Weddings
In order to be married at Calvary Houston, we require the following:
1. That the bride and/or groom consider Calvary Houston their home church.
Exceptions:
a. One or both have attended Calvary Houston in the past and have gone away to college and are coming home to marry.
b. In the event that a parent considers Calvary Houston their home church, we will allow their Christian child to be married here.
2. The couple should attend Calvary for a minimum of six months prior to the wedding.
At Calvary Houston, we believe that marriage is a sacred covenant between a man and woman sanctioned by God. Therefore, we believe it is important to be prepared to meet the challenges that will face you as a husband and wife. For this reason we require that the couple complete a series of pre-marriage classes and counseling appointments.
There are three situations in which we would not be able to provide pre-marriage counseling for a couple. We believe it to be unscriptural for believers to be involved in these situations. Therefore if you are involved in one of these situations, we believe counseling to help you get out of them is more relevant than our pre-marriage counseling. They are the following:
1. If one of you is not a Christian, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers." 2 Corinthians 6:14
2. If you are currently living together. "Abstain from all appearance of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV
3. If you are sexually involved together. "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality." 1 Thessalonians 4:3
REQUIREMENTS
Bride and Groom
1. Each must complete a pre-marital profile which can be obtained by calling the church office.
2. Together you must attend the "Enjoying Marriage" class, a video series teaching God's principles for marriage.
3. Together listen to the CD series Pastor Ron teaches on "God's Design for Marriage and Family," and "The Truth About Divorce, Part 1 and 2." Contact the office to get the CDs. The cost is $20.
4. Together you must attend a pre-marital counseling course with an assigened couple. This course consists of completing a workbook, which will be provided.
Fees
1. A $300 deposit is required in order to reserve our facility for your date and time. This is to be paid once your date and time are confirmed to be available.
2. After paying the $300 deposit, the remaining amount must be paid in full at least 45 days prior to the wedding date.
3. Use of the church facilities is at no charge; however, there are fees paid to the specifically trained ministry servants in the areas of sound, stage, lighting, cleaning, and facility management.
Venues:
Ceremony in the Sanctuary:
- without Reception (max 1000 guests) . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 875
- with Reception in Lobby (max 100 guests) . . . . . . . . . . $1,200
- with Reception in the Living Room (max 300 guests) . . . $1,475
Ceremony in the Lobby:
- with or without Reception (max 50 guests) . . . . . . . . . . $ 800
Ceremony in the Living Room:
- with Reception (max 300 guests) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,325
Pastor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 200
Video (basic/raw footage on DVD, no special editing or effects) . . . $ 300
Miscellaneous
1. All music for the ceremony must be turned in for approval at least 30 days prior to the wedding date. (See details in the Music section below.)
2. All flowers and decorations must be removed immediately following the wedding ceremony and pictures. The church does not store any wedding decorations.
3. No one is to alter the church facility or move any furniture, fixtures, or plants.
POLICIES
Weddings at Calvary Houston
Only those who consider Calvary Houston their home church, and have attended at least six months prior to their wedding date may be married at our facility.
Facility Wedding Coordinator
All weddings must use our Facility Wedding Coordinator ("our Coordinator"). If you have chosen a wedding planner or coordinator, our Coordinator will be happy to work with them, as she is here to manage the use of our facilities as well as assist the couple as needed.
To begin the reservation process, please submit the completed Wedding Ceremony Application form (found below). We ask for a minimum of six months prior to your wedding date.
Our Coordinator will contact you to confirm your date and time as soon as the date is verified to be compatible with other events on the church calendar, and the minister you have chosen has agreed to officiate your ceremony. At that time, an appointment will be set for your first meeting with the our Coordinator.
You will have at least three meetings with our Coordinator:
1. The first meeting will be to view each of the venues used for wedding ceremonies and to discuss wedding rules and regulations in detail. The $300 deposit, signed Wedding Rules and Regulations/Fees page, and choice of venue are taken at this first meeting in order to reserve the date.
You will also receive forms to complete detailing your order of ceremony as well as information about the bridal parties, florist, family participants, etc. These must be provided to our Coordinator at the next meeting. The second meeting should be set within one month of the first.
2. At the second meeting, completed forms are submitted to our Coordinator and details discussed. All details must be finalized and approved one month before the wedding, including music (detailed in the Music section below).
3. The final meeting is your Wedding Rehearsal.
Rehearsal
Our Coordinator will conduct your wedding rehearsal and will facilitate the ceremony on your wedding day. Calvary Houston Pastors do not conduct or attend rehearsals. The rehearsal is for the Wedding Party only to run through the Processional and Recessional. There will be no provisions made for live music run-throughs, musicians, or vocalists at this time. Rehearsals are to start on time and end on time and are to last no longer than one hour.
It is very important that all members of your wedding party attend the rehearsal and that they arrive on time. If you have ushers in addition to groomsmen, please ask them to be present at the rehearsal. Parents of the Bride and Groom are also encouraged to attend as well as grandparents if they will be part of the processional.
Facilities
Calvary Houston has three areas where wedding ceremonies can be conducted:
1. Sanctuary – up to 1000 guests (no minimum)
2. Lobby of the sanctuary – up to 50 guests
3. "The Living Room" (old sanctuary) – up to 300 guests
We provide a room for the Bride to prepare for the wedding (available one hour prior to the ceremony) and a room for the groom and his attendants to gather.
It is the responsibility and requirement of the Bride and Groom to inform all participants of the wedding ceremony that only reverent behavior will be tolerated. Any breech of these rules may result in the immediate cancellation of the ceremony and removal of guests.
1. No loud or inappropriate language will be tolerated.
2. No tobacco or alcohol products are allowed on church property.
3. Inappropriate and irreverent dress will not be permitted. Bride and Bridesmaids dresses are to be modest and tasteful.
4. Rice, confetti, birdseed, flower petals from live plants or any other material that might be thrown or dropped at the wedding may not be used.
5. When receptions are held here, we ask that the caterer clear all trash from the area used and dispose in our dumpster in back of the church.
Ceremony
The Pastor uses an approved script for the wedding ceremony but changes can be made according to requests from the Bride and Groom. Any ministers from outside of Calvary Houston must be approved in order to perform the wedding ceremony at our facility.
Due to seasonal demands on the facilities here, weddings are not scheduled on the major holiday weekends of Easter, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.
Calvary Houston's sanctuary is available for weddings on
Friday starting from 5 pm to 7 pm
Saturday starting by 11 am
The wedding ceremony is allowed one hour to include pictures. The reception is allowed an additional two hours. (Please consult our Coordinator for any questions by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .)
Sound Check: All musicians and vocalists are required to be at the sound check one hour prior to the ceremony. They will have 30 minutes to complete the sound check before the doors are opened to start seating guests.
Calvary Houston does not provide babysitters.
Music
Our Coordinator will help you plan the order of service for your wedding ceremony. Sound and Lighting Technicians will be provided to operate all equipment for your wedding. No outside technicians are allowed.
As you are selecting the music for your wedding, please remember that this is a worship service. The music chosen must be suitable for a worship service. All music, including song lyrics used in the wedding, must be submitted to our Coordinator no less than one month prior to your wedding and receive approval before the ceremony.
Flowers and Decorations
You will be allowed access to the area reserved for you ceremony the day of your rehearsal for placement of any decorative items. Your florist will have access to the Sanctuary one hour prior to the scheduled time of your wedding. As previously stated, all flowers and decorations must be removed immediately following the wedding ceremony and pictures. The church does not store any wedding decorations. Calvary Houston does not provide candelabras, unity candles, or candle lighters. Votive or drip-less candles may be used in hurricane lamps. Aisle candles are permitted in hurricane lamps only.
In order to protect the carpet and furniture, plastic material must be placed under all floral arrangements and candles. Please be careful to use nothing that will mar the woodwork or furniture. Nails, staples, adhesives, etc. are not permitted. Any type of isle or row markers must be secured with padded or plastic hooks.
Photography & Video
As you make plans with your photographer, remember that your wedding is a worship service and nothing should distract you or your guests from worshipping the Lord. During the wedding ceremony, photography and videotaping is allowed.
The rooms or venues for your wedding are only available for photographs on the day of your wedding, immediately before and after the ceremony. All photos taken after the wedding ceremony must be completed within 20 minutes following the conclusion of the ceremony, but must remain within the hour provided for the ceremony.
Those persons involved in photographing and videotaping your wedding should be dressed appropriately for the wedding and should contact our Coordinator prior to your Wedding Day for further instruction and details.
It is your responsibility to inform your vendors of the rules in this policy that apply to them.
If you agree with the previous, please fill out the following form to start the process.