Wedding Coordinator: Bonnie Ensminger
916.344.3300
bonnieens@yahoo.com
Our facility is available for rent for weddings and special events.
Our Commitment
It is the desire of the Sacramento Central Seventh-day Adventist Church to help prepare you to build a strong and happy Christian marriage and home. Our members hold a biblical view of marriage; an understanding that marriage is sacred and should be entered into with adequate scriptural and psychological preparation. The Biblical principle that a couple should be equally yoked in Christ permits a SDA minister to officiate only at the marriage ceremony between those who share a common faith.
To Reserve Your Wedding Date
- Read the Central Church Wedding Policy guide.
- Return your signed Wedding Reservation Form to the church office for approval together with your deposit equal to one-half of the grand total of the services requested.
No date will be reserved without the deposit. If, on the wedding day any of the church policies are not honored, the refundable deposit will be forfeited, and you will be asked to comply with the Wedding Policies before your wedding will continue.
Premarital Enrichment
To help build a strong, Christian marriage, we suggest a minimum of four, one-hour pre-marital classes covering such areas as: communication skills, biblical roles and goals for marriage. There is no charge for the counseling sessions; however, there is a charge for the marriage readiness and personality inventory tests. Call the church office for an appointment.
Wedding Coordinator
A Wedding Coordinator has been appointed by the Church Board to help the bridal couple in making arrangements for the church portion of the wedding, and is responsible to carry out the Wedding Policy guidelines. She will help you with the program and give you suggestions to make your wedding day go smoothly. If the bride has a special friend she would like to coordinate her wedding, this person must work in conjunction with the appointed Church Wedding Coordinator.
Wedding Furniture
The Church has the following wedding accessories available: 1. A brass twin kneeling bench. This may be used as one or as two, facing each other 2. Two 7-lite adjustable brass candelabras 3. Two 9-lite tree brass candelabras 4. One unity brass candelabra 5. 15” mechanical candles. (You must use these candles because they do not drip. There is a small charge.) It is understood that the user will be responsible for any damage incurred during the time the facility is in use.
Wedding Attire
In keeping with the counsel given in the scriptures, it is requested that Christian simplicity and modesty be observed both in dress and ceremony. When choosing the wedding gown and bridesmaid’s dresses, please remember excessive and extravagantly decorated apparel, low-cut immodest necklines, and strapless or off the shoulder dresses or very low, backless dresses, are not in harmony with our Church standards and are not appropriate for your wedding at Central Church. The wearing of jewelry, such as earrings, necklaces and bracelets are also not in harmony with our church standards. We ask that the wedding party honor this request. The bridal gown, bridesmaid dresses and cultural customs must be approved by the Wedding Coordinator.
Rehearsal
All members of the wedding party, including parents must be present for the rehearsal. Dress casually, but shorts are out of place in the sanctuary. The rehearsal is usually held the night before the wedding. However, arrangements may be made with the Wedding Coordinator for another time. Rehearsal on Saturday evening will start after sundown. The rehearsal will take about one hour. Musical selections may be practiced, but only after the ceremony rehearsal. Please remind the wedding party to be punctual. The Wedding Coordinator will "walk" you through the processional and recessional and the minister will go over the ceremony. The ushers and candle lighters will be instructed as to their duties.
Sound System and Lighting
Only approved personnel may operate the sound system and lighting. A lapel mic is available for the minister. The mics will be ready one hour before the ceremony for last minute levels.
Church Decorations
Bows may be tied with ribbon or pipe cleaner to the pews. Tape or wires must not be used to fasten bows on the pews. Furniture may only be moved after consulting the Wedding Coordinator.
Wedding Music
We follow the Code of Ethics of the American Guild of Organists that states, "None but the regular organist of the church shall play for weddings..., except by arrangement with said organist." The Wedding Coordinator can give you the name and telephone number of the Organist so that you can arrange a meeting. All vocal and instrumental music must be in keeping with the sacred, Christ-centered nature of the wedding service. All music must be submitted to the Wedding Coordinator for approval. A cassette tape is the preferred method.
Wedding Ceremony
It is the policy of the Central Church that the exchange of wedding rings will not be part of any Seventh-day Adventist wedding ceremony.
Photography/Video
It is recommended that all pictures be taken two hours before the ceremony so that the wedding party can go directly to the reception after the ceremony to greet their guests. The courtyard and fountain are beautiful locations for outside photography. Video cameras may be used in existing light as long as it does not detract from the sacredness of the ceremony. Bright lights turned on and off are not permitted. The Wedding Coordinator will work with the photographers as to appropriate locations for cameras. Do not climb or stand on pews to take pictures.
Church Time Available
Please arrange your decorating, photography and ceremony within these time limits. There will be an extra charge of $50 per hour over these times, taken from your deposit.
- Rehearsel & Church Decoration: 2 hours
- Camellia Room setup night before during rehesral: 2 hours
- Day of Wedding - Wedding only: 4 hours
- Wedding & Reception: 7 hours
Conduct
Proper respect for the House of God should be maintained during the rehearsal and ceremony. There is to be no tobacco in any form, drinking of alcoholic beverages, loud talking or boisterousness on church property.
Custodian
It is the responsibility of the custodian or Church appointed representative to open and close the Church premises on the night of rehearsal and on the wedding day. The custodian will make sure the church premises are clean for the wedding.
Dressing Room
The women may dress in the upper South or North rooms on the second floor of the Sanctuary. The pews may be moved for more space. The men may dress in the rooms behind the pulpit area where there are bathroom facilities. Do not leave valuables in any rooms during the ceremony. The Central Church is not responsible for anything that may disappear.
Petals, Rice and Confetti
Although the traditions of flower-petal dropping, rice and confetti throwing may add to a festive celebration, it has become costly to clean and potentially dangerous. Therefore, fresh flower petals may not be dropped on the Sanctuary carpet. Silk rose petals may be used. Rice, bird seed or confetti may not be thrown on the church premises. Any violation may be subject to clean-up charge.