A wedding is one of the most sacred sacraments of the church and we honour the importance of that commitment with you.
Each couple is given a total of two hours for decorating the church, the wedding ceremony, photographs and clean-up. This means that a couple with a wedding at 1pm have the church from 12 to 2pm for set-up, ceremony and take down. The wedding ceremony itself takes between 30 and 45 minutes. We apologize but we are unable to offer longer times. We do not perform weddings on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and some other dates. Please note: if you are looking at our calendar for church availability, it may not be 100% up to date, so you should confirm dates with the priest (priest@stjohnsarva.ca).
The cost of a wedding for non-parishioners is as follows: Restoration fee $1000; administration fee $500. This fee includes payment for the priest, organist, custodian, wedding coordinator and the use of the church. Cost for parishioners is a different amount (see the priest for details). If our priest or organist is unavailable, we will assume responsibility for securing the services of another priest or organist. Our organist is paid whether his/her services are used.
To view the facilities, you are welcome to attend any Sunday service, where you will be able to see the church in daylight and hear the organ being played. You may also arrange with our priest to view the church at another time. If you wish to go ahead and book your wedding at St. John’s, you will need to pay a non-refundable deposit to hold your date ($300.00 for a Friday or Saturday wedding). The balance is due two months before the wedding date. Cheques should be made payable to “St. John the Divine Anglican Church, Arva”.
The priest can guide you on any innovations you may consider for your wedding service, and will advise you whether or not we are able to accommodate them.
Marriage Preparation Course
Our church requires that couples being married here enroll in a Marriage Preparation Course provided by the Anglican Church of Canada. For more details please talk to the priest.
Marriage License
If you are a member of the parish (attending a minimum of six months), your banns will be read in church and you will not need a marriage licence. If you are not a member, you will need to obtain the appropriate marriage licence. Each couple needs to provide the church with the bride & groom’s father’s full name and the bride & groom’s mother’s full maiden names. The birth place (city and country) of each parent is also required for the marriage license. As we need the form to complete the church register for your ceremony, please bring the license and the balance of your fees to the church office two months prior to your wedding. Immediately after your wedding, we will mail your marriage license back to the government so they can also register your marriage in their records.
Order of Service
Some couples wish to have a printed order of service for guests to read. We do not provide this but can provide an outline of a typical order of service if you wish to print your own. Our wedding service is from The Book of Alternative Services of the Anglican Church of Canada.
Music
If you have indicated a desire to have the church’s organist/pianist perform at your wedding, you may contact the music director (music@stjohnsarva.ca) before your wedding date to discuss suitable music selections for your ceremony.
Decorations
The wedding couple is responsible for providing flowers and decorations. Pew Bows are welcomed. Please check with the priest as to set up times and availability of the church. There are some days when your wedding will have to accommodate church decorations already in place, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
Candles
The parish has two seven-candle candelabras. If you wish to use the candelabra, bring fourteen 12″ tapers to the rehearsal. White candles photograph better than dark-coloured candles. Label the candles with your name, wedding date and time, and give them to the wedding host.
If you wish to perform the unity candle ceremony, you will need four additional tapers and a centre pillar candle (plus candle holders for the pillar and the two tapers that will stand beside the pillar). Also give these (all labelled) to the wedding host at the rehearsal.
The wedding host will take care of lighting the candelabra before the service, and put out a lighter for the unity ceremony if you perform it.
Confetti
We ask that you inform your guests not to throw confetti, rice or birdseed in or near the church.
Photography
We fully co-operate with your photographer, giving ample opportunity for good pictures. Please ask your photographer to speak to the priest before the ceremony. During the ceremony, only non-flash may be used. Videos are allowed with discretion.
Parking
We have ample parking to the side of the church.
Receptions
We do not provide receptions.