Wedding Policy

							WEDDING POLICIES
Congratulations to both of you on having made one of the most significant decisions of your lives! While we believe making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior is the most important lifechanging decision you can make, choosing the one with whom you will spend the rest of your life in the sacred covenant of marriage is incredibly significant. Now that you have chosen to commit yourselves to one another, we encourage you to align your engagement, your marriage and your home with the biblical standards God has created for us. At Bayou Talla Fellowship, we are committed to working with you to see that your wedding honors God, and is a memorable experience for all involved. May God continue to bless you as you look to Him for guidance regarding this important event.

The Wedding Covenant
Believing that marriage is a holy and sacred gift from God, it is our desire that couples commit to begin their life together on a solid foundation. 1. A Covenant of Belief Have both partners made a life commitment to Jesus Christ? If Christ is not a vital part of your relationship and your future plans, you will do harm to the covenant you are about to enter. (2 Corinthians 6:14-16; Romans 10:9-10) 2. A Covenant of Purity Are both partners living lives of sexual purity? God designed the sexual act for enjoyment within the marriage relationship. Please make a commitment to God and to each other that you will abstain from any sexual relationship until after the wedding. (1 Tim 4:12) 3. A Covenant of Faithfulness The Church is God's Greenhouse to grow strong marriages. Determine now that you seek to find a place of involvement in church, and pursue a lifestyle of faithfulness. (Hebrews 10:19-25)

Planning Your Wedding at Bayou Talla:
Pre-Marital counseling with a Pastor is compulsory. If you have not already done so, you should contact the church office to schedule an initial appointment with a Pastor or Staff Counselor. Attached you will find a Wedding Information Form. Bring this completed form with you to your initial appointment with the Pastor. Both Bride and Groom should plan to attend. Unless other arrangements have been made with the Senior Pastor or Staff Counselor, the fee for your wedding will be $600. To confirm your wedding date you will need to submit a nonrefundable deposit of $300. Checks should be made out to Bayou Talla Fellowship.

Wedding Coordinator
After your initial meeting with the Pastor or Staff Counselor, the Wedding Coordinator will contact you to confirm your date and time. You will have approximately three meetings with your Bayou Talla Fellowship Wedding Coordinator: 1. The first meeting will be to gather basic contact information, view the site of the wedding ceremony, and review your Wedding Information Form. 2. At the second meeting, additional information will be gathered about the Wedding Party and you will make final plans for your rehearsal. 3. The third meeting is your Wedding Rehearsal. Fee Balance is due.

Rehearsal
The Wedding Coordinator and the Pastor will conduct your wedding rehearsal and will facilitate the ceremony on your wedding day. Not all Bayou Talla Fellowship Pastors conduct or attend rehearsals. The rehearsal is for the Bridal Party to practice the Processional and Recessional. There will be no provisions made for special music run-throughs, musicians or vocalists at this time. The Wedding rehearsal is held on Friday in the Church Auditorium and begins no later than 5:30 PM. All rehearsals end no later than 6:30 PM. All members of your wedding party attend the rehearsal including parents and grandparents. If a person has a part in the Wedding, they are to attend the rehearsal. All participants should arrive 15 minutes prior to the beginning time.

The Ceremony
Only Bayou Talla Fellowship Pastors or pre-approved substitutes are allowed to perform the wedding ceremony. Bayou Talla Fellowship uses a tradition-wedding format and traditional vows. Bayou Talla Fellowship must approve all other Wedding Ceremony scripts and vows. The Church is available for weddings on most Saturdays. Unless prior arrangements have been made with the Pastor, no ceremony may begin after 3:00 PM. The Wedding activities must conclude and be vacated before 6:00 PM. Due to seasonal demands on the facilities, weddings are not scheduled on any national or religious holiday weekends. All musicians and vocalists are required to be at the sound check 1-½ hours prior to the ceremony. They will have one hour to complete the sound check before the doors are opened to start seating guests. No music will be performed without sound check and prior approval. No video or slide shows may be projected on the video screen during the ceremony.

The Wedding Music
Your Wedding Coordinator will help you plan the order of service for your wedding ceremony. A Bayou Talla Fellowship Technician will be provided to operate sound and lights for your wedding. No outside technicians are permitted. As you are selecting the music for your wedding, please remember that this is a worship service. The music chosen must be suitable for a worship service. Only sacred, contemporary Christian, hymns and classical instrumental music are permitted. No secular music will be used. All music including song lyrics used in the wedding must be submitted to the Wedding Coordinator and approved at least one month prior to your wedding. Bayou Talla Fellowship is equipped with a Grand Piano and provides your pianist. Any outside or substitute pianist and their music must receive prior to your wedding. Bayou Talla Fellowship vocalists are available for an additional fee. Please check with the Wedding Coordinator for details. No pre-recorded music may be used during the ceremony. Pre-recorded music may be used during the prelude and reception but only in its original format. No pirated or illegal copies may be used.

Wedding Decorations and Flowers
Your florist will have access to the church two hours prior to the scheduled time of your wedding. All flowers and decorations must be removed immediately following the wedding ceremony and pictures. The church does not store any wedding decorations. Bayou Talla Fellowship does not provide candelabra, unity candles or candle lighters. Please be careful to use nothing that will damage the church.

Photography and Video
Your Wedding Coordinator can recommend a professional photographer for your wedding. If you choose to use an outside photographer, remember that your wedding is a worship service and nothing should distract you or your guests. The Photographer does not have free reign at the wedding ceremony and should consult the Wedding Coordinator for instructions. All photos taken after the wedding ceremony must be completed and the wedding party vacated before 6:00 PM. It is your responsibility to inform all vendors of the rules in this policy that apply to them. Those persons involved in videotaping and photographing your wedding should be dressed appropriately for the wedding and must contact the Wedding Coordinator prior to your Wedding Day for further instruction and details.

Fees and Services
A deposit of $300 is required to reserve facility. An additional $300 is due at rehearsal. The Service fee includes the use of facilities for one rehearsal and one ceremony and covers the cost of the facility, minister, wedding coordinator, pianist, audio system technician, and custodian. Any change or deviation of any policies stated here must have prior approval from the Staff Wedding Coordinator or Pastor.

Miscellaneous
1. No church property may be removed from the facility with approval. No alteration or rearrangement may be made to facility or contents. 2. The use of rice, confetti, birdseed, or any other material; thrown or dropped; is not permitted. Rose petals may be used in the ceremony. 3. No signs, banners, ribbons, or other items may be nailed, taped, tacked, glued, or attached in any way to windows, doors, walls, ceilings, or any part of building or grounds. 4. Bayou Talla Fellowship nursery facilities are not available for use and separate babysitting is not allowed on site. 5. It is the responsibility and requirement of the Bride and Groom to inform all participants that unruly or disrespectful behavior will be unacceptable and may result in the cancellation of the wedding. This includes: 1. Loud or inappropriate language. 2. Use of tobacco or alcohol on church property. 3. Inappropriate and immodest dress. 6. Absolutely no illegal substances may be brought on church property. The use of alcohol or tobacco on church property is not permitted.

WEDDING CEREMONY INFORMATION FORM
Wedding Date & Time: ________________________________ Rehearsal Date & Time: ________________________________

PERSONAL DATA
BRIDE: Full Legal Name: ______________________________________________________ D.O.B._____________________ Previously Married? ______ (D. W.) Number of children from Previous Marriage(s) _________

Current Church Affiliation: _________________________________________________________________________________ Home Address _______________________________________________________________ Ph. ________________________ City/State/Zip _____________________________________________ Email _________________________________________ Employer/Occupation: ________________________________________________________ Ph. _________________________ Parents Names ___________________________________________________________________________________________

GROOM: Full Legal Name: ____________________________________________________ D.O.B._____________________ Previously Married? _______ (D. W.) Number of children from Previous Marriage(s): ____________

Current Church Affiliation: _________________________________________________________________________________ Home Address ______________________________________________________________ Ph. _________________________ City/State/Zip _____________________________________________________Email _________________________________ Employer/Occupation: _______________________________________________________ Ph. __________________________ Parents Names ___________________________________________________________________________________________

CEREMONY
Total Number of Bridesmaids: _______ Groomsmen: _______ Ushers: _______ Invitations: _________

Wedding Planner: ________________________________________________________ Ph. _____________________________ Photographer ____________________________________________________________ Ph. _____________________________ Pianist: _________________________________________________________________ Ph. ____________________________ Florist: _________________________________________________________________ Ph. _____________________________

I have received a copy of the wedding policies and procedures for Bayou Talla Fellowship and agree to abide by them. I have included with this application my deposit of $300. Groom Signature _______________________________________________ Date _________________