The following information is for your guidance and planning.

Church Office:

The Church Office is open from Noon to 3:00p.m., Monday to Friday The telephone number is (905)383-7332.

License or Banns:

The Province of Ontario requires a "License to Marry". This is available at the City Hall. If possible, it is advisable for both parties to make application. If this is not possible, then the applicant should have available the birth certificate of the other party. We like to have the License at the Church at least a month before the wedding. An alternative to the License is the Publishing of the Banns. That is the intent to marry is made known to the congregation of the Church some weeks prior to the wedding. Banns are normally published at Burkholder Church, where one party to the wedding is a member of Burkholder Church, or both parties attend public worship on a regular basis.

Church Etiquette:

The Minister of the Church has the right and responsibility to perform the marriage ceremony. If you wish another minister to assist, please consult with the minister before contacting the other clergyman.

ALL changes from our normal procedure are subject to review and decision by our Worship Committee.

Ceremony:

There are several Marriage Ceremonies available, and you will be invited to choose one of these.

Music:

The selection of music for a Church Wedding should be carefully chosen, remembering that it is a religious service. The Church reserve the right to refuse the use of music which it deems inappropriate.

The Burkholder Organist has the right to play at every wedding; - other arrangements must be discussed with the Organist, who, if he agrees for someone else to play, will have the right to the usual fee if he so desires.

Flowers:

Have your florist deliver the flowers to the Church as early in the day as possible, or by 12:00 p.m. You are free to remove the flowers for your Reception, or if you wish, to leave them for use in the Church on the following Sunday. This latter is always very much appreciated.

Parking:

We are pleased that our Church has a fairly large parking lot, plus there is also additional space available on Seeley Avenue, (one block north of the Church). Please advise friends and relatives that while the bridal party is the last to arrive, they still require parking space, and suggest to them that the area marked "No Parking or Reserved" are specifically for the bridal party on the day of the wedding. The bride often sits on the left side of the car, which, when backed into the parking space, allows her to step out onto the Church sidewalk.

Photographs:

Friends may take pictures of the Bridal Party coming down the aisle and of the Wedding Party at the front of the Church before the Ceremony begins; again during the signing of the Register, as well as returning to the Sanctuary following a receiving line to take pictures of the party in the Sanctuary. You are also welcome to use the front lawn, both before and after the Ceremony, for picture taking.

All amounts payable, in full, one month prior to the scheduled date of the wedding.

The Church fee applies to such weddings where the parties involved have no connection with Burkholder United Church, but wish only to use the facilities for the occasion of their wedding. A deposit of $200.00 is required before the church can be booked. This deposit is only returned if we are given (1) month notice of cancellation. There is no fee for church use charged to members of Burkholder United Church congregation.

At the Wedding:

The Ushers should be at the Church thirty minutes prior to the service. The Groom and Best Man ought to arrive from ten to thirty minutes prior to the service. Of course, no Wedding Party is complete without the Bride and her Attendants. It is expected that they would arrive as close to the appointed hour as possible. Please ask your friends NOT to throw "confetti" IN THE CHURCH, as it is difficult to clean up.

We trust you will find these arrangements satisfactory. Do not hesitate to telephone or drop in if there are any questions or problems you would like to discuss.  There is no such thing at Burkholder as another wedding........only YOUR Wedding.