Marriage

	Christian Marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God. If you're considering Marriage at St. Stephen's, we have resources which will help guide you. Please contact the church office.
	What's Required for Marriage at St. Stephen's At least one of the parties to the Marriage must be a baptized member of St. Stephen's. Non-members can satisfy this requirement by joining the Parish and participating regularly in worship at St. Stephen's while they prepare for Marriage. All Marriages at St. Stephen's must conform to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania governing the creation of the civil status of Marriage and also to the laws of the Episcopal Church governing the solemnization of Holy Matrimony. A minimum of 30 days' notice is required before a Marriage can occur. If either of the parties is divorced with a living ex-spouse, at least 75 days' notice must be given. This also requires the Judgment of the Bishop of Northwestern Pennsylvania. Marriage ceremonies do not occur during Lent except in extraordinary circumstances. Couples seeking Marriage at St. Stephen's must participate in Premarital Counseling. Premarital Counseling at St. Stephen's normally consists of three to five meetings with the Officiant or another clergyperson. The sessions last approximately two hours each. The Marriage ceremony must adhere to the Ceremonial Guidelines of St. Stephen's. Gifts and fees are to be delivered to the Parish Office or the Officiant prior to the rehearsal. In case of financial hardship, some of the fees may be waived on request at the discretion of the Rector. As part of Premarital Counseling, couples work with the Officiant to make plans for the ceremony using the resources which will be discussed during the counselling. The Officiant of the ceremony is selected by the Rector, and is a member of the clergy staff of St. Stephen's, with exceptions approved by the Rector. In limited cases and always at the discretion of the Rector, an outside officiant may preside at a Marriage at St. Stephen's. IMPORTANT: The clergy are not required to perform Marriages, and may decline to do so for any reason, including the outcome of Premarital Counseling.

	The Ceremony - In the ceremony itself, the roles of Best Men and Maids/Matrons of Honor are small. Best Men normally carry and present the rings, and Maids/Matrons of Honor adjust the bride's train and hold her flowers as necessary. But the real work of Best Men and Maids/Matrons of Honor comes immediately before and after the ceremony, and should be taken seriously. They are the chief attendants of the bride and groom, and should be selected carefully not only on the basis of existing friendships, but of their capacity to exercise their responsibilities reliably. The Marriage Ceremony affords a number of opportunities to involve friends and family. Only the Bride, Groom, Officiant, and two witnesses are required. All the other positions are optional. The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage is an occasion for worship, and the planning of the ceremony should reflect that. A number of church employees and volunteers will assist you. The church building will be unlocked two hours before the ceremony is scheduled to begin. Photographers, videographers, and others requiring setup time should plan to arrive then. Flowers may be delivered and set up during the rehearsal or once the building is opened on the day of the ceremony. The service for the Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage can be found in the Book of Common Prayer beginning on page 422. The Holy Eucharist - The Holy Eucharist is the central act of Christian worship, and its inclusion in the Marriage ceremony is encouraged. However, when a significant number of the expected guests might be expected to decline communion, the Eucharist's intended function of unifying the community as the Body of Christ may serve instead to highlight divisions. In that case, the Eucharist should not be included.