests are to be seated. (Unless guests request seating on the bride’s or groom’s side, seat them where they will have a good view of the full service.)
3. Direct guests with gifts to the proper place for gifts to be placed. Red Bridge Christian Church does not accept responsibility for wedding gifts left unattended.
4. Direct guests to the coat racks, if necessary.
5. Following the ceremony, direct guests to the reception if it is in the church Fellowship Hall.
6. Arrange for a Head Usher, whose responsibilities will include making sure that no one has left any personal property in the church pews or coat racks.
FEE SCHEDULE
A list of wedding fees can be obtained from the church. Your rehearsal and wedding dates are reserved on the church calendar after the agreement has been signed and the $50 deposit has been made. Separate checks should be issued for the church, minister, wedding coordinator, and organist.
A FINAL NOTE
Please feel free to ask any questions that come to mind. We have tried to cover the main items.
We want your wedding to be very successful and a day in your lives that will provide the happiest of memories.
CONTACT US
Red Bridge Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
10842 McGee Street
Kansas City, MO 64114
Church Office: (816) 942-2684
Fax: (816) 942-0840
E-mail:
redbridgecc@um.att.com