Section Links
General Information
Sanctuary Photos
Wedding Coordinator
The Pastor
Rehersal
Wedding Day
Wedding Agreement
Church Photo 1
Church Photo 2
627 Genter Street
La Jolla, CA 92037-5423
Phone: 858.454.9636
Fax: 858.454.9682
Weddings
GENERAL INFORMATION La Jolla Christian Fellowship has a Wedding Coordinator who can be reached through the church office (see number above) or at weddings@firstbaptistlajolla.org during normal business hours Monday-Friday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm. The church's philosophy is that weddings are a ministry of La Jolla Christian Fellowship and as such, our policy is not to schedule more than one wedding per weekend. (View of sanctuary from balcony.) There is a standard fee for services and facilities rental which includes the services of the Wedding Coordinator, Pianist/Organist, Sound Technician, pre-marital counseling, janitorial service, sound equipment, rehearsal time, facility rental and insurance. Please contact the Wedding Coordinator for the fee amount. Sanctuary photo 1. Sanctuary photo 2.
BOOKING YOUR WEDDING When the church calendar has been checked and cleared for availability of your desired date, the Wedding Coordinator will book your wedding and rehearsal. A minimum $ 100.00 non-refundable deposit is required and can be brought or mailed to the church office. A personal check is acceptable. Please footnote the check with your wedding date. The remainder of your fee may be paid as you're able. (We request it be paid in full no less than two weeks prior to the ceremony.)
YOUR WEDDING COORDINATOR Your Wedding Coordinator is the representative and overseer for La Jolla Christian Fellowship. No other coordinator(s) or guest Pastor will have authority while on the premises at the rehearsal or the wedding. The coordinator will be available to help answer any questions you may have concerning the church, tradition & protocol, contract for other services, etc. It will, also, be the responsibility of the coordinator to carry out the plans that have been discussed with the bride and groom. She will conduct the rehearsal and see you through your wedding day festivities at the church.
THE PASTOR/PRE-MARITAL COUNSELING Ministry of this church in Christian marriage includes much more than the provision of the physical facilities. In requiring the minister of this church to officiate, the church requires pre-marital counseling also. No wedding shall be performed without, first, having four to six counseling sessions (a total of approximately 6-8 hours) with the Pastor.
IF YOUR OWN PASTOR IS OFFICIATING Inform the coordinator of your desire to have your own Pastor officiate. He/She will need to send a letter of introduction to our Pastor, Reverend Brian Fairley. It should include a very brief "statement of faith" and confirmation that you and your financé are receiving pre-marital counseling. Only Christian ceremonies are permitted. Guest pastors are expected to work with our coordinator and adhere to this policy.
RING BEARERS & FLOWER GIRLS We all love children, and in a wedding they can be adorable. However, we do encourage you to be mindful of the fact that children are not predictable in this kind of setting. Be prepared for absolutely anything. Our coordinator will determine at the time of your rehearsal how best to handle any possible "situations."
THE REHEARSAL The wedding rehearsal will take place 1 or 2 nights prior to the wedding day. No rehearsal will be planned for the same day or later than 7 p.m. Punctuality should be stressed to everyone participating. An hour and a half are allotted for the rehearsal with a starting time no later than 15 minutes. The rehearsal will begin with or without all the participants. The bridal couple and their pastor will be expected to meet with the coordinator 30 minutes prior to the rehearsal "start time." Bride and Groom are expected to be on time.
THE WEDDING DAY Wedding times will be scheduled no earlier than 10:00 am and no later than 6:00 pm. Sunday weddings are scheduled no earlier than 3:00 pm. The coordinator will arrive 2 1/2 to 3 hours prior to ceremony time. All arrangements with the florist and photographer should be made with this timetable in mind. Brides will need to prepare their timetable, allowing time for hair styling, make-up and getting dressed, so as to be at the church no less than 1 hour prior to ceremony time and ready no less than 1/2 hour prior to ceremony time. The ceremony can be delayed no more than 10 minutes.
MUSIC Music is a vital part of the wedding ceremony. Needless to say, our encouragement is that the music be tasteful and in keeping with the spirit of the day. If you're not sure about the appropriateness of a particular song, especially those of a more secular nature, please ask. Our responsibility is to provide you with a qualified organist/pianist. Upon setting your date, an organist/pianist is scheduled as well. The coordinator will provide each of you with the other's phone number. Your responsibility is to make the arrangements about your music with our organist/pianist. She/he will be available for "special" music, i.e. vocalists, etc. Sheet music for any special music should be in the hands of the organist/pianist no less than one month (4 weeks) prior to the wedding.
SOUND & EQUIPMENT We offer a professional 4,000 watt sound system and technician. Our offer includes a 32-channel mixer, CD and cassette capability; support for a keyboard and guitars; 2 floor monitors; set up for singers; wireless mics; music stands. Our sound technician will work with all musicians during the rehearsal and/or pre-ceremony time. Only the church sound technician will operate the church's sound equipment.
FLORIST All bouquets and arrangements must be delivered already made. There will be no assembly of these items on the premises. All bouquets and arrangements will be in waterproof containers. Decorating of the church will be completed one and a half hours (90 minutes) before the scheduled start time. If a flower girl(s) is(are) included in your procession, only silk flower petals may be thrown. Fresh flower petals are prohibited. The use of nails, tacks, and/or any other wood marring elements are not permitted. The florist will be expected to arrive no more than three (3) hours prior to the scheduled start time. This allows one and a half hours (90 minutes) for decorating. All floral fixtures, e.g. pedestals, baskets, candelabra, etc. must be retrieved immediately following preceremony photographs by the florist and/or designated individuals. (Any other desired plans must be made with the coordinator no less than one week in advance of wedding date.)
PHOTOGRAPHER The photographer must adhere to the following church policy: All movement in the chancel area (i.e. inside the "altar" area) is prohibited during the ceremony, without exception. (All attention should be on the bridal couple not the movement of the photographer.) Photos may be taken from the center aisle only during the processional and recessional of the bridal party, being sure not to block their path as they move up or down the aisle. During the ceremony, photographs may be taken from as far forward as the last pew of guests and from the balcony. All picture taking in the sanctuary will stop 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. Photographers are encouraged to have rolls of unused film already unwrapped (ready to load) before the ceremony. Following the ceremony, the bridal couple is escorted to the balcony for a time of privacy. Photographer will use this time to set up for formal photos in the chancel area. Should the bridal couple desire balcony photos, the photographer will be invited at the appropriate time by the coordinator. The use of flash/strobe during the ceremony is prohibited. (Guests are discouraged from the use of such flash as well.) On-site photographs may begin no more than three (3) hours prior to the start time. Up to one (1) hour is allowed for photos following the ceremony.
VIDEOGRAPHER Videographer will remain stationary during the ceremony. (Camera locations will be discussed with the coordinator prior to the ceremony.) The use of a video mic(s) will be discussed with the sound technician to insure no interference with the sound equipment. MISCELLANEOUS For your use we offer: Two (2) antique brass table-top candelabras (each holding 7 candles). Two (2) white wicker pedestal fan baskets for floral arrangements. If you decided to use the candelabras, you will need 14 drip less taper candles, no less than 15 inches tall. For the aisle runner, if you are using one, will need to be 100 feet long. There are three kinds of runners available - disposable plastic, disposable cloth, and "linen" rental. We strongly discourage using the disposable plastic runner type. The other two, however, are quite adequate, with the disposable cloth being the most reasonable in cost. Ask your florist for details. Regarding pew bows, there are 14 pews along each side of the center aisle. Typically, every other pew is decorated with a bow, which means that you would need a total of 14 bows (7 on each side). If you are using a runner, then we encourage blocking off of the center aisle, between the bows, with ribbon or tulle swag. No throwing of rice or birdseed is allowed. It is expected that all members of the wedding party and guests will refrain from the use of alcoholic beverages and/or behavior altering drugs prior to and/or during, both, the rehearsal and the ceremony; understanding that it could jeopardize wedding plans. (Also, smoking is not allowed in the facilities or around open doors or windows.) The bride and groom will be obligated to make this known to all participants.
WEDDING POLICY AGREEMENT
We, _________________________ and _________________________ have read, understand and accept the Wedding Policy of the La Jolla Christian Fellowship as presented to us, and will inform all "participants," paid and otherwise, of their responsibilities.
Signed: ________________________________ Date: ________________
Signed: ________________________________ Date: ________________
Our Wedding Date is: ___________________________________________