Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! We are delighted that you are considering being married at Westwood Lutheran Church.
Our pre-marriage ministry will help you grow in faith, build relationships with other Christian couples, and assist you in strengthening your relationship with each other. We expect that you will worship with us regularly and covenant to work with each other and the church in this pre-marital process.
Since you have chosen to marry in a Christian church, your wedding service will be a worship service with its primary focus on God. The pastors, organist, and wedding coordinator will assist you in the preparation of this event.
The Prepare Inventory that you will take and the Saturday Pre-Marriage Retreat have proven to be effective and engaging ways to help you get ready for a healthy marriage, in addition to being a lot of fun.
We hope the information provided below will answer some initial questions you may have.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a wedding at Westwood Lutheran Church?
To schedule a wedding at WestwoodLutheranChurch, please contact Sharon Langland at 952-767-5561, or s.langland@westwoodlutheran.org to begin the scheduling process. A Wedding Agreement and Covenant for the Pre-Marital Process will then be prepared and sent to the couple. If a couple requests a specific pastor, that request will be considered but not guaranteed.
Is it necessary to be a member of Westwood Lutheran Church to be married here?
It is not necessary to be a member of Westwood to be married here. However, we are here to serve the people in our community. If a couple has a connection with our congregation or lives in the surrounding community, we will be happy to speak to them about their wedding.
What are the fees for a wedding at Westwood?
The current wedding fees cover the cost of providing services to you as you plan for your marriage and for the services provided on your wedding day. These include a wedding coordinator, pastor, organist or pianist, custodian, and sound technician, as well as a pre-marriage inventory which will be reviewed with your pastor. A $325 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your date. All couples will also be required to attend a one-day pre-marriage retreat. The cost of this retreat is $100 and is payable at the retreat. The remaining professional fees of $675 are payable one week prior to the wedding. All fees are subject to change without notice until the Wedding Agreement is signed.
May we have our own pastor officiate?
One Westwood pastor must participate in every wedding at WestwoodLutheranChurch. We often have pastors who co-officiate. If you have a pastor who you would like to co-officiate, you may talk to your wedding coordinator about this. Guest pastors must be approved by the officiating Westwood pastor.
What type of pre-marital counseling is required?
All couples are expected to take a written Prepare Inventory. The results of this inventory will be used by your pastor for one or two pre-marriage counseling sessions. Couples are also required to attend a one-day pre-marriage retreat. These retreats are held quarterly on a Saturday from 9:30-3:30 p.m. and are facilitated by Pastor Karen Stevensen, a former Westwood pastor. Issues relating to communication, conflict resolution, intimacy, and family systems are among the many topics covered at the retreat. For more information you may visit Karen Stevensen’s website at www.karenstevensen.com. Upon completion of the retreat, the couple will receive a certificate for a discount on their marriage license.
How do I select music for my wedding?
Westwood’s Director of Music can assist you in selecting music which is appropriate for your wedding service. Since your wedding ceremony is a worship service, all music must be approved by our Director of Music. Our Director of Music will play at all weddings requiring organ or piano music unless she is unavailable. In the event our organist is not available, she will provide for an accomplished substitute.
What is the role of Westwood’s wedding coordinator?
Your wedding coordinator will provide you with information relevant to Westwood’s policies regarding weddings. She will help you coordinate all aspects of your wedding worship ceremony along with your pastor and the Director of Music. Your coordinator will attend your wedding rehearsal and work alongside the pastor to achieve a comfort level for you and your wedding party. Finally, she will assist you and your wedding party on your wedding day to make sure your day is memorable for you and your guests.
We look forward to working with you in the months ahead,and may God bless you as you look ahead to your wedding dayand to your days as husband and wife.
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