If you are engaged or planning to get engaged and would like to have your wedding at One Family Church, please read through our policy and consider whether our church’s beliefs and expectations regarding weddings align with your own.
What is a Christian Wedding?
Christian marriage is a permanent, holy covenant ordained by God between a man and a woman designed to reflect the relationship between Christ and his Bride, the Church. (Matthew 19; Ephesians 5; Revelation 21). Marriages at OFC are limited to those between a man and a woman in accordance with the scripture.
Weddings officiated by a licensed minister associated with OFC are limited to Christian couples who are active members or who have immediate family who are active members. Active members are individuals who:
- Membership: have been members of our church for at least three months,
- Participation: have actively participated in church activities for at least three months (Weekly Celebrations, Life Groups, Dream Team), and
- Financial Commitment: have consistently contributed financially to the church for at least three months.
NOTE: The couple must be active members as described above for at least three months before applying to be married at OFC. If there are extenuating circumstances and a member of One Family Church does not meet the above requirements, OFC may, at the discretion of staff, allow a wedding to be held at the church.
No weddings will be scheduled on Sundays and the following holidays: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, the Saturday before Easter, Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Premarital Counseling
Couples whose weddings are being officiated by an OFC pastor are required to complete three sessions of premarital counseling prior to their wedding.
The Pastor’s Role
A licensed minister associated with OFC will perform the wedding ceremony, provided schedules allow. If the pastors of OFC are unable to officiate, another pastor may do so, but they must be approved by OFC.
Marriage License
For weddings at the Shaw Campus both applicants must apply for a marriage license at the City of St. Louis Recorder of Deeds. For weddings at the U-City Tivoli Campus both applicants must apply for a marriage license at St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds in Clayton.
Facilities
Weddings may be held at the Shaw and UCity Tivoli Campus. Facilities may be accessed four hours in advance of the wedding ceremony, and all materials, equipment, and people associated with the wedding should be out of the facility four hours after the end of the ceremony. Rooms are also available for the Bride and her attendants and the Groom and his attendants to gather before the service. Receptions may only be held at the Shaw Campus.
There is no smoking and no drinking of alcoholic beverages on the church premises, inside or outside. No food or drinks may be brought into the Sanctuary. No animals are allowed, only service dogs. Rice, bird seed, or confetti (i.e., anything that goes up and then comes down) are not permitted inside or outside the church. The use of bubbles is acceptable outside the building.
Church Liaison
The Church Liaison is a resource for any questions regarding building usage and is the contact for church staff. The Church Liaison will be on-site for the rehearsal and the ceremony to assist with any issues that may arise. The Church Liaison is not a Wedding Coordinator.
Flowers and Decorations
For Saturday weddings, the church will be open up to four hours before the confirmed wedding time, but no earlier than 9:00 a.m. The following requirements must be observed:
- No furnishing or church equipment can be removed from the Sanctuary unless
- approved by the Church Liaison.
- Decorations must be placed without damaging walls and furnishings.
- Only dripless candles may be used in the Sanctuary.
- Helium balloons are not permitted inside the church building.
Music and Videos
OFC does not provide musicians or vocalists for weddings. An Audio Technician from OFC
is required for the wedding ceremony. A Video Technician from OFC is required for slides or graphics. Technicians are not available for a reception, and all audio and video equipment for a reception must be provided by the couple.
Rehearsal
A 60-minute rehearsal may be held the evening before the wedding between 5:30 -7 pm. The Church Liaison and Audio Technician will be present during the allotted time. It is strongly recommended that the couple engage a wedding coordinator or a friend/family member to lead the rehearsal and wedding ceremony.
Fees and Honorarium
All fees must be paid at least 30 days prior to the wedding. Fees may be submitted electronically at onefamilychurch.com/give using the “Events” fund in the drop-down window or paid by check to One Family Church, P.O. Box 300166, Saint Louis, MO 63130.
Required Fees
Church Liaison $150
Audio Technician $120
Additional Fees (if required)
Video Technician $120
Rehearsal Dinner $100
Reception $250
Honorarium
In addition to fees for operational costs and staffing, it is customary to provide the officiating minister with an honorarium for services. Checks should be made payable to the officiating minister and given directly to them. Recommended honorarium is approximately $250 - $500
If you are interested in having your wedding at an OFC campus and officiated by an OFC licensed minister, and if you meet the requirements, please complete the Application to be Married at One Family Church.
