I. Scheduling Your Wedding Ordinarily, the prospective bride or groom (or one of their parents) is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Avenel. While we may consider non-member weddings, the Presbyterian tradition emphasizes that a marriage should take place within the context of a church family. As our church constitution puts it:
Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family. Marriage is a civil contract between a woman and a man. For Christians, marriage is a covenant through which a man and a woman are called to live out together before God their lives of
discipleship. In a service of Christian marriage, a life-long commitment is made by a woman and a man to each other, publicly witnessed and acknowledged by the community of faith. - Presbyterian Book of Order, W-4.9001
If you are not a member, we hope that you would consider First Presbyterian Church of Avenel as a possible home. We have regular membership classes throughout the year and would love to get to know you.
Each marriage request
must be approved by our governing board (Session). The Session meets every 3rd Tuesday of the month.
Step 1: Contact the Church Office at 732-634-1631 as soon as possible to schedule a tentative date for the wedding and rehearsal.
Step 2: Print and fill out the wedding application (downloadable on our website) and mail it to the First Presbyterian Church of Avenel, 621 E. Woodbridge Avenue, Avenel, NJ, 07001, or fax it to the Church Office at 732-634-1291.
We will get back to you after your request has been considered by the pastor and the Session.
II. Premarital Counseling In preparation for marriage, the pastor offers (pending availability) counseling sessions for the couple. Many couples say that this was the most important step in their preparations. The class will meet 3-5 times and cover topics such as marriage expectations, finances, intimacy, family planning and communication.
III. Planning Your Wedding
Music: The wedding ceremony is a service of Christian worship. Therefore, all musical selections must be approved by the pastor and music director. Our music director/organist plays for all weddings as available.
Flowers and Decorations: The couple selects the florist and arranges for delivery of flowers to the church. Some couples choose to have a "Unity Candle," which is provided by the couple and placed on the communion table.
Marriage License: Because marriage is a civil matter in the State of New Jersey, a license MUST be obtained in advance of the ceremony. It is illegal for a pastor to perform your wedding without it. Be sure to bring your license to the ceremony for the pastor to sign. The license is obtained from your local Registrar/Health Department. Typically, it takes 72 hours for a license in New Jersey.
Programs: Once the ceremony is finalized by the pastor, the church can prepare a program for an additional fee to cover the cost. You may prepare your own program if you wish, but it must receive the pastor's approval.
Rehearsal: This is a necessary part of the ceremony and typically takes place 1-2 days before the wedding day.
Click the rings to print and fill out our Marriage Application.
