The Church of the Transfiguration

Marriage in the Episcopal Church is govered by Title 1, Canons 18 and 19.

All Marriages at the Church of the Transfiguration must conform to the laws of the State governing the creation of the civil status of Marriage and also to the laws of the Episcopal Church governing the solemnization of Holy Matrimony, both of which speak to the subject of Remarriage after Divorce.

Gifts and fees are to be delivered to the Parish Office or the Officiant prior to the rehearsal. In case of financial hardship, some of the fees may be waived on request at the discretion of the Rector.

Congratulations on your engagement! Please make sure to read over the Requirements for Marriage at the Church of the Transfiguration.

If you plan to be married at the Church of the Transfiguration, the first step is to notify the Rector. A minimum of 30 days' notice (75 days if either of the parties is divorced with a living ex-spouse) is required before a Marriage can occur. (See Remarriage after Divorce.)

First Things. See Getting Started to review requirements and make initial contact with the Rector to begin the process of Preparing for Marriage. The couple should bring a $35 check made payable to Life Innovations, Inc. to the first meeting, along with a completed copy of the Marriage Biographical and Contact Information Form. Couples desiring marriage at the Church of the Transfiguration must participate in Premarital Counseling, and are expected to be regular in personal prayer and public worship.

In the course of Premarital Counseling, couples are required to sign a statement that clarifies their intentions and their understanding of Christian Marriage.

Canon I.18.2(e) requires that Couples seeking Marriage in the Episcopal Church be instructed as to the nature, meaning, and purpose of Holy Matrimony by the Member of the Clergy, or that they have both received such instruction from persons known by the Member of the Clergy to be competent and responsible.

Premarital Counseling at the Church of the Transfiguration normally consists of three to five meetings with the Officiant or another clergyperson. The sessions last approximately two hours each.

In some cases, couples planning Marriage elsewhere may elect to engage the services of Transfiguration clergy for Premarital Counseling. For example, a couple living near Transfiguration may be planning a ceremony at another Episcopal Church at a distant location.

We recommend that you provide printed directions to the wedding party, and optionally to all your guests. We've observed that guests who rely on Mapquest directions generally get lost and arrive late.

As part of Premarital Counseling, couples work with the Officiant to make plans for the ceremony using the these forms and worksheets.

The Rehearsal normally is scheduled for the day before the Marriage. All the participants in the ceremony should be present, and encouraged to be on time. Other friends and family should be discouraged from attending so that the participants can focus on the task at hand.

If a dinner is to follow, it should be scheduled approximately an hour and a half after the Rehearsal. If the Holy Eucharist is to be celebrated as part of the Rehearsal, allow an extra half hour.

All gifts and fees are due at the time of the rehearsal, and the marriage license turned over to the Officiant.

In the ceremony itself, the roles of Best Men and Maids/Matrons of Honor are small. Best Men normally carry and present the rings, and Maids/Matrons of Honor adjust the bride's train and hold her flowers as necessary. But the real work of Best Men and Maids/Matrons of Honor comes immediately before and after the ceremony, and should be taken seriously. They are the chief attendants of the bride and groom, and should be selected carefully not only on the basis of existing friendships, but of their capacity to exercise their responsibilities reliably.

The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage is an occasion for worship, and the planning of the ceremony should reflect that. A number of church employees and volunteers will assist you.

The church building will be unlocked two hours before the ceremony is scheduled to begin. Florists, photographers, videographers, and others requiring setup time should plan to arrive then. Flowers also may be delivered and set up during the rehearsal once the building is opened on the day of the ceremony.

Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage

At the time appointed, the persons to be married, with their witnesses, assemble in the church or some other appropriate place.

During their entrance, a hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung, or instrumental music may be played.

The Marriage Ceremony affords a number of opportunities to involve friends and family. Only the Bride, Groom, Officiant, and two witnesses are required. All the other positions are optional.

The Officiant is the person who will preside at the ceremony, and is the couple's primary point of contact at Transfiguration for Preparing for Marriage and Preparing for the Ceremony.

This person normally is a member of the Transfiguration Clergy Staff, and is selected by the Rector in consultation with the couple.

In limited cases and always at the discretion of the Rector, an outside officiant may preside at a Marriage at the Church of the Transfiguration.

All the usual gifts and fees still apply.

The tradition of the father giving away his daughter has its roots in the days of arranged marriages. Daughters in those times were considered their father's property. It was the father's right to give his child to the groom, usually for a price.
Source: infoplease.com

A source of anxiety for some couples is the famous bidding that comes early in the ceremony: "If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now; or else for ever hold your peace." On television, this always is a dramatic moment.

What if someone spoke up? It's rare, but it happens.

The Officiant or another person assisting the Officiant normally preaches a brief homily after the Readings. A homily is strongly encouraged, and should be omitted only in very unusual circumstances.