Congratulations and Blessings

We are delighted that you are considering being married at Trinity in Santa Barbara. We believe

that “marriage is intended by God for [your] mutual joy” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 423). To that end, we

are eager to make your wedding a joyful and meaningful experience. And even more importantly, we

want to help build the strongest foundation for your marriage in the many years to come.

One of the most challenging and rewarding of human

relationships, marriage is meant to be lived out in a community of faith

where it can be nurtured and supported by others. As you prepare for

your wedding, and after you are married, we encourage you to get

involved in the life of this parish.

Within a faith community, marriage is regarded as a

sacrament—as an outward sign of God’s love, reconciliation, justice, and

compassion for all people. By choosing to be married in

a church, you are asking for the blessing of

Christ on you union and asking that this

sacramental character be bestowed upon your marriage.

This booklet outlines our wedding practices at Trinity,

describes the process of planning and preparation for your wedding,

articulates our wedding policies and guidelines, and provides information

about facilities and fees. Please note that weddings at Trinity conform to

the doctrinal and liturgical practices of the Episcopal Church. Wedding

services follow the marriage rites found in the Book of Common Prayer and the

LGBT Wedding Rite of the Episcopal Church.

Congratulations again on your plans to be married. Please carefully read the material in this

booklet. After reviewing our policies and guidelines, if you are interested in celebrating your wedding at

Trinity, it would be our joy to celebrate with you as you make this covenantal relationship.

Weddings at

Trinity

Steps to Planning Your Wedding

Meet with a member of the clergy for an initial consultation at least three months

before the date of the wedding. Once you have all agreed that you would like to move

forward with your wedding at Trinity…

Pay the deposit fee to hold the date for the wedding and the wedding rehearsal (and

any other spaces being used). Payment of all remaining fees is due one month prior to the

celebration.

Plan to meet with the clergy person assigned to your wedding 2-3 additional times

before the wedding for pre-marital preparation.

If you have been previously married, plan on working with the clergy to petition the

bishop’s office for permission to proceed.

Worship here at least three times on a Sunday service prior to your wedding.

Christian marriage is a sacrament – we have found that couples who participate in the

sacramental life of the church in preparation for their marriage deepen the spiritual

experience on their wedding day and are more familiar with the services and practices of our

parish.

We will prepare the service outline for your wedding bulletin. We produce a standard

bulletin in-house. If you would like your own design, we can provide the elements need for

the bulletin in digital form.

Plan on being at the church the day/the evening before your wedding for a rehearsal,

along with all of your family and friends who will be in the wedding party. You will schedule

the time of your rehearsal after your first meeting with your Officiant.

Marriage: What the State of California requires

A valid marriage license. You must obtain a valid California marriage license in order to be married anywhere in the state of California. You do not need to be a California resident to marry in California. Your license may be from any county in California. Please consult your local county clerk’s office for the requirements for obtaining the license, their hours of operation, etc. You must be prepared to apply in person, as a couple. Appointments may usually be made online. Licenses are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. You are encouraged to obtain the license well before the wedding day, as this will ease the burden of the tasks you must perform in the days immediately preceding your wedding date. You are required to bring the marriage license to the wedding rehearsal. Information about marriage in San Barbara can be found here: http://cosb.countyofsb.org/central.aspx?id=2054

Marriage: What the Episcopal Church requires

The canons of the Episcopal Church require at least 30 days advance notice of a wedding (for a first marriage) and Trinity requires a minimum of 90 days to complete the pre-marital counseling process, planning, and preparation.

that at least one of the parties to the marriage be a baptized Christian

two witnesses to attest to the wedding ceremony

If there has been a previous marriage, proof of dissolution, divorce, annulment or death, and proof of provision for minor children.

If your ceremony is a Blessing of a Civil Union, you will be asked to provide a certified copy of your marriage license.

That your wedding service adhere to the practice, doctrine, and liturgical rites of the Episcopal Church. For same sex couples the Diocese of Los Angeles uses the update of the rite passed by the General Convention of 2012.

Pre-marital preparation and counseling.

If there has been a previous marriage, you must present proof of dissolution, divorce, annulment or death to the clergy person officiating at the wedding at your first meeting. They will need to petition the Bishop’s Office for permission to remarry. Divorced persons may be married in the Episcopal Church. You will be asked to provide a certified copy of your divorce decree(s) and proof of provision for any minor children. If you do not have a certified copy in your possession, you should request one from the county clerk or recorder in the county in which the divorce decree was issued and recorded. Your Officiant must see the certified copy of your divorce decree(s) and proof of provision for any minor children, so they can petition the Bishop for permission to remarry.

The Blessing of a Civil Marriage

If you have already been married in a civil ceremony, you may have your marriage blessed in the church. The service is very similar to the marriage service, with some minimal changes in wording. The ceremony may be very simple, or may involve all the elements of a wedding (flowers, music, bridal party). You must provide a certified copy of your marriage license.

Pre-marital Preparation and Counseling

Several sessions of premarital counseling are required of all couples (typically three to four). In these sessions, you will meet with your Officiant—the person who has been assigned to help you plan and prepare for your wedding and who will preside at your service. These sessions provide time for you and your Officiant to get acquainted; plan the wedding ceremony; discuss the meaning of marriage; assess the strengths and challenges of the relationship; and connect more deeply to the life of the Trinity community. Counseling sessions are usually scheduled within regular business hours [at the mutual convenience of the officiant and the couple].

Couples who reside outside the area may choose to make counseling arrangements near their residence. Staff can help with making these connections. If counseling is done by someone outside Trinity clergy staff, they will need to provide written confirmation to the Officiant that the counseling has been completed.

Scheduling of Weddings

Weddings are scheduled on Saturdays. Once we have received your deposit, your wedding date and rehearsal will be entered into the parish calendar. The rehearsal usually takes place on the Friday before the wedding before 4:00 p.m. Weddings are not performed during the season of Lent.

Wedding Rehearsal

The wedding rehearsal is conducted by the Officiant. You, and all the participants in the service, will have the opportunity to walk through the entire ceremony, ask questions, and work out any logistical details. Being familiar with the space and with what is expected of participants during the service helps make all members of the wedding party more comfortable and helps to ensure a smooth ceremony.

All participants in the ceremony should attend the rehearsal: honor attendants, best men, bridesmaids, groomsmen, ring bearers, flower girls, readers, ushers, anyone who will walk in procession, and visiting clergy are expected to attend the rehearsal. Everyone should arrive at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time for the rehearsal, gathering together in the front of the area where the wedding is to be held.

Wedding consultants or planners may attend the rehearsal as observers if they wish; however, the consultant or planner has no role during the rehearsal. Typically, the organist does not attend the rehearsal.

You are required to bring your marriage license with you to the rehearsal. We must have your

marriage license in hand the day before the ceremony to ensure that both your and our legal obligations are satisfied; and so that our staff can complete the necessary paperwork before you arrive for the wedding.

After the wedding, we will mail the duly signed license to the appropriate county clerk. Your marriage license will then be filed in the county where you obtained your license, and you should be able to obtain a certified copy from the clerk 4-6 weeks after the wedding date. When you get your marriage license, you will receive instructions on how to obtain a certified copy.

Your Wedding Day

The wedding party should plan to arrive 45 minutes to an hour before the scheduled wedding ceremony. All

the careful planning and preparation you have done with your partner and the Trinity staff has been done. And now you can relax and enjoy your ceremony!

Dressing and preparation areas

Please let your Officiant know if you would like to have a space before the ceremony to gather and to make final preparations during the hour before the ceremony. Please make sure that everyone in your wedding party knows that alcoholic beverages are not permitted under any circumstances, and are strictly prohibited from being consumed prior to the ceremony.

Parking

Parking around the church can be a challenge. Please allow time for your wedding party to arrive in time to

park and please pay close attention to parking signs as limits are strictly enforced in Santa Barbara. You may also wish to contract with an outside valet parking company.

Your Wedding Ceremony Begins

About 15 minutes before your service is scheduled to begin, the organist will play a series of Preludes as guests are seated. Because we may have other services and events planned on the day of your wedding, please let your wedding party and guest know that we start on time.

At the time of your service, the wedding procession begins and you and your partner take this life-long step into a marriage intended for your mutual joy. Congratulations!

Music for Your Wedding

The Music Office staff are here to help guide and shape your musical choices with their experience, expertise, and familiarity with the sanctuary’s acoustics. We will help you choose music for your service that reflects the holiness and dignity of this sacramental rite. Secular music, including romantic or popular love songs, while not appropriate for the wedding service, is great to include at your reception.

You may wish to have outside musicians involved in the service. You will contract with them separately, and we can help you with references and contacts.

Outside musicians with whom we are not familiar will be requested to submit a recording and resume to the music department for approval. Please note that persons without professional work experience as musicians are generally not approved. Outside musicians must be approved no later than 2 months in advance of the wedding.

Use of outside musicians who wish to play or sing with accompaniment of the Organist will require additional rehearsal time. The rehearsal typically takes place the day of the wedding and will incur an additional negotiated fee.

Flowers

Altar flowers: Altar arrangements are not required for your service. Should you desire floral décor, only fresh, living flowers and greens are permitted. Altar flowers are left for the Sunday service in honor of your wedding. We do not allow Pew flowers.

Your personal flowers, for the bridal party’s bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, etc., may be done by a florist of your own choosing.

Attendants may carry bouquets or baskets containing fixed flower arrangements, but no loose petals. Loose flower petals or other materials may not be strewn on the floor, both for safety reasons and clean-up reasons.

Sharing Flowers: If more than one couple is being married in the same space on the same day, we will offer you the opportunity to discuss sharing flowers. Sharing flowers can result in a significant saving for couples and allows more time to set up the arrangements.

Photography and Videography

Because the wedding is first and foremost a worship service, we have strict policies about photography and videography to preserve the dignity, sanctity, and sacramental nature of the ceremony.

Both photography and videography by professionals are permitted within specified guidelines.

Still photographers and videographers must work with available light; no additional lights are permitted.

No flash photographs are permitted during the wedding. The entering and closing processions, only, may be photographed with flash until the wedding party approaches the center aisle.

The photographer/videographer must not enter the aisle, nor in any way come between the members of the procession and the congregation or clergy.

Photographs of the ceremony itself must be taken from the rear of the center aisle, sufficiently far from the congregation so as to be unnoticed or from positions negotiated with the clergy.

Photographs and video may be taken under the direction of the officiating priest for a pre-scheduled time before the service and for 15 minutes following the

ceremony.

Mandatory Guidelines for Videotaping: Any camera visible to the congregation must be positioned on a tripod and left on a tripod during the entire ceremony. An attendant may stand near the tripod to adjust focus as necessary, but may not otherwise move the camera.

Wedding guests may not take any photos or videotape during the wedding ceremony. Once the

service is over, anyone is free to take pictures, and re-enact parts of the service. Drones are not permitted.

The Service Leaflet

Worship services at Trinity use a service leaflet or “program,” so that the congregation may participate fully in the liturgy. A service leaflet, with our standard layout, will be prepared for your ceremony and is included in your fee. It will contain all the information required for participation, and it will list the names of the participants in your ceremony. You will be given the opportunity to review a draft before it is printed.

You may choose to print and produce your own service leaflet, at your own expense. While there are no limitations imposed regarding the design elements of a program that you produce, you are required to use an established template for the marriage rite. We will provide a template to your printer with all necessary service information.

If you use an outside designer and printer, the final draft of your leaflet must be proofed and approved by your Officiant.

The Offering and Fees

The cost of your wedding covers a variety of fixed costs, personnel costs, stipends, and contractual amounts. A non-refundable deposit is required in all cases to secure and confirm your date on the parish calendar. The deposit is transferable if you need to reschedule your wedding to another date; it is not refundable if you cancel. All wedding fees are due one month before your scheduled wedding service.

Because portions of your wedding ceremony are considered to confer an intangible religious benefit, some

of your wedding fees are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. You will receive a statement for your offering.

Paying by Credit Card. You may use a credit card to pay the deposit and also to authorize payment of all remaining charges. If you pay by credit card, the balance due will be charged to your card approximately 1 month prior to the wedding date. Additional fees may be incurred to process your credit card.

No rehearsal will be held and no wedding ceremony will take place if all fees have not been paid. If payment is delayed until shortly before the wedding date, we may require payment by certified check or in cash.

Additional Notes

A Note About Wedding Planners and Consultants. Many couples find it helpful to employ an outside wedding planner or consultant to help them plan the reception and all the pieces that come together over the months and weeks leading up to the wedding. If you choose to employ a professional wedding planner or consultant, that person can be of considerable assistance to you in coordinating many of the details surrounding your celebration.

Your Officiant and our staff are available to consult with your wedding planner and answer questions to help your wedding day go smoothly.

Nevertheless, your Officiant is responsible for all arrangements concerning the ceremony: the music, the seating, photography and videography movement and placement of participants, commencement of the service, lighting, sound and flowers. The wedding planner is welcome to attend the rehearsal as an observer only and has no role during the rehearsal or the wedding ceremony itself.

A Note About Children. Children are welcome at Trinity without qualification. Children are always welcome in worship, and weddings are no exception. We are mindful that children have their own needs and sensibilities, and that those needs and sensibilities can change on a dime! Some will feel excited and honored to participate in the ceremony; others may feel uncomfortable and anxious. Your Officiant can advise you about strategies to involve children in ways that meet their needs while fully including them.

At the rehearsal, they will have the chance to walk through the service and experience the space. Even up to the service, we remain flexible as to their ability to participate and to accommodate their needs that day in ways that maintain the best and most relaxed environment for all involved.

A Note about Who May Officiate. Clergy of Trinity officiate at all weddings. Clergy of other Christian traditions are welcome to participate in the service at the invitation of the Officiant and Rector of the parish. Typically, assisting clergy may deliver the charge, ask for the Declaration of Consent, read the Gospel, preach and assist at the Eucharist. In most cases, the Officiant presides at the exchange of vows. Any assisting visiting clergy are expected to consult with the Officiant well before the ceremony.

Notes on Other Décor

Candles: Altar candles are lit for a wedding as they are for all worship services. Pew candles may be used but use of them incurs an additional fee. No candles for purely decorative purposes are permitted. “Unity candles” are not part of Episcopal Church tradition and are not be used.

Flower petals, rice, birdseed, bubbles, balloons, confetti and other objects are not to be strewn or blown anywhere inside or outside the church. Flower petals present a slipping hazard. Rice and birdseed are prohibited by SB City Ordinance. All items present a cleaning problem, and are not congruent with Trinity’s position on environmental responsibility. Bubble-blowing kits are not permitted, as the bubble mixture leaves a slippery and dangerous soap residue on the ground. Sparklers are not permitted. The release of doves is not permitted. Cloth or paper runners or other floor coverings are not permitted, as they present an unsafe hazard for both guests and the wedding party.

Yes!

After reading through this booklet, if Trinity seems like the right place for you to be married, please fill out

the information sheet on the next page, mail it back, fax it to us, or scan and email. Your deposit will secure the date. And then contact your Officiant to set up the first premarital meeting.

Please fill this out and return with your deposit to hold the date.

WEDDING DATE: _______________________ TIME: ________________ CLERGY OFFICIATING: ______________________________________________________________________ Location, if other than church__________________________________________________________________

FULL NAME OF PARTNER 1: __________________________________________________ DATE OF BIRTH: _________________ DAY PHONE: __________________________________EVENING PHONE: ___________________________ CELL PHONE:__________________________________EMAIL:_______________________________________ ADDRESS: _______________________________________________________________ZIP: _______________ FULL NAME OF PARTNER 2: ____________________________________________________________________ DAY PHONE: __________________________________EVENING PHONE: ___________________________ CELL PHONE:__________________________________EMAIL:_______________________________________ ADDRESS: _______________________________________________________________ZIP: _______________

1500 State Street, Santa Barbara, California 93101

Tel: (805) 965-7419 Email: office@trinitysb.org

Distribution: officiating clergy, office, calendar, altar guild, music department, rev. 09/25/2017

Appendix 1

The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage At the time appointed, the persons to be married, with their witnesses, assemble in the church or some other appropriate place. During their entrance, a hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung, or instrumental music may be played. Then the Celebrant, facing the people and the persons to be married, with the woman to the right and the man to the left, addresses the congregation and says

Dearly beloved: We have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony. The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by his presence and first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. It signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and his Church, and Holy Scripture commends it to be honored among all people. The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God’s will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord. Therefore marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God. Into this holy union N.N. and N.N. now come to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now; or else for ever hold your peace. Then the Celebrant says to the persons to be married I require and charge you both, here in the presence of God, that if either of you know any reason why you may not be united in marriage lawfully, and in accordance with God’s Word, you do now confess it.

The Declaration of Consent The Celebrant says to the woman N., will you have this man to be your husband; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live? The Woman answers I will. The Celebrant says to the man N., will you have this woman to be your wife; to live together in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live? The Man answers I will.

addresses the congregation, saying Will all of you witnessing these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage? People We will.

If there is to be a presentation or a giving in marriage, it takes place at this time. See page 437. A hymn, psalm, or anthem may follow.

The Ministry of the Word The Celebrant then says to the people The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Let us pray. O gracious and everliving God, you have created us male and female in your image: Look mercifully upon this man and this woman who come to you seeking your blessing, and assist them with your grace, that with true fidelity and steadfast love they may honor and keep the promises and vows they make; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Then one or more of the following passages from Holy Scripture is read. If there is to be a Communion, a passage from the Gospel always concludes the Readings. Genesis 1:26-28 (Male and female he created them) Genesis 2:4-9, 15-24 (A man cleaves to his wife and they become one flesh) Song of Solomon 2:10-13; 8:6-7 (Many waters cannot quench love) Tobit 8:5b-8 (New English Bible) (That she and I may grow old together) 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (Love is patient and kind) Ephesians 3:14-19 (The Father from whom every family is named) Ephesians 5:1-2, 21-33 (Walk in love, as Christ loved us) Colossians 3:12-17 (Love which binds everything together in harmony) 1 John 4:7-16 (Let us love one another for love is of God) Between the Readings, a Psalm, hymn, or anthem may be sung or said. Appropriate Psalms are 67, 127, and 128. When a passage from the Gospel is to be read, all stand, and the Deacon or Minister appointed says

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to _____________ . People Glory to you, Lord Christ. Matthew 5:1-10 (The Beatitudes) Matthew 5:13-16 (You are the light . . . Let your light so shine) Matthew 7:21, 24-29 (Like a wise man who built his house upon the rock) Mark 10:6-9, 13-16 (They are no longer two but one) John 15:9-12 (Love one another as I have loved you) After the Gospel, the Reader says

The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise to you, Lord Christ. A homily or other response to the Readings may follow.

The Marriage The Man, facing the woman and taking her right hand in his, says

In the Name of God, I, N., take you, N., to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow. Then they loose their hands, and the Woman, still facing the man, takes his right hand in hers, and says In the Name of God, I, N., take you, N., to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow. They loose their hands. The Priest may ask God’s blessing on a ring or rings as follows Bless, O Lord, this ring to be a sign of the vows by which this man and this woman have bound themselves to each other; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The giver places the ring on the ring-finger of the other’s hand and says N., I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (or in the Name of God).

Then the Celebrant joins the right hands of husband and wife and says Now that N. and N. have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of a ring, I pronounce that they are husband and wife, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder. People Amen.

The Prayers All standing, the Celebrant says Let us pray together in the words our Savior taught us. People and Celebrant Our Father, who art in heaven, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, hallowed be your Name, thy kingdom come, your kingdom come, thy will be done, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. on earth as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, Forgive us our sins as we forgive those as we forgive those who trespass against us. who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, Save us from the time of trial, but deliver us from evil. and deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, For the kingdom, the power, and the power, and the glory, and the glory are yours, for ever and ever. Amen. now and for ever. Amen. If Communion is to follow, the Lord’s Prayer may be omitted here.

The Deacon or other person appointed reads the following prayers, to which the People respond, saying, Amen.

If there is not to be a Communion, one or more of the prayers may be omitted.

Let us pray. Eternal God, creator and preserver of all life, author of salvation, and giver of all grace: Look with favor upon the world you have made, and for which your Son gave his life, and especially upon this man and this woman whom you make one flesh in Holy Matrimony. Amen. Give them wisdom and devotion in the ordering of their common life, that each may be to the other a strength in need, a counselor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy. Amen. Grant that their wills may be so knit together in your will, and their spirits in your Spirit, that they may grow in love and peace with you and one another all the days of their life. Amen. Give them grace, when they hurt each other, to recognize and acknowledge their fault, and to seek each other’s forgiveness and yours. Amen. Make their life together a sign of Christ’s love to this sinful and broken world, that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair. Amen. Bestow on them, if it is your will, the gift and heritage of children, and the grace to bring them up to know you, to love you, and to serve you. Amen. Give them such fulfillment of their mutual affection that they may reach out in love and concern for others. Amen. Grant that all married persons who have witnessed these vows may find their lives strengthened and their loyalties confirmed. Amen. Grant that the bonds of our common humanity, by which all your children are united one to another, and the living to the dead, may be so transformed by your grace, that your will may be done on earth as it is in heaven; where, O Father, with your Son and the Holy Spirit, you live and reign in perfect unity, now and for ever. Amen.

The Blessing of the Marriage The people remain standing. The husband and wife kneel, and the Priest says one of the following prayers Most gracious God, we give you thanks for your tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come among us, to be born of a human mother, and to make the way of the cross to be the way of life. We thank you, also, for consecrating the union of man and woman in his Name. By the power of your Holy Spirit, pour out the abundance of your blessing upon this man and this woman. Defend them from every enemy. Lead them into all peace. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their foreheads. Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death. Finally, in your mercy, bring them to that table where your saints feast for ever in your heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. or this O God, you have so consecrated the covenant of marriage that in it is represented the spiritual unity between Christ and his Church: Send therefore your blessing upon these your servants, that they may so love, honor, and cherish each other in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing

and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The husband and wife still kneeling, the Priest adds this blessing God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace; that you may faithfully live together in this life, and in the age to come have life everlasting. Amen.

The Peace The Celebrant may say to the people

The peace of the Lord be always with you. People And also with you. The newly married couple then greet each other, after which greetings may be exchanged throughout the congregation. When Communion is not to follow, the wedding party leaves the church. A hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung, or instrumental music may be played.

At the Eucharist The liturgy continues with the Offertory, at which the newly married couple may present the offerings of bread and wine.

Preface of Marriage At the Communion, it is appropriate that the newly married couple receive Communion first, after the ministers. In place of the usual postcommunion prayer, the following is said O God, the giver of all that is true and lovely and gracious: We give you thanks for binding us together in these holy mysteries of the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Grant that by your Holy Spirit, N. and N., now joined in Holy Matrimony, may become one in heart and soul, live in fidelity and peace, and obtain those eternal joys

prepared for all who love you; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. As the wedding party leaves the church, a hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung; or instrumental music may be played.