Getting Married At First Church

• The Minister is the Rev Richard Gray. He can be contacted through the church office on the people page of the site. Any questions relating to your marriage arrangements should be directed to him.
  If you wish to use your own minister there is no difficulty but you will still need to make sure that the church is booked well in advance.
• The Church Officer will be notified of your wedding day and time by the Minister. She will arrange for the church to be open and warm ready for your service. Unless otherwise requested she will play the bells as you leave the church. After the service she will tidy the building ready for the next service.
• Rose petals, rice and confetti are sometimes thrown as expressions of good wishes. Since all require to be cleaned up later we recommend that they be used before the bridal party reaches the foot of the front steps.
• Miss Margaret Edmondston is the First Church Organist and will play for your service. It is a courtesy to contact her ( phone (03) 2177073 ) about four weeks before your wedding day and discuss with her the music you want. To help you with this choice a list of suggested music is available from the Minister.
• Should you plan to have a solo sung in your wedding service the soloist can arrange with the organist to accompany if necessary. Other special music such as bagpipes, trumpets and so on can be accommodated by arrangement. CDs and tapes can also be played through the sound system during the ceremony.
• First Church lends itself to the production of a full record of your wedding. Competent photographers will be able to provide you with pictures of the whole service without intruding. Video records can also be made but it is recommended that the camera operator discusses the details with the Minister prior to the service.
  In the event of bad weather or poor lighting family group photographs may be taken inside the church after the service. This may not always be possible if another wedding is closely scheduled.
• The First Church Flower Committee arranges flowers each week but should you wish to decorate the pew ends with ribbons, bows or flowers they can be put in place the evening before the wedding. Arrangements will need to be made to remove them after the service. You may wish to arrange for special flowers for the whole church - if so please contact Mrs Daphne Rankin Ph (03) 2179740.
• The First Church Deacons' Court has determined that the all inclusive fee for the use of the church for a wedding should be nz$450. This should be paid by a single payment, or cheque made out in favour of First Presbyterian Church. This payment should be made prior to the wedding. A receipt is issued on receipt of this payment.