Marriage & Weddings
Congratulations on your decision to be married! The staff at Cuyahoga Valley Church anticipates celebrating with you and working together to make your wedding day one that glorifies God!
Planning a wedding is an exciting but sometimes stressful task. Our goal is to answer any questions you may have right “up front,” in order to make your wedding ceremony planning as stress-free as possible. We hope you’ll find the following policies and guidelines informative as you move toward your wedding day. Again, congratulations!
CVC's Position on Marriage
- We believe that the term “marriage” has only one, legitimate meaning, and that is marriage sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, covenantal union, as taught by the Bible. Marriage ceremonies performed by any pastor of this church or in any facility owned, leased, or rented by this church will be only those ceremonies sanctioned by God, joining one man with one woman as their gender was determined at birth. Whenever there is a conflict between the church’s position and any new legal standard for marriage, the church’s Statement of Faith, doctrines, and biblical positions will govern. (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:22-23; Mark 10:6-9; 1 Corinthians 7:1-9)
- We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage as defined in (1) above. We believe that any other type of sexual activity, identity, or expression that lies outside of this definition of marriage, including those that are or might become more accepted in the culture and the courts, are contradictory to God’s natural design and purpose for sexual activity. (Genesis 2:24; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1: 26-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)
Parameters for Marriage
- Members of the pastoral staff may perform ceremonies for members and regular attenders. As a general rule, our pastoral staff will not perform ceremonies for those outside the ministry of CVC. Exceptions can be made for former students of CVC ministries.
- Candidates for marriage are urged to be in the process of CVC membership. At least one of you must be involved at CVC as your home church. Here again, exceptions can be made for former students of CVC ministries.
- CVC pastors do not conduct mixed-faith marriages (i.e., combination of Catholic/Protestant/Jewish couples).
Why does CVC have a process, rather than simply scheduling weddings?
- The Bible requires us as a church to take our entire approach to Christian marriage as a very serious responsibility, and so our process must be consistent with the teaching of God’s Word.
- We view the pre-marital process as a link in the mutual commitment between the couple and CVC which will continue following marriage.
- The calendar and the volume of requests necessitate our having a standing policy for handling wedding requests.
Once Engaged
Call the CVC church offices at 440.746.0404.
The following requirements must be met prior to an initial meeting with the pastor performing the ceremony:
- Complete the CVC Wedding Application.
- After our office receives your application, you will be guided regarding taking the Prepare/Enrich Inventory, an assessment designed to explore the relational strengths and growth areas of each couple. Cost for the assessment is $35.00 per couple to cover processing, performed by an outside source.
- Contact the church office to schedule an initial consultation with he pastor who will perform your ceremony. This appointment will include reviewing the above-mentioned personal history and going over the initial Prepare/Enrich Inventory results.
Wedding Process
- Couples will work with their officiating pastor for premarital counseling. This will consist of a minimum of 5 sessions.
- Each CVC pastor will utilize the Bible along with the Prepare/Enrich assessment and other tools, books, videos, and homework activities to guide you through the premarital process.
- After completion of the pre-marital sessions, couples will have a final meeting with the officiating pastor to go over all details of their wedding (music, Scriptures, etc.).
After the pre-marital sessions, the pastoral staff reserves the right to decline to perform the ceremony if the pastor feels that the couple is not ready for the commitment of marriage based on issues raised during the sessions.
The pastor may also decline to perform the ceremony if he senses:
- Either person in the couple is divorced and do not have biblical grounds for divorce and remarriage.
- Spiritual inequality. CVC pastors take seriously God’s standards for marriage – that followers of Christ should not marry someone who is not a follower of Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 6:14ff).
- Emotional immaturity.
- Financial instability.
- Sexual sin or the appearance of sexual sin. (See 1 Corinthians 6:18 Ephesians 5:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, and 1 Timothy 5:1-2). The elders of CVC will not permit a marriage to be performed by any pastor if the couple is sexually active or cohabitating (living together) unless both parties agree to cease such activities immediately. Cohabitation must cease for approximately a three-month period prior to the marriage. Making a commitment to sexual purity demonstrates your desire to pursue God’s best for your years together as a couple.
- That the couple is incompatible for any other reason.
*If the music minister at CVC has previously agreed to perform the music at the ceremony and the officiating pastor declines to do the ceremony for one of the above reasons, then the music minister will not be able to perform the music.
Reserving the Church
Those who are members or regular attenders may reserve the church up to one year in advance, after the initial requirements noted on page 5 have been met. Our Worship Center seats approximately 600 on the main level and 140 in the balcony.
Pastor
It is the couple’s responsibility to contact and schedule an officiating pastor. Elders of CVC have asked the Lead Pastor to perform ceremonies for members only. Other members of the pastoral staff may perform ceremonies for members and regular attenders. The officiating pastor will not attend the reception unless invited to do so. As a general rule, our pastoral staff will not perform ceremonies for those outside the ministry of CVC. Upon request, a pastor from another church may be used with prior approval from our ministry staff.
Premarital Counseling
We require all couples marrying at CVC to meet with a pastor or marriage mentor for premarital counseling.
Facility Coordinators
Our facility coordinators will answer questions about our facility, help you with selection of church equipment you may want to use, and make suggestions for decorations. Shortly after you reserve the church, you will want to make arrangements for a “walk through” of the facility and seek answers to any questions you may have.
Musical and Technical Needs
You may choose special live vocal and/or instrumental music for your wedding. Choosing and contacting the musicians and sound technicians is the couple’s responsibility. These arrangements should be made at least six months prior to your wedding.
Departure Tradition
Bubbles and bells may be used on the couple’s departure. Rice, bird seed, rose petals, balloons, and sparklers are not permitted on church property.
Reception
The Lower Level of our facility is available with a seating capacity of approximately 200 people. Our custodial staff will set up/tear down the tables and chairs. Decorations are the couple’s responsibility. Saturday receptions must be concluded by 7pm to allow time to prepare for Sunday services.
Alcohol Policy | Designated Smoking Area
Cuyahoga Valley Church does not permit the storage or consumption of alcoholic beverages on church property. Smoking is permitted only in designated areas outside the church building.
Rehearsal
The rehearsal is typically held the night before the wedding and lasts about an hour. Participation in the rehearsal will help to ensure that your wedding ceremony goes smoothly. Please be sure to contact all participants of the wedding and all family members who will be taking part. Remember to notify the sound technician and musicians of the time of the rehearsal.
Decorations / Seasonal Decorations
Lighted candles (other than for a unity candle arrangement) are not permitted in the Worship Center or Lower Level reception area.
During the month of December, the Worship Center and foyer will be decorated for Christmas. Weddings held during this time must use, but may add to, the existing decorations.
Photography / Videography
The focus of the wedding should be on the ceremony, not the photographer. Photographers are encouraged not to use flash during the ceremony and to be unobtrusive. Videotaping equipment should be set up in a stationary location to one side or in the balcony.
Marriage License
The couple must secure a marriage license prior to the rehearsal. Contact any Ohio county courthouse for more information. Ceremonies cannot be performed without this license.
Before You Say “I Do”
The purpose of Before “I Do” is to help reveal and reflect the heart of Christ within marriage. We seek to inform you of the practicalities of your commitment, equip you to fulfill that commitment, and establish a healthy relationship that will last a lifetime.
You will also participate in the Prepare/Enrich assessment (an online relationship assessment and feedback process) which will help put you on a path toward lifelong relationship growth by discovering ways to open up doors for communication and intimacy.
Couples who are being married at CVC or by a CVC pastor are required to complete this 7-week class. This class is offered twice a year, in the Spring and again in the Fall, on Saturday mornings.
