Weddings
Join us for Morning Prayer via Facebook Live
at 8:00am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Everyone who rents the facility must provide a $500 refundable security deposit to secure the date of the rental. Members of South Elkhorn are not charged for renting the physical space, however there are required honorariums:
- $250, Minister
- $250, Wedding Coordinator
- $250, Custodial Support
If sound/audio technician or musicians are desired, there are optional honorariums for those individuals:
- $200, Pianist or organist
- $200, Audio technician
The minimum total of $750 is payable to South Elkhorn in one check:
- due one week in advance of the wedding date
- to the church office
- if sent by mail, mark the envelope “Attention: Wedding Coordinator”
A wedding is a beautiful and spiritually rich moment on life’s journey. South Elkhorn is delighted to share this occasion of great joy with you.
Please contact our wedding coordinator and review our most updated Wedding Policy.
Three Venues: Historic Sanctuary, Garden, or Worship Center
South Elhkorn’s historic sanctuary is the most used wedding venue. It dates to 1870 and provides an intimate, charming setting.
There is also a beautiful garden with a stone fence that is perfect for a very small outdoor wedding.
For large weddings of more than 175 people, the worship center is best. It has flexible seating (movable chairs), a large stage, and a high ceiling.
A wedding is a beautiful and spiritually rich moment on life’s journey. South Elkhorn is delighted to share this occasion of great joy with you.
Please contact our wedding coordinator and review our most updated Wedding Policy.
Three Venues: Historic Sanctuary, Garden, or Worship Center
South Elhkorn’s historic sanctuary is the most used wedding venue. It dates to 1870 and provides an intimate, charming setting.
There is also a beautiful garden with a stone fence that is perfect for a very small outdoor wedding.
For large weddings of more than 175 people, the worship center is best. It has flexible seating (movable chairs), a large stage, and a high ceiling.
For all non-members the total minimum cost is $1,000 payable to South Elkhorn as above.
No. Sometimes the South Elkhorn pastoral staff is unavailable and another minister will be needed. Sometimes another Minister with a connection to the couple is desired. Ministers from other traditions and churches are welcome to preside in consultation with the Wedding Coordinator and the South Elkhorn pastoral staff.
Note: Honorariums for outside clergy are arranged by the wedding party in addition to the costs involved (see above).
Five Reasons for a Church Wedding
- A church wedding communicates the spiritual nature of marriage. Marriage is not a human institution that can be totally disregarded, easily dissolved, or dramatically redefined. Marriage was ordained by our Creator and is a sacred covenant between God and the newly married couple. Since God designed marriage as the basic building block of society, it seems fitting to get married in a place where the cross of Christ is exalted, the Word of God is preached, and hymns of praise are sung. It communicates to all who witness the ceremony that God initiated marriage and family. When married couples regularly return to worship in that same building, they are reminded of the covenant made with their mate and their God.
- A church wedding provides an opportunity for evangelism. Church weddings provide an opportunity to invite unbelieving friends and family into a building that serves as a house of worship. Not only will they hear the gospel, but they will also become familiar with the parking lot, the lobby, and the worship area. That experience often helps eliminate some of their apprehensions about going to church, and it becomes easier for them to respond favorably when invited to return.
- A church wedding is usually a more effective service. The facilities, acoustics, lighting, wedding coordinator, and tech crew are often more experienced and perform better than those provided at wedding venues. Plus, you avoid the risk of inclement weather compared to an outdoor environment and reduce the potential for noisy and annoying distractions at an outside venue.
- Most church weddings are less expensive. The amount of money spent on rehearsal dinners, flowers, tuxedoes, wedding venues, and receptions has become outlandish. Many wedding budgets now exceed six figures! Although weddings are important and certain expenses are inevitable, many newlyweds could pay off half of their mortgages with what is spent on many weddings. Since many destination weddings require guests and bridal party members to pay for their travel, meals, and hotel expenses and to take two or three days off work, couples ask a lot of family and friends when the wedding is a long way from home. A church wedding is not only often less expensive for couples, but they are also usually less expensive for the wedding party and guests.
- A church wedding and reception provide an alcohol-free environment. Most churches have a large room or meeting hall that provides adequate space for a wedding reception. Yet because most churches also have a “no alcohol” policy for their reception area, many couples choose alternative venues. However, I feel an alcohol-free reception demonstrates it is possible to have a good time without alcohol. Plus, the parents are able to save a lot of money!
A sign of God’s curse on a nation is that there is no sound of the bride and bridegroom celebrations. On the other hand, when God’s favor returns and there is a spiritual revival, “…there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voice of those who bring thank offering to the house of the Lord…” (Jeremiah 33:11).
God loves weddings! It also seems that the joyous, spiritual event of a wedding ceremony should be conducted in the same building where the author of marriage is worshipped.