Wedding Information
Dear Bride & Groom,
Congratulations! The decision to marry is one of the most exciting decisions you will ever make. Cocoa is happy to celebrate with you and help you.
A wedding formally initiates a marriage. We encourage you to conduct your wedding in the church facilities and to live your marriage in the church’s ongoing life. God can truly grace a relationship before, during, and after a wedding. This grace flows through regular worship with a congregation, personal Bible reading and prayer, and acts of giving.
We also realize God can work with your relationship through input from others on such things as communication, finances, conflict resolution, and praying together. With that in mind, you will need to visit with our pastoral staff regarding premarital counseling.
As for the wedding ceremony, in the Presbyterian Church, it is a worship service. For this reason, weddings contain readings of scripture, prayers, music, and vows that bring honor to God. Cocoa is glad to enter into the joy that surrounds a Christian marriage. We ask that all members of the wedding party assist in making your wedding an appropriate worship experience.
The following designed guidelines are here to answer as many of your questions as possible about a CPC wedding. If you would like to arrange a wedding at our church (after reading the guidelines), please contact our office.
We look forward to joining you on this exciting day,
Pastor Lucas Pina
Cocoa Presbyterian Church
Wedding and Reception Fees
Note: Our fee structures are still being modified. To inquire further, please contact the Church Office.
General Information
Rehearsals
The rehearsal will last approximately half an hour and begins promptly at the time scheduled. Please keep in mind that the minister is in charge of the rehearsal. It is encouraged that everyone involved in the wedding, including both sets of parents, is present for the rehearsal, which will include the ushers. When you arrive for the rehearsal, please be prepared to provide information such as: Who will light the candles? Who will seat the mothers? How many family pews shall be reserved?
Marriage License
The marriage license must be delivered to the wedding coordinator at the rehearsal. Marriage licenses are obtainable from the Brevard County Courthouse: 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way Viera, Fl. 32940 (321) 633-2058. They are valid only if obtained no more than sixty days in advance of the wedding and not less than 72 hours. When marriage counseling is complete, a discount for the license is available from the county.
Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco
No drugs or alcohol are permitted anywhere on the church property. Smoking is permitted outdoors only, especially not at the sanctuary front doors.
Availability and Reservations
CPC is not available for weddings on Palm Sunday, Easter, or Christmas weekends. Weddings scheduled in these seasons must make arrangements for wedding decorations to blend in with and not displace those present in the sanctuary and fellowship hall. The couple may use the down under area for up to two hours before the wedding. Photos may be staged and taken in the Jennie McElveen Library. No dressing, food, drinks, or preparation in the library.
Sanctuary
The sanctuary at CPC is simple in style with blue and white decor and designed to seat a maximum of 250 persons.
Minister
Counseling sessions are a necessary part of being married at CPC. A couple desiring to be married here should arrange an initial conference with the minister at CPC well in advance of the wedding date. No marriage date is confirmed at CPC until this initial meeting with the minister is held. The counseling sessions are a time for the bride and groom to talk with the pastor about their wedding and marriage. If you desire another minister or priest to participate in the ceremony, the minister at CPC would be happy to talk with you about this.
Wedding Coordinator
We do not provide a wedding coordinator. However, you may inquire about a wedding by contacting the Church Office. If you have a wedding coordinator, we will gladly work with them! Please contact the pastor with this information as soon as possible. Remember, in Presbyterian Churches, a wedding is a worship service, and the pastor is in charge.
Sound/Audio Visual
For any Audio/Visual needs during the ceremony, a technician will be provided by CPC. The rates for this can be found in our fee structure at the start of this page.
Reception
The Fellowship Hall is available for receptions.
Music
Wedding music should be appropriate for worship. Once your wedding is confirmed, please contact our church music director as soon as possible (a minimum of three months before the wedding date) to arrange for an appointment to select music. The purpose of music in a church wedding is to glorify God. The music for the wedding does not need to be solemn. We suggest music that is joyful or meditative for the ceremony. During the appointment to choose music with the bride and/or groom, the music director/organist will also be glad to suggest solo selections and secure soloists, if requested. Final approval of the music for the ceremony falls to the music director and the applicable musicians. The church organist will play for all weddings. If our organist is unable to play for the wedding, he/she will obtain a suitable organist and brief him/her on the music for the ceremony.
Florist
Flowers and decorations should enhance the wedding ceremony and be appropriate to the worship setting. Use of Flowers and a Candelabra is acceptable in the chancel area or on the pews; however, we ask that they comply with the following guidelines:
- Candelabras are approved in the chancel only and restricted to drip-less candles, which CPC can supply for $25.
- Florist/decorators must not use thumbtacks, pins, nails, scotch tape, glue, etc., on any of the furniture or appointments.
- All furnishings moved shall be replaced after the wedding. You may not remove Liturgical furnishings without the pastor’s permission.
So that arrangements are made for the day of the wedding, please have the florist contact the Church Office one week in advance of the wedding. Decorations should be completed at least one hour before the wedding ceremony.
The florist/decorator must remove all decorations and equipment promptly after the ceremony and replace any furnishings moved.
The florist/decorator will be held responsible for all damage done to the building or furniture and is responsible for cleaning any wax from carpet or furniture that may result from the wedding. The members of the wedding party are responsible for removing all clothing, boxes, etc. after the service. No rice, birdseed, confetti, real or silk flowers, or any other substance may be thrown on the premises.
Photographer
You may take pictures before or after the service in any part of the building. No pictures may be taken in the sanctuary from the bride’s processional to the end of their recessional with a flash. You may take pictures from the balcony or narthex during the ceremony, provided no flash or accessory lighting is in use. We can record the service using our AV equipment upon request, or by the party in the balcony, provided it does not infringe on any existing equipment.