For a Church Wedding at the East Freetown Congregational-Christian Church

We at the East Freetown Congregational Christian Church are happy to help plan and

to officiate at weddings of both members of the church and non-members. All weddings

at the East Freetown Congregational Christian Church are conducted by the Pastor.

Members of the clergy from other Christian denominations may participate with the

Pastor, if invited by the Pastor to do so.

Pre-Marital Counselling

All persons who are to be married at the East Freetown Congregational Christian Church

are expected to engage in a minimum of two sessions of pre-marital counseling.

The sessions usually last 60-90 minutes and are scheduled at the mutual convenience

of both the Pastor and the couple.

Reserve Your Date

As soon as you have decided on a wedding date, call the church (508) 763-3685 to confirm the availability

of the Pastor and the church. The date is not official until it has been entered both on the

Pastor's calendar and the church's calendar.

The Service of Christian Marriage

The service of Christian marriage is provided for a man and a woman who wish to solemnize their

marriage in a service of Christian worship. The ceremony, therefore, includes proclamation of the Word,

as well as prayer and praise. Christian marriage is proclaimed as a sacred covenant reflecting Christ's

covenant with the church. Everything about the service is designed to witness that this is a Christian

marriage. Both words and actions consistently reflect the belief that husband and wife are equal partners

in Christian marriage and that they are entering into the marriage of their own volition. Those present at

the wedding ceremony are understood to be an active congregation, not simply passive witnesses. They give

their blessings to the couple and the marriage and they join in prayer and praise. The vows exchanged

originate in the Scriptures, and are not subject to exclusion or revision. Couples seeking to join in a marriage

covenant do so pledging to have, hold, love and cherish one another in sickness and in health, for richer or

for poorer, and for better or for worse from the day of the ceremony until parted by death . Holy Communion

may or may not be celebrated, according to the desires of the couple.

Rehearsal

The Pastor is responsible for conducting the rehearsal. Once all members of the wedding party have arrived,

the rehearsal should take about an hour. All members of the wedding party are expected to be present at the

rehearsal. Final payment for services is expected at the rehearsal. The marriage license must be presented at

the rehearsal as well.

Music

Music is provided by our musician, who has the right of first refusal for services performed in the church.

Decorations

We ask that common sense prevail when decorating the church. All florists, decorators , planners, and

consultants must work under the direction of the pastor while they are in the church. None of the furnishings

in the sanctuary may be removed or replaced nor additions made without the express permission of the Pastor

Should the couple wish to preserve decorations, it is their responsibility to make sure the decorations are

removed in a timely fashion. All flower petals must be picked up at the conclusion of the ceremony. The

throwing of rice is not permitted.

Photos / Videos

No flash photography is permitted, nor will there be pauses for photographs during the ceremony.

Photographs may be taken before and after the ceremony (including the processional and recessional

marches). Videographers may select a position in the sanctuary to set up their equipment, as long as it does

not interfere with the line of sight of the guests or with the ritual.

Fees

A. Pastor's fees:

Pre-Marital Preparation $100 (required)

Service prep and legal filing: $25

Wedding Rehearsal and Ceremony: $150

B. Musician: $125 (unless negotiated otherwise)

C. Energy Offset fee: $100

For Weddings Outside of Church

The Reverend Don Bliss is an ordained Minister in the National Association of Congregational-Christian Churches, and the Massachusetts Association of Congregational-Christian Churches. He has been happily married since 1980 and has performed weddings since 2000. Couples and their guests always comment on the beauty of his services. He has worked with people from all circumstances and backgrounds - from incorporating Jewish elements into the ceremony to Haitian customs, to doing Filipino style weddings. He is adept at including children in the ceremonies in creative ways. No matter what the circumstances, it is his goal that the couples who marry remain united for the rest of their lives. If you want to beat the odds and be happily married for the rest of your life, the secret to success lies in understanding how to live in mutual fulfillment all your days together. We will explore this as part of our preparation for your wedding day. Ideally, we will begin with a consultation to establish the places, dates, and times of all the important events as well as the names of all parties involved. Next we will meet for pre-marital counseling, which is essential to successful marriage. We will gather to rehearse the wedding ceremony and then on the day of your wedding we will conclude with a simple, dignified, beautiful, unforgettable service of worship.

There is no restriction on the nature or location of out-of-church services.

Fees:

A. Travel *

Initial Consultation $25 **

Marriage Preparation 1 $25

Marriage Preparation 2 $25 ***

Rehearsal $25 ****

Ceremony $25

(*There is no cost if you travel to me. ** Initial Consultation can be done by phone or video chat, for which there is no travel expense. *** If time allows, the Marriage Prep. can be done in a single extended meeting. **** It is not always necessary for the Clergy to be present at a wedding venue rehearsal - check with your Wedding Coordinator.)

B. Pre-Marital Preparation: $100 (optional, but insures a more stable marriage experience.)

C. Service prep and legal filing: $25

D. Rehearsal: $25 (See note above/ free with Pre-Marital sessions.)

E. Wedding Ceremony: $150

[According to the fee schedule, Out of Church weddings can range in cost from $200 (minimum) to $400 (maximum.)

In the event of a simple Elopement ceremony with witnesses, the fee is $100.]

There is a $100 non-refundable deposit required to save the date.

Make sure the officiant you hire closely reflects the faith values that are important to you. Remember that while the lion's share of money and planning goes toward the reception, it is the ceremony itself that will uniquely enable you to live united as one for the rest of your life - long after the reception memories have faded. If you have any further questions before you make a decision, you can text or call Pastor Don (774 271-1050). No matter who you end up choosing, may God bless your preparation and your wedding day!

Rev. Don Bliss

2 Washburn Rd., East Freetown, MA 02717