A Guide to Weddings & Renewal of Vows Ceremonies - at Emmanuel Church in the City of Boston - Revised November 2017

Sep 24, 2026

A practical guide for couples planning weddings or renewal of vows at Emmanuel Church in Boston, revised November 2017. It explains the church’s inclusive policy, outlines reservation steps including required registration, agreement, timing, and deposit, and clarifies rehearsal and ceremony scheduling with clergy. The guide covers officiants, guest clergy requirements, music coordination deadlines and fees, photography limits, guest books, and permitted decorations. It also details venue rules on furnishings, building modifications, space and capacity, restrooms, parking, wheelchair access, and event security.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time2 min

AccessFree to download

Welcome to Emmanuel Church

Reservations

Making a Reservation

Times for Rehearsals and Ceremonies

Officiant, Guest Clergy, and Music

Officiant for Wedding, Guest Clergy, Music

Music

For the Ceremony

Photographs/Audio and Visual Recordings

Guest Books

Flowers, Candles and Decorations

About our Building

Sound Amplification

Church Furnishings

Space, Size, and Capacity

Restrooms

Parking

Wheelchair Access

Building Security & Event Sextons

A Guide to Weddings & Renewal of Vows Ceremonies at EMMANUEL CHURCH in the City of Boston Revised November 2017 Welcome to Emmanuel Church Congratulations! We are pleased that you are considering Emmanuel as the setting for consecrating your marriage or renewing your vows. Emmanuel is an open church, and we invite all, regardless of their religious affiliation, to hold their wedding ceremonies here. Emmanuel also welcomes and has celebrated same-sex unions since 1981 and same-sex marriages since 2004. Please read the following information on our policies for ceremonies. If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact: The Reverend Daniel Bell Parish Assistant & Wedding Coordinator [parishassist.emmanuel@gmail.com](parishassist.emmanuel@gmail.com) [617-536-3355](617-536-3355), ext. 21 For more information about Emmanuel Church, visit our website [at www.emmanuelboston.org](at www.emmanuelboston.org). Reservations Making a Reservation To make a reservation for a rehearsal and ceremony, please email the Wedding Coordinator, with several possible dates. To confirm a booking the couple must complete the Wedding Ceremony Registration Form and Letter of Agreement (available upon request) and return it to the Wedding Coordinator along with the required deposit (see Fees and Honoraria) . If we do not receive your registration, letter of agreement, and deposit a month following the initial booking, we will need to cancel the “hold” on our calendar. The Wedding Coordinator will contact you before taking any action. Times for Rehearsals and Ceremonies Times for your rehearsal and ceremony must be arranged with the Wedding Coordinator and the officiating clergy. Typically, the rehearsal is scheduled to occur the afternoon or evening before the ceremony. Please consult with the Wedding Coordinator if you are considering changing the date or time. Officiant for Wedding, Guest Clergy, Music Emmanuel Church Clergy The clergy of Emmanuel Church are available to officiate at Episcopal weddings. If you choose to have an Episcopal ceremony and would like an Emmanuel clergyperson to officiate at your wedding, you must also complete the reverse side of the Wedding Ceremony Registration Form, and speak with our Rector as soon as possible. We require a series ofpre-martial meetings with the Rector, if this is the case. Guest Clergy We welcome clergy of all denominations to Emmanuel Church. We do ask for contact information for guest officiants, however, to extend an official invitation to them to preside over a service at Emmanuel. (See enclosed Wedding Ceremony Registration Form.) Music All music at weddings and commitment ceremonies is under the direction of Emmanuel’s organist. Couples are required to consult with the organist about music choices prior to their ceremony. The organist must be contacted at least six weeks prior to the event to arrange for music and musicians to be contracted. The fee for this consultation is included in the organist fee. If you decide not to hire the Emmanuel Church organist, we require a $100 consultation fee (a.k.a.,“bench fee”). These fees should be paid directly to our organist at least one week prior to the rehearsal. (Please mail or drop off at the church). If hiring multiple musicians through the Emmanuel Church organist, an additional rehearsal fee may be required. Please note that we strongly discourage the use of prerecorded music. Wedding Planners or Coordinators If you have hired a wedding planner or coordinator, please provide our Wedding Coordinator with the planner’s contact information so that they may stay in touch as your wedding plans move ahead. For the Ceremony Photographs/Audio and Visual Recordings Emmanuel Church does not have equipment for audio or video recording. Photographs may be taken during the ceremony at the discretion of the officiant. Guest Books If you would like to use a guest book, you shoul

FAQs

How do we make a reservation for our wedding or vow renewal ceremony?

Email the Wedding Coordinator with several possible dates. Confirm the booking by submitting the Wedding Ceremony Registration Form and Letter of Agreement (available upon request) plus the required deposit.

What are the requirements for choosing an officiant or adding guest clergy?

Emmanuel Church clergy can officiate at Episcopal weddings, requiring pre-marital meetings with the Rector. Guest clergy from all denominations are welcome, but you must provide contact information to extend an official invitation to preside.

How should wedding music be arranged, and what fees may apply?

All music is under the direction of the church’s organist, who must be contacted at least six weeks prior to the event. Consultation fees are included if using the organist; if not, a $100 bench fee is required, paid directly to the organist at least one week before the rehearsal.

Sep 24, 2026

Upload by AfterMidnight