We are neither a Las Vegas style wedding chapel nor a rent-a-church! Our principal concern, in fact, is not at all with the day of your wedding but rather with the years of your marriage. We are, however, very open and encouraging of your consideration of using our beautiful building as the site of your wedding. We do not see our building as in any way being “ours!” It is God’s building and, therefore, open to you and all of God’s People for use. Our one requirement, because of our concern for the quality of your future marriage, is that you participate in pre-marriage counseling. You can either do this counseling through Fr. Bob, our Rector, or with any other clergyperson of a recognized Christian denomination that you might wish to conduct your wedding ceremony.Our general advice is that if you are not currently active in a church where you live that you become active. It is the clergyperson of the church that you are active in who should do your pre-marriage counseling and conduct your marriage ceremony if at all possible. If you choose to have Fr. Bob “do” the wedding you need to know that pre-marriage counseling usually involves three or four sessions and the use of “PREPARE: A Pre-Marriage Inventory” that has been developed by the U. of Minnesota. Most couples find that they are typically traveling to Galena at least that many times as they prepare for their weddings. Appointments are often on Saturdays. Our current Rector very much emphasizes that the couple being married are the chief “celebrants” in the wedding service and that it is their preferences, not the clergy person’s, which should decide the character of the wedding ceremony. The first time the Rector gets together with a couple most of the time is spent discussing the various possibilities for their wedding that the couple might want to choose from out of different alternatives. It is preferred that arrangements be made at least six months prior to the intended date of the marriage. If one or both of you have previously been married it is preferred that arrangements be made eight months in advance. Our church seats about 170 persons but with extra seating can hold up to 210 with ease. Our chapel holds 25 comfortably. The building is air-conditioned and handicapped accessible. It was completely restored in 2001 at a cost in excess of $450,000. This renovation included the installation of new and comfortable cherry wood pews, carpet, and the installation of two bathrooms, repainting, new lighting, a sound system, and the rebuilding of our 1836 Erben tracker pipe organ. Our organist is available to play for your wedding and we can arrange for numerous other musicians such as harp, trumpet, string players or vocal soloists dependent on your needs. Typically you would meet with the organist after some Sunday service and choose your music from various selections she might play for you or that you have in mind. You can be as elaborate or as simple as you desire in your use of flowers or other greenery to decorate the church. We do ask that you fill the vases at the altar with cut flowers that will remain in the church after the wedding for Sunday services at which time prayers for your marriage will be offered. Parking for large weddings can be a problem in Galena. Many couples choose to use the readily available trolleys to transport the wedding party and/or guests from a central motel/hotel where they have parked their cars in order to relieve any potential parking problems. Photos can be taken before or after the ceremony but not during it except from the back of the church and without the use of flash attachments. Many competent florists and photographers are available in the Galena area as are a whole range of interesting places for wedding receptions. Our Parish House, which is located across the street from the church, is available for catered receptions for small weddings only. Church members need pay nothing to be married at Grace Church. Non-members are expected to pay a usage fee of $375 for building upkeep. It’s ordinarily expected that a couple pay a personal honorarium of not less than $150 to Grace’s priest. This compensates him/her for the time they spend counseling, participating at the rehearsal and wedding, and for time spent on a homily presentation. Our priest’s are part-time and are not paid for doing weddings on non-members. Our ourganist charges $100 to play for a rehearsal and wedding and $125 if she must accompany a soloist. If our Rector is not involved in the wedding you will have to use our “Wedding Coordinator” at a charge of $50 and make a $100 refundable security deposit to cover any cleaning or breakage that might occur. Painful experiences have shown us that these extra charges are necessary.