Your Wedding at First Presbyterian Church

Printable Forms and Information (please click the following links)

Wedding Application Form  (Completion of this application is the first step in scheduling a wedding at First Presbyterian Church)

Price Schedule 

Sample Wedding Services  (Brides and Grooms may use these services both for planning and to develop a service bulletin if desired.  The bulletin's order of worship corresponds to the underlined worship elements in these services.)

Planning Your Wedding

It is a pleasure for First Presbyterian Church to share with you in the celebration of your marriage. It is our hope that you will find this one of the most meaningful and one of the happiest moments of your life.

We hope these guidelines will help you in your planning, advise you in your choices, and encourage you to look forward to your wedding as one of the most memorable and beautiful experiences in your Christian life.

Presbyterians believe that "marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well being of the entire human family. Marriage is a civil contract between a woman and a man. For Christians, marriage is a covenant through which a man and a woman are called are to live out together before God their lives of discipleship. In a service of Christian marriage, a lifelong commitment is made by a woman and a man to each other, publicly witnessed and acknowledged by the community of faith" (Book of Order, Presbyterian Church U.S.A.).

First Presbyterian rejoices in your decision to marry and hopes your service at our Church will be a happy occasion. Our Ministers, Wedding Committee Members, and Church Staff will assist you in any way they can. This booklet is presented to you with the prayer that it will assist you in making your plans in such a way that this day may be among the most memorable of your life.

Christian marriage clearly is far more than the legal contract required by the state which is easily established and dissolved. Because of this, when a couple requests that their wedding be performed by a minister in the church sanctuary, we assume that this event is an act of Christian worship. In keeping with the beauty and significance of marriage, our intent is to provide a religious service characterized by reverence, dignity, and good taste. This pamphlet is designed to assist couples in planning a wedding service that is a beautiful and worshipful beginning to a long and happy life together.



Setting the Date and Scheduling the Church

All successful endeavors require painstaking planning and a marriage is no exception. To establish a date for a wedding at First Presbyterian Church, the following steps need to be completed:

1. Weddings are scheduled by the Church Office Manager. After you have read this manual an appointment should be made with the Church Hostess to review the guidelines, complete the clickable form at the top of this page and pay the deposit for use of the church.

2. The proposed date and time must be confirmed by the minister, organist and church calendar. The church is not available on Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Easter Weekend.

3. Non-members cannot schedule the Church more than four months prior to their wedding date. All prospective couples must contact the church at least six weeks before the proposed date.

4. You are responsible for contacting the Minister, who will review the order of service and provide premarital counseling, if desired. Normally, non-member weddings conducted by outside ministers will not be scheduled.

5. The bride is responsible for explaining the guidelines provided in this manual to the florist, photographer, caterer, wedding party, and other people that will be involved with the ceremony. Any questions should be addressed to the Wedding Director, Ellen Butts, at (706)884-3700 or (706)402-9910.


Wedding Music

A wedding is a service of worship and therefore, the music needs to be appropriate for worship and the dignity of the Sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church. All vocal music used during the service should have sacred texts (I. e. Psalm and hymn texts). Secular music and popular songs should be reserved for the reception. The Senior Pastor may request changes in music if he/she perceives any of the selections as not being appropriate for the wedding service.

The couple should set an appointment with the organist early in the planning stages to enable the organist to offer assistance in the selection of music appropriate for a particular couple’s wedding. First Presbyterian Church in LaGrange enjoys a beautiful sanctuary that has wonderful acoustics. All music should, therefore, be presented without additional amplification. Recorded music is not allowed.

The Organist

It is the policy of First Presbyterian Church that our organist will play for all weddings except those for which only piano is required. A consultation with the couple, rehearsal with instrumentalists or vocalists, and the playing of wedding music, prelude music, and postlude music are all included in the organist’s fee of $250.00

Should the organist at First Presbyterian Church be unable to play for a wedding he will notify the Director of Music and the Wedding Director at First Presbyterian Church and they will select an alternate organist.

Should the couple wish to include an organist of their own choosing due to personal ties, they should notify the pastor, who, with the music director will determine whether the proposed organist is competent to play our instrument and share in the leadership of worship in our sanctuary.

Should the couple desire instrumentalists and/or vocalists for the wedding, the Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church will be pleased to assist in identifying such persons.

Flowers and Decorations

1. Since the wedding is a service of worship, decorations should be made to enhance the beauty of the Sanctuary. The bride or florist should make arrangements with the church office or wedding director to decorate the sanctuary. Care must be taken not to damage the pews or other furnishings –most florists know this already.
2. No nails, screws, thumbtacks, staples, or tape may be used in any part of the Sanctuary nor any carpentry work or temporary construction be erected.
3. Symbols which depict our traditions may not be removed or obscured. These include the cross, Communion table, baptismal font, banners and paraments.
4. The Church has several brass flower containers available for your use at no cost. A prieu dieu or prayer bench is also available at no cost. The Church also has four seven-branch brass candelabras. If these are used, a $20 fee will be charged for candles. Brass candle lighters are also available along with acolyte robes at no cost.
5. Artificial flower pedals may be used inside by a flower girl. Only birdseed or flower petals may be thrown outside of the sanctuary.
6. First Presbyterian Church staff and employees are not responsible for any forgotten items. Please remember to remove all belongs after the ceremony is complete.


Prior to the service the communion table will be moved to the choir chancel and may on request be replaced with the Prieu Dieu. The modesty rail, communion table and baptismal font may NOT be removed from the sanctuary. Choir chairs may be removed upon request. Questions regarding the arrangement of the Sanctuary should be directed to your Wedding Committee representative.

Courtesy in the Church