A.        Arranging Date And Hour Of The Wedding

It is important that you get the date and hour of your Wedding on the church calendar.  This is best done through the Pastor.

People who are not members of the church are not allowed to reserve a date more than a year before their anticipated wedding date.  In addition, non-members are required to submit a non-refundable $100.00 deposit to reserve their date, which will be applied to the church usage fee (see paragraph H. below) upon payment of the remaining $300.00 on the evening of the rehearsal.

If you plan to use the church facilities for your reception, it is most important that you confirm this as soon as possible since the church hall is used frequently by other organizations.  (As a policy of Consistory, alcoholic beverages are not to be consumed on church property.)

In general, Saturdays, as well as other days of the week, are free and available for weddings.  However, certain Saturdays in the church year are discouraged for weddings: the Saturdays before Christmas Sunday, before Palm Sunday and before Easter.

B.        Arrangements With The Pastor

It is customary for the Pastor of this church to preside at all weddings.  If for any reason there is a desire to have a guest clergy person present, this should be made known to the Pastor before any invitation is given to the guest.

An initial interview is required with the Pastor to discuss the forthcoming marriage.  At that meeting a firm verbal contract for conducting the wedding will be decided upon, general information regarding the service will be discussed along with the church's policies for weddings.

If there are any special circumstances that need to be addressed prior to the wedding, the Pastor may wish to schedule an additional interview to deal specifically with them.

A final meeting will be the rehearsal.  Date and time for the rehearsal will be set in the above interviews.

Pascack Reformed Church has a bias toward celebrating weddings in the “traditional” mode, using language that millions of couples have used over the course of the centuries.  For a look at the most commonly used service, click here.  However, there are times when other services have been used.  For samples of other liturgies, click here.    These will be discussed during the interview(s) prior to the wedding.  Some deviations are possible, but the Pastor reserves the right to approve all changes.  It is not intended that there be any dogmatic judgments about changes or alterations to normal procedures in the ceremony, but it must be kept in mind that the intention is always to make this experience meaningful as well as sacred.  If secular additions are made (i.e. readings and musical selections) their propriety will be determined by their conformity to the Christian meaning of love and marriage. This will always be the basis for our judgment.

For a list of Scriptures that are appropriately used during wedding services, click here.   

C.        Arrangements For The Wedding Music

It is required that our regular church organist be responsible for all the wedding music and play at every wedding in our church.

At times a bride or groom has a friend who wishes to donate their services for the service.  Should this occur, the church’s organist will be paid a “bench fee” of $150.00.

At least one month prior to the wedding date a meeting should be planned with the church organist.  (Name and telephone number may be obtained through the church office, or you can meet him after 10:00 worship on a Sunday to schedule an appointment.)  He will make suggestions to you about processional and recessional music as well as other appropriate pieces for the wedding.  Special vocalists are the responsibility of the couple.  However, the music must be approved by the organist and if it is desired to have a solo during the ceremony itself, this must be discussed with the Pastor.

In general, our policy on music is the same as previously mentioned.  Wedding music must be meaningful as well as sacred. Unusual musical requests will need to meet both of these two standards. Pascack Reformed Church is a congregation; therefore, certain pieces of music from the Roman Catholic tradition may be deemed inappropriate.  (Again, secular music may be acceptable if it conforms to the Christian interpretation of love and marriage.)

    1. Flowers and Decorations.

           a.) Extravagant and wasteful arrangements are discouraged.

           b.) It is the responsibility of the bride to inform the florist that deliveries may be made to the church no sooner than 3 
                  hours before the wedding and that the florist must pick up all decorative material as soon after the ceremony as 
                  possible.

           c.) It is best that you plan to take with you after the ceremony all flowers provided for the wedding.  Our Sunday 
                  flowers are provided by donors throughout the year.

           d.) Candelabra are available for use upon request.  If so desired, the church will provide the candles.

            e.)  A unity candle may be used as part of the service.  Since the church does not possess a unity candle, the bride 
                   will need to provide one. (These are usually available at card stores.)    

           f.) Pew decorations, center aisle runner, and any other special items must be provided by the bride, usually through the
                    florist.  The aisle is 40 feet long, so a 50 foot runner is sufficient.  Pew decorations may be attached to the pews
                    only by means of rubber bands; tape is not allowed.

           g.) Rice may not be used to celebrate following the wedding.  Instead, bird seed may be thrown.  It should only be thrown
                    once the bride and groom are outside the church's exterior door.

            2. Photography

     a.  Still Photographs may be taken under the following conditions:

               1.) Flash pictures may not be taken during the ceremony.  The ceremony begins at the last note of the Processional
                         and continues to the first note of the Recessional. In other words, flash pictures may be taken during the 
                         Processional and Recessional, but at no time in between.  The Pastor will be available for posed
                         shots following the ceremony.  It is permitted to have time exposures, but from the balcony only.  The  
                         photographer must not be in evidence at any time during the ceremony, since flash  pictures and photographers
                         detract from the purpose and reverence of the occasion.

               2.) Ushers will be expected to tell guests who arrive with cameras about the above ruling. 

               3.) It is the bride's responsibility to inform the photographer that pictures taken prior to the service must be scheduled 
                          so as to allow her to arrive at the church on time for the wedding.

             b.) Video photography is allowed within the following conditions:

                     1. Any bright lights must be stationary and must remain turned on throughout the service.

                     2. Lights must not shine brightly into the eyes of the bride, groom, wedding party, minister, or wedding guests.

                     3. The camera must remain stationary throughout the service.

                     4. The video photographer must make an appointment with the minister to discuss plans for photographing the
                             service prior to the rehearsal.

E.         The Wedding License

   The wedding license may be obtained from any Borough Hall in the State of New Jersey.  It must be obtained within 30 days of the wedding allowing for a 72 hour waiting period prior to the ceremony. It must be presented to the pastor at the wedding rehearsal.

 The witnesses you have named must sign the license following the ceremony .  The best man will be given your copy of the marriage license following the service.  The Pastor will mail the necessary copies to the appropriate Board of Health.

F.         The Rehearsal

Date and time for the rehearsal must be discussed with the Pastor. It is usually held on the evening prior to the wedding. It is imperative that all of the wedding party be on time for the rehearsal.  If you have chosen to contract with a wedding "consultant," he/she must arrange for an appointment with the Pastor prior to the rehearsal.  In any case, the Pastor conducts the rehearsal.

G.        Schedule Of Fees

            1. Because the church incurs numerous expenses during the course of hosting a wedding, it has become necessary for
                      the church to request a comprehensive $400.00 donation for all weddings of non-members of the church.  Church
                      members are requested to give a donation of $200.00 for the use of the Sanctuary.

            2. Since the church does not compensate the minister for weddings,  this is the responsibility of the bride and groom  The
                      minister's fee for his services to non-members is $350.00.  Members of Pascack Reformed Church are requested
                      to pay Rev. Janssen $250.00 for his services. Checks should be made out to the Rev. Paul G. Janssen.              

             3. There is a charge of $200.00 for the services of the Organist.  This honorarium applies to both members and non-
                      members of Pascack Reformed Church.  Checks should be made out in the Organist's name.

                       The expenses for any vocal or instrumental accompaniments will need to be paid by the couple. 

            4. If you desire to have the church create a program for your wedding, the church Secretary is to be compensated for her
                      time.  You will need to come to the church office at least six weeks prior to your wedding to select a program
                     cover.  All information that you want on the program must be ready for publication a week prior to the wedding, so 
                     that you can proof a final copy prior to copying.  (Alternatively, you could self-publish a program, in which case you
                     will need to discuss the details of what appropriately goes into a program with the pastor.)

                     The fee for the Secretary's service is $50.00, which includes the initial consultation, ordering the wedding bulletin
                      covers, typing, printing, folding the program and placing it in the church before your wedding.

ALL FEES ARE TO BE PAID AT THE REHEARSAL PRIOR TO THE WEDDING.  IF PAYMENT IS NOT MADE, THE SERVICE WILL NOT BE CONDUCTED AS SCHEDULED; IF FOR SOME REASON PAYMENT IS STILL NOT MADE FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY, THE LICENSE WILL NOT BE SIGNED.

FINAL NOTE:  Weddings held at Pascack Reformed Church are held at the hour originally planned (the time that is on the invitation.)  "Politely late" is not polite to your guests, especially to those who have come from a distance to share the celebration with you.  Please be courteous to them, as well as to the Pastor, Organist, and Sexton, and be on time for your wedding!