First, please carefully read through all sections listed to the right of this page.

Next, please fill out pages 1-3 of the “Marriage Forms” Section and return to us via fax (214.224.2782), scan and email (candie.carver@pcpc.org), or you may leave them at the reception desk. We will call you after we have received the completed forms. We will be glad to “pencil in” a date for your wedding on the church calendar at that time, but the date will be contingent upon your meeting with one of our ministers for preliminary counseling.

Rehearsals and weddings are not scheduled during Holy Week (beginning Palm Sunday weekend), Easter (Easter weekend), Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day (or the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day).

*We will schedule a small, Chapel wedding with no reception on or after 4pm, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving weekend, and on Sunday afternoons during the year (calendar permitting).

The PCPC Wedding Coordinator will forward your completed forms to the minister you have requested (if possible); otherwise, she will suggest another PCPC minister for you and will give you the name and phone number of his assistant. It is then your responsibility to call and request an appointment with him. At this meeting, the minister will come to a decision with you regarding your wedding plans. When he has given his approval, he will notify the PCPC Wedding Coordinator, who will call you to discuss and activate your tentative wedding date and time for your wedding and rehearsal. She will also schedule your first appointment with her.

Once you have met with the minister and he has agreed to marry you, please mail a check payable to PCPC, in the amount of $250.00, to the attention of the PCPC Wedding Coordinator. This deposit is non-refundable, but will be applied to your wedding fees. Please do not finalize your wedding date until the PCPC Wedding Coordinator calls you to confirm that she has received your payment.

In summary, your wedding date will not be officially placed on the PCPC calendar until the following three requirements are met:

1. Marriage Forms (3 pages) are received by the PCPC Wedding Coordinator and "penciled in" on the PCPC calendar;
2. Couple meets with and receives approval to marry at PCPC by a PCPC minister; and
3. Payment of $250.00 is received by the PCPC Wedding Coordinator.

For information regarding the required fees for getting married at PCPC and other questions, please contact the PCPC Wedding Coordinator (Contact Us). We are looking forward to hearing from you and meeting with you in the near future.

Please read through all the information listed in the links to the right of this page before submitting this form to the PCPC Wedding Coordinator.

The ministers and Session of Park Cities Presbyterian Church feel that marrying a couple is much more than performing the ceremony. They believe strongly that you should have every opportunity to be prepared for a Christ-centered and biblically grounded marriage, one which has all the potential of being everything our Lord intends marriage to be.

For these reasons we ask that you give careful attention to this material. We also request that you allow sufficient time prior to your marriage for the premarital process which we believe is important.

Once the PCPC Wedding Coordinator receives your completed forms, she will call you to discuss your preferred wedding date (and will "pencil in" a date for you on the PCPC calendar). She will also forward a copy of your paperwork to the minister that you have requested (you will be notified to contact his assistant for an appointment). He will want to meet with both of you at this time. This is an opportunity for you to become better acquainted with the minister and him with you. PCPC's ministers will agree to marry you only after the completion of this introductory session. This meeting is also necessary to receive approval for using an outside minister.

Please do not finalize your wedding date until you have had this preliminary counseling appointment.

Our ministers may not perform ceremonies for couples when one is a Christian and the other is not. In addition, our ministers can only marry a divorced person in the event that the divorce was for biblical reasons. If either of you has been divorced, the minister will want to visit with you during the initial appointment regarding the circumstances involved.

Our church also takes seriously God's Word in Hebrews 13:4, which states, "Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled." For this reason, we will not marry a couple who is living together and who is not willing to turn from this, move apart from each other and abstain from all sexual relations until their wedding date.

Are you engaged or considering engagement?  Please join us for a weekend of discussion and learning that will help you build a foundation for a satisfying and godly marriage. We will hear from multiple speakers on a range of topics such as the biblical foundation for marriage, finances, goals and values, communication, conflict and physical intimacy.

The Knot is a weekend seminar is offered once in the Spring and once in the Fall. Couples being married either at PCPC or by one of our ministers at another location are required to attend all classes in this series.

Fall Seminar: April 1-2, 2011

• Friday, April 1, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Oak Lawn West
• Saturday, April 2, 8:30 am – 3:00 pm, Oak Lawn West

After you have filled out and returned the "Marriage Forms", met with the minister whom you desire to perform the PCPC wedding ceremony, confirmed the date with him and mailed in your $250.00 deposit to the PCPC Wedding Coordinator, she will contact you to discuss the many details of your wedding, including flowers, music, attire, and wedding etiquette. The PCPC Wedding Coordinator must approve the photographer, videographer and florist. Signed policy agreements must be on file in her office one month prior to the wedding.

You will need to obtain your marriage license and present it to the minister just prior to the rehearsal. In Dallas, both bride and groom must appear at the Dallas County Clerk’s office and both present proper identification (e.g., a valid driver’s license, passport, birth certificate or military identification) and must also provide their social security numbers and $71.00 (payable in cash only). There is a legally required 72-hour waiting period between the issuance of a license and the wedding, and the wedding is to be within 30 days. For details, call 214-653-7559. There are three Dallas offices: the downtown Records Building at 501 Main Street, 10056 Marsh Lane, Suite 137, 214-904-3032 and 3443 St. Francis, 214-321-3182. They are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm.

In keeping with our belief at PCPC that the celebration of marriage is a service of worship, we require that the Bride and her attendants be dressed modestly. This means no plunging necklines or excessively bare dresses.

Modest clothing is also required at the wedding rehearsal. We understand that casual rehearsal dinners often follow the rehearsal, but tank tops, short-shorts, etc. are not acceptable attire for the Sanctuary or Chapel. We also ask the gentlemen to please remove hats while in the Sanctuary or Chapel. Please give these guidelines to all your wedding party.

Whether or not a formal program is printed, the officiating minister must approve the final Order of Service. Your Order of Service will include scripture readings, music and the homily. Prior to this final approval, all details should be completed with the PCPC Wedding Coordinator and the Organist. To respect the fact that your ceremony is a service of worship, please communicate the following suggestion to your bridal party and guests, and/or include this in your printed wedding program: "Please have all communication devices in silent mode. Also, please refrain from flash photography, videography and/or texting during the ceremony. Thank you."

The PCPC Wedding Coordinator will direct you in contacting the Organist/Director of Music, following your first wedding consultation with her. The Organist/Director of Music will discuss and approve all music selections with you, including vocalists and instrumentalists, and will advise you of their professional fees. No musical decisions should be made prior to a consultation with him. Once the musician(s) have been hired, you will be responsible for paying the musician(s) the day of the wedding, regardless of whether or not you use them. A down payment may be required at the time of hiring. The Organist/Director of Music, will play or provide an organist for all weddings, unless other arrangements have been pre-approved and made through him.

The church sexton is required to open and close the church building for the rehearsal and wedding ceremony and to assist with the needs pertaining to the facility. The sexton is not responsible for setting up or removing floral or catering equipment. Any cleaning which needs to be done after floral or catering items are in place is the responsibility of the florist or caterer you have contracted.

Sound equipment and a sound technician are provided by the church to properly place microphones. The PCPC church policy requires that the system be operated by a sound technician in the church’s employ. The sound technician will provide you with a complimentary audio of your wedding ceremony.

Alcoholic beverages and drugs of any kind are forbidden anywhere on the PCPC premises. This restriction includes the parking lots and dressing rooms. In addition, our pastors request that no one in the wedding party consume any alcoholic beverages or drugs of any kind for twelve hours prior to both the rehearsal and the wedding service. Tobacco of any kind is not permitted in the church building. For security and safety purposes, no carpet cover or runner may be used for the center aisle in either the Sanctuary or the Chapel. Rice, birdseed, confetti, potpourri, rose petals**, sparklers, or bubbles may not be thrown or used anywhere on the PCPC premises.

**Please see floral policy.

Every possible effort will be made to protect personal items such as wedding dresses, purses, and silver to be used for receptions, etc. However, the church cannot be responsible for such items if lost, stolen or damaged. It is imperative that money, jewelry and other valuables not be left unattended in the bride’s room, but be entrusted to a reliable person of the family’s choice, or preferably not be brought into the church at all. Members of the church staff are not permitted to sign for items. It is imperative that no flowers, food, etc. be brought or delivered to the church prior to three hours before the wedding. However, dresses and bridesmaid dresses may be delivered the day of the wedding (three hours prior to the wedding), or the Friday before the wedding, between the office hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Please make dress delivery arrangements with the PCPC Wedding Coordinator.

** Please see Floral Policy

The Music and Arts Ministry of Park Cities Presbyterian Church extends congratulations and best wishes to you both on your upcoming wedding.

It is our sincere desire that the music at your wedding function as a window through which you and your guests may catch a glimpse of the grace, love, and peace of our Creator God. Therefore, we invite you to take time to look over the proposed Order of Service (included also with “Worksheets” section under WEDDING INFORMATION) and to consider seriously the musical portions of your service.

Enclosed are some suggestions and guidelines, which you may find helpful. Most of the music on the repertoire lists is available on Compact Disc. However, the Organist/Music Assistant will be glad to play any of the listed selections you want to hear and to discuss other possibilities with you.

We are available to guide you in any way that may be required and give you the very finest expertise of which we are capable.

The Music and Arts Ministry
Park Cities Presbyterian Church

Factors that may determine the choices in music for weddings:

• Budget
• Personal taste
• Available musicians
• Guidelines suggested by the church

Festive Selections for the Bride or Bridesmaids

• Introduction
• Trumpet Voluntary (Prince of Denmark’s March) – Jeremiah Clarke*
• Trumpet Tune in D – Henry Purcell*
• Prelude from Te Deum – Marc Charpentier*
• Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin – Richard Wagner*
• Overture to Fireworks Music – G.F. Handel*
• Rigaudon – Andre Campra*
• The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune – Ralph Vaughan Williams*
• Trumpet Tune in D – David Johnson*
  
  Softer Pieces for the Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
• Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel*
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – J.S. Bach*
• Sheep May Safely Graze – J.S. Bach*
• O God Beyond All Praising – Gustav Holst*
• Air from Suite in D – J.S. Bach*
• Arioso – J.S. Bach*
• Air from Water Music – G.F. Handel*
• Aria from Concerto Grosso No. 12 – G.F. Handel*
  
  Recessional Pieces
• Introduction
• Hornpipe from Water Music*
• Sinfonia from Cantata 29, We Thank Thee, God – J.S. Bach*
• Now Thank We All Our God – Sigfried Karg-Elert
• Now Thank We All Our God – J.S. Bach
• Toccata from Symphony No. 5 – Charles-Marie Widor
• Wedding March - Felix Mendelssohn
• Praise the Lord with Drums and Cymbals – Sigfried Karg-Elert
• Final from Symphony No. 1 – Louis Vierne
• Final from Symphony No. 2 – Charles-Marie Widor
• Allegro from Sonata No. 2 – Felix Mendelssohn
  Pieces suitable for processional or recessional
• Trumpet Tune in D – David German*
• Trumpet Voluntary – John Stanley*
• Fanfare – William Matthias

*indicates that instrumental arrangements are available

The Ceremony of Marriage is a service of Worship. Therefore, the texts of solos and hymns should reflect the following:

• Commitment
• Christian service
• Biblical understanding of the Church as the Bride of Christ and our responsibility under that doctrine.
• Edifying and uplifting the name of our Creator.
• There are contemporary Christian songs that do not express the depth and significance of Christian marriage, so be careful.
• Two or three solos are appropriate while none are needed, if desired.
• Congregational hymn singing is encouraged.
• We encourage everyone to find qualified soloists for their wedding. Please be very careful when making requests, especially where close friendships are concerned. We have numerous excellent soloists available and the Organist/Music Assistant will gladly give you suggestions and guidance.
• Please bear in mind that we do not permit recorded accompaniment tracks. Tracks are often of poor audio quality and volume levels may vary and they must also be accurately cued. Most disconcerting of all are the occasional instances when the tape malfunctions and/or the soloist gets lost! Your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and we do not wish to have it marred by unfortunate occurrences.
• Pray with your future spouse concerning the true meaning of the ceremony. A well-planned wedding will serve as a witness and reminder to all present of their commitment. Do not seek to entertain your guests. The content of your wedding service will speak volumes about your own commitment to God and to one another.

Sanctuary Weddings use:
Trinity Hymnal
Great Commission Publications, 1994.

Chapel Weddings use:
Trinity Hymnal
Great Commission Publications, 1994.

Your wedding rehearsal is an essential part of the preparation for your wedding. Sanctuary and Chapel wedding rehearsals require about one hour, so alert your party to allow for this. Plan to have everyone gather thirty minutes ahead of the rehearsal time. The ministers of PCPC require that no member of the wedding party consume any alcoholic beverages or drugs of any kind for 12 hours prior to the rehearsal or the wedding. Also, please remind your wedding party and rehearsal guests to dress with appropriate modesty.

The rehearsal time will be confirmed with your minister and the PCPC Wedding Coordinator.

Who needs to be present:
Minister
Bride & Groom
Maid/Matron of Honor/Best Man
Bridesmaids/Groomsmen
Ushers/House Party
Additional attendants (Flower girl, Ring bearer, etc.)
Parents of the Bride
Parents of the Groom
Grandparents (optional)
Scripture Reader
Candlelighters

• Outside wedding consultants are welcome to attend the rehearsal; however, the PCPC Wedding Coordinator has the final responsibility for the rehearsal and wedding.
• Plan for everyone to arrive 30 minutes before the rehearsal time.
• Entry available for rehearsal only at door nearest security desk.
• The rehearsal will last approximately one hour.
• Please give your marriage license to the minister at the rehearsal if you have not already given it to him.
• The PCPC Wedding Coordinator will go over the entire wedding day timeline at the rehearsal.
• Photography and videography (personal or professional) is allowed during the rehearsal. Rehearsal guests may want to bring their own camera.

The church building will be opened three hours before the ceremony at which time the bride and mother of the bride (and/or bridesmaids) may plan to arrive. The bride's dress may be delivered at this time or on the Friday before, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (church hours) if pre-arrenged with the PCPC Wedding Coordinator. The florist may also arrive three hours before the ceremony to prepare the Sanctuary/Chapel for the wedding. The groom and his party may plan on arriving two hours before the ceremony. The photographer should be ready to take pre-wedding photos approximately one hour and forty-five minutes before the ceremony.

Bride’s Room:
A Bride’s room is provided for the Bride and her attendants. This room will be available three hours before the wedding. It will have mirrors for make-up, a full-length mirror, clothes racks, electrical outlets, seating and ice water with glasses. There will also be a necessity basket filled with “in case of emergency” items such as bobby pins, pain reliever, needle and thread, comb and brush, etc. You may want to provide additional things such as snacks and breath mints.  Shopping bags, labeled with each attendant’s name, are suggested for your attendants’ personal items. This helps in quickly vacating the Bride’s room for the reception. It is a necessity for a church reception due to the fact that everything is moved to another location for safekeeping.

Grooms’ Room:
A room is provided for the Groom and his attendants. This room will have a mirror, electrical outlets, seating, a clothes rack, a skirted table, ice water with cups, and a necessity basket. You may want to provide additional things such as snacks and breath mints.

Ushers’ instructions:

• Ushers should arrive at the church one hour before the service unless they have been asked to arrive earlier for photographs.
• Ushers are expected to expedite the seating of guests to minimize both congestion and noise in the narthex of the Sanctuary or Chapel entrance.
• Ushers should remind wedding guests whom they observe with cameras that no photographs or videos will be allowed during the wedding ceremony.
• After the seating of the Mother of the Bride, no one is to be escorted to a seat. Latecomers may use the side aisles to enter quietly and find a place near the back of the church.
• If guest books are used before the wedding, they will be closed 10 minutes before the wedding so that last minute guests may be seated before the Processional begins.

Timeline

Bride’s Room:
A Bride’s room is provided for the Bride and her attendants. This room will be available three hours before the wedding. It will have mirrors for make-up, a full-length mirror, a clothes steamer, clothes racks, electrical outlets, seating and ice water with glasses. There will also be a necessity basket filled with “in case of emergency” items such as bobby pins, pain reliever (Advil), needle and thread, clear nail polish, super glue, safety pins, extra hose, hairspray, comb and brush, breath mints, etc. You may want to provide additional things such as snacks. Shopping bags, labeled with each attendant’s name, are suggested for your attendants’ personal items. This helps in quickly vacating the Bride’s room for the reception. It is a necessity for a church reception due to the fact that everything is moved to another location for safekeeping.

Grooms’ Room:
A room is provided for the Groom and his attendants. This room will have a mirror, electrical outlets, seating, a clothes rack, a skirted table, ice water with glasses, and a necessity basket. You may want to provide additional things such as snacks.

Ushers’ instructions:

• Ushers should arrive at the church one hour before the service unless they have been asked to arrive earlier for photographs.
• Ushers are expected to expedite the seating of guests to minimize both congestion and noise in the narthex of the Sanctuary or Chapel entrance.
• Ushers should remind wedding guests whom they observe with cameras that no photographs or videos will be allowed during the wedding ceremony.
• After the seating of the Mother of the Bride, no one is to be escorted to a seat. Latecomers may use the side aisles to enter quietly and find a place near the back of the church.
• If guest books are used before the wedding, they will be closed 10 minutes before the wedding so that last minute guests may be seated before the Processional begins.

All requests for receptions at PCPC must first be approved through the PCPC Wedding Coordinator.

Our church caterer, Sandy Korem, owner of "Festive Kitchen", is available to help you with your reception and/or special event needs. If you are interested in her services, please contact her via phone or email: 972-437-1523, or festivek@aol.com.

For more detail regarding receptions at PCPC, please contact the PCPC Wedding Coordinator. 

PCPC Wedding Coordinator
E-mail: candie.carver@pcpc.org
Phone: 214-224-2747

Park Cities Presbyterian Church
4124 Oak Lawn Avenue
Dallas, TX 75219

Fax: 214-224-2782

The cost is $60 per couple and registration is not complete without payment.  Please click here to register online by March 30.  For more information, contact Betty Montague 214-224-2683 or betty.montague@pcpc.org.