Author: Barbara

Saint Philip’s
Episcopal Church
522 Main Street
Laurel, MD 20707-4118
(301) 776-5151
admin@stphilipslaurel.org

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church
522 Main St.
Laurel, MD 20707-4118
We are delighted that you would like to have your marriage ceremony take place at St. Philip’s Church. Our parish has served the Laurel area for over 150 years, and we value our heritage as an Episcopal congregation on
historic Main Street.
This booklet contains the information you will need to plan your wedding at St. Philip’s, as follows:
Application Form
Flowers and Decorations Policy
Wedding Photography Policy
You will need to complete the Application, found on the following pages, and return it to the St. Philip’s office at the address shown above. Receipt of your Application
initiates the wedding planning process, at which time your first meeting will be arranged with our Rector.
As you plan your wedding, please keep in mind that our church has a maximum capacity of 150 people. We also rent out our banquet hall (Wyatt Hall) for wedding receptions.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call the St. Philip’s Church office at
(301) 776-5151, or send an email to admin@stphilipslaurel.org. We will be happy to assist you in the completion of these forms.
1. Wedding Application for St. Philip’s Episcopal Church
Application Date: _________________________________________
Wedding Date ______________________________ Time ________________
Bride’s Information
Full Name: __________________________________________________________
Maiden _____ Widow _____ Divorced1 _____
Date of Final Decree __________
Divorce Decree Jurisdiction (County, State) ___________ Case No. __________
Birth Date __________Baptized (Y/N) ________ Confirmed ________
Current Church Membership __________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________________
Home Phone ____________________________ Cell Phone__________________
email ____________________________________________________________
Occupation _______________________________________________________
Work Phone ____________________________________________
Cell Phone _____________________________________________
Father’s Full Name _________________________________________________
Mother’s Full Name _______________________________________________
(Please include mother’s maiden name)
Children and Dates of Birth___________________________________________
1Officiating clergy must see a copy of all divorce decrees at least 90 days in advance of wedding date.
Groom’s Information
Full Name _________________________________________________________
Bachelor _____Widower _____ Divorced 1_____ Date of Final Decree _______________
Divorce Decree Jurisdiction (County, State) ___________ Case No. __________
Birth Date ________ Baptized (Y/N) ____ Confirmed ________
Current Church Membership ___________________________________________
Address _________________________________________________________
Home Phone __________________ Cell Phone___________________
email _______________________________________________
Occupation ___________________________
Work Phone ___________________
Father’s Full Name ___________________________________________________
Mother’s Full Name __________________________________________________
(Please include mother’s maiden name)
Children and Dates of Birth_____________________________________________

Key Names & Phone Numbers
Priest-in-Charge The Rev. Robert Bunker
(301) 776-5151 ext. 13
Email: rev.bunker@gmail.com
Parish Administrator (301) 776-5151 ext. 10
Email: admin@stphilipslaurel.org
Organist* Saunders Allen
(410) 962-8913
Email: saunjal@msn.com
Altar Guild Coordinator* Wendy Bain
(301) 466-0159
*Please contact these individuals as soon as your wedding date has been confirmed.
You cannot call too early, and if the Organist is not available for the date you have selected,
you will need to work with him to find a suitable organist.

Glossary of Terms
Rector Chief sacramental and liturgical leader of the parish.
Celebrant Person officiating at the altar during a celebration of the Eucharist.
Eucharist Also known as The Lord’s Supper, and Holy Communion, from Greek word
eucharista, meaning “thanksgiving.” The sacrament commanded by Christ or the
continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again.
Narthex An entry space, foyer, or anteroom of a church between the front door and the nave.
Nave The place in the church building for the congregation, between the chancel and the narthex.
Chancel Area around the altar which may include the choir area.
Gradual Hymn The hymn that is sung prior to the reading of the Gospel.
Gospel Third scripture reading, always taken from one of the four gospels, (Luke, Mark,
Matthew, or John). From the Greek, meaning “good news.”

Wedding Party information
Preferred Rehearsal Date ______________________ Time ________________
Location of Reception ___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
*Would you like to receive information for a reception in Wyatt Hall (Y/N) ______
Maid/Matron of Honor ________________________________________________
Best Man ___________________________________________________________
Number of Bridesmaids _____Ushers _____ Wedding Guests _____
Address after Marriage ______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
The name by which the bride will be known after the wedding
________________________________________________________________________
2. Concerning the Service
Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God. In the Episcopal Church it is required that at least one of the parties must be a baptized Christian; that the ceremony be attested by at least two witnesses; and that the marriage conform to the laws of the State and the canons of this Church.
A priest or a bishop normally presides at the Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage, because such ministers alone have the function of pronouncing the nuptial blessing, and of celebrating the Holy Eucharist.
When both a bishop and a priest are present and officiating, the bishop should pronounce the blessing and preside at the Eucharist.
A deacon, or an assisting priest, may deliver the charge, ask for the Declaration of Consent, read the Gospel, and perform other assisting functions at the Eucharist.
Where it is permitted by civil law that deacons may perform marriages, and no priest or bishop is
available, a deacon may use the service which follows, omitting the nuptial blessing which follows The Prayers.
It is desirable that the Lessons from the Old Testament and the Epistles be read by lay persons.
In the opening exhortation (at the symbol of N.N.), the full names of the persons to be married are
declared. Subsequently, only their Christian names are used. Additional directions may be found on page 437 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Your rector will discuss with you the type of service you desire; i.e., Rite I or Rite II, with or
without the Holy Eucharist (communion). If you’ve already been married by a Justice of the Peace or at the County Court House, the Blessing of a Civil Marriage may be appropriate for you. For information on the types of services, please refer to the Book of Common Prayer, beginning on Page 423.

A. THE MARRIAGE
Procession to the altar? (Y/N) ___ Music? (Y/N) _____
Vows: ____ Repeated ____ Memorized ____ Read
Rings: ____ Two ____ One Other gifts ___________
B. PRAYERS
Lord’s Prayer: _____ Traditional Version _____ Contemporary Version
Intercession: Read by ____________________________
Changes: ______________________________________
C. THE BLESSING OF THE MARRIAGE
___ Prayer 1 (p. 430) ____ Prayer 2 (p. 431)
D. THE PEACE
____ Omit ______ Exchanged with wedding party _____ With congregation
E. THE OFFERTORY
Bread and wine to be offered by couple? (Y/N) _______
Brought from __________________________________
F. THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
For Rite I: ___Prayer I ___Prayer II
For Rite II: Prayer: ___A ___B ___C ___D
(If using Prayer D: Name(s) to be remembered: _____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
G. THE DISMISSAL
___ “Let us go forth in the Name of Christ”
___ “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord”
___ “Let us go forth … in the power of the Spirit”

___ “Let us bless the Lord”
___ Other

Service Information
Presiding Priest: __________________________
Email: _____________________________________Phone _________________________
Assisting Priest or minister: ________________________
Email: _____________________________________Phone: __________________
Bride’s Witness: __________________________________________________________
Groom’s Witness:________________________________________________________
Service Program to be Printed (Y/N) __________________
Parish Print Program *_____________Bridal Party Print Program ___________
*If program is to be printed by church staff, Parish Administrator must have program at least 10 days in advance of wedding date.
Program Information
Service
Holy Eucharist Rite I ______________
Holy Eucharist Rite II ______________
Marriage Ceremony Only ____________
Music
Organist: _________________________________________________________
Phone#: ____________________ Email:________________________________
Conference Appointment Date & Time: _______________________________________

1. Prelude Selection: _______________________________________________
2. Entrance music (Bridal party) ______________________________________
Entrance Music (Groom’s party) _________________________________
Hymn/Musical Selections during service
a._____________________________________________________________________
b._____________________________________________________________________
c._____________________________________________________________________
Recessional Hymn________________________________________________________
4. Soloist’s Name__________________________________________________
Musical Selection(s) ________________________________________________________
5. Instrumentalist’s Name ___________________________________________
Musical Selection(s) _________________________________________________________
The Entrance
____Bridal procession only ___Informal entrance ____Bride and Groom process
D. The Presentation
______Bride’s escort “gives” the bride ______Bride’s escort “presents” the bride
_____I _____Her mother and I
The Ministry of the Word
First Reading: Reader _____________________________________________
___Genesis 1:26—28 ___Genesis 2:4—9, 15—24
___Song of Solomon 2:10—13, 8:6—7 ___Tobit 8:5b—8 (New English Bible)
Psalm _______and/or Hymn _________ Leader ____________________________
___Psalm 67 ___Psalm 127 ___Psalm 128 ___Other

Second Reading: Reader: ______________________________________________________
_____1 Corinthians 13:1—13 _____Ephesians 3:14—19
_____1 John 4:7—16 _____Ephesians 5:1—2, 21—33
_____Colossians 3:12—17
Psalm ______ and/or Hymn ________ Leader ________________________________
Gospel Reading: Reader: ________________________________________________________
_____Matthew 5:1—10 _____Matthew 5:13—16
_____Matthew 7:21, 24—29 _____ 1 John 4:7—16
_____Mark 10:6—9, 13—16
The Apostles’ Creed (Y/N) _________ The Nicene Creed (Y/N) ________
.

3. Decorations, Flowers, Rice
The Church maintains a custom of decorative simplicity for all services, including weddings. Your flowers should be arranged through the St. Philip’s Altar Guild, to be delivered to the sacristy at a time to be determined by the Altar Guild. Rainbow Florist (Laurel Florists?) is to be the source for all altar flowers. Altar Flowers are to remain on the altar as a thank offering on the following
Sunday. The Altar Guild also prepares the sanctuary area, places white hangings and prepares the altar for Holy Eucharist if needed. The Altar Guild contact is Betsy Brothers, who may be reached at (301) 604-1981.
If a couple so desires, ribbon bows may be fastened to the pews along the center aisle, using twist ties only, no tape. Every 2nd pew is suggested. This is the responsibility of the wedding party. It should be noted that over-use of flowers or decorations detracts from the historic beauty and
simplicity of the church. No roping off of pews is permitted as a matter of fire safety.
A Unity candle is not part of the Episcopal service.
For insurance purposes, neither rice nor birdseed nor anything resembling these items may be thrown (could cause guests to slip and fall). Instead, bubbles are suggested. Small white bottles of bubbles can be purchased at many arts and crafts shops.

4. Wedding Photography Policy
Weddings at St. Philip’s are services of worship, intended to glorify God; as such, photography is strictly limited. Amateur flash photography by guests at the wedding is expressly
prohibited. This is a long-established tradition at St. Philip’s as well as in many Episcopal churches. Any questions should be addressed to the Rector in advance. Please let your guests know of this prohibition in advance to prevent any embarrassment and/or misunderstandings on your wedding day.
Professional photographers must observe the following rules. It is the responsibility of the wedding couple to review these rules with the photographer in advance. A 15 amp circuit is available if
required.
Procession in/out: One photo with available light (no flash) may be taken of each
person processing up and down the aisle. The photographer is to be positioned
no further than midway up the aisle and must not block doorways.
No dollies are permitted; no flash or video lights; photographers are not permitted
to be moving up and down the aisles.
During the service, absolutely no still photography, is allowed, with or without
flash. Any use of flash or other lights is disruptive of the service and may
temporarily blind the participants. The Rector will stop the service, if
necessary, if this policy is not followed.
Videotaping is allowed, using one camera that is positioned on a tripod at the rear of
the church. No movement from the tripod is permitted. Distracting movements
are disruptive to the ceremony.
No person is to enter the sanctuary (beyond the steps and lectern). No books
or church possessions are to be moved.
Pictures of the vows, rings, blessing, etc., may be posed in the church immediately
after the formal ceremony has concluded. Thirty (30) minutes is allowed for this
purpose before the church must be vacated for cleaning. The rector will pose, if
requested, immediately after the ceremony.

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church
522 Main Street
Laurel, MD 20707
(Mailing: PO Box 1166, Laurel MD 20725)
301 776-5151
admin@stphilipslaurel.org

Visit our Webpage
www.stphilipslaurel.org
Like us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/StPhilipsLaurelMD/
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/stphilipslaurel

Parish Office hours are 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday—Thursday and by appointment.
The Rev. Robert Bunker, Priest-in-Charge, ext. 13 or rev.bunker@gmail.com
Pastoral Emergency 443-420-7365.
Jennifer Toole, Coordinator of Youth Ministry, jtoole@tooledesign.com

St. Philip’s Vision Statement: Every day St. Philip’s proclaims Christ’s love by nurturing our church family, young and old, and actively reaching out to our community. Through our words and deeds we inspire, welcome and encourage others to journey together in Christian faith and growth. (adopted 2003)

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