Weddings at the First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh
Who may be married at First Baptist
Members are encouraged to celebrate their marriage among their friends and extended family of the First Baptist Church.
Non-members are welcome to utilize the facilities and staff, including the Pastor and the Organist. In the information following you will find scheduling procedures, wedding and rehearsal times, fees, and other information to help you plan your wedding at the First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh.
1. Secure a copy of these rules.
2. We accept reservations up to one year in advance, by month.
3. Clear the date with the Church Secretary and Officiating Pastor. A deposit of $200.00 is required to hold the date. This deposit will serve as the Security Deposit, to be refunded in accordance with regulations listed below. It will also be refunded in the event of a cancellation up to 30 days prior to the wedding date. Refer to scheduling times and fees below.
4. Make an appointment with the Officiating Pastor. Most pastors require premarital discussions or classes in addition to time spent preparing the marriage ceremony. This allows the couple to focus on relationship issues, time to talk about what Christian marriage means, and gives opportunity for all to become better acquainted so that the day of celebration is truly a joyous one.
5. Visit the church and become acquainted with the space.
6. License: Allegheny County requires a 3-day waiting period from the time a license is issued until the wedding, and a wedding not to exceed 60 days beyond the date of issuing the license. A Marriage License issued in Allegheny County may be used anywhere in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Likewise, a license issued in any other county in Pennsylvania may be used in Allegheny County.
For Allegheny County, contact:
Register of Wills, Office of the City-County Building, Marriage Licenses (412-350-4230)
(http://www.alleghenycounty.us/wo/plan.aspx).
Bring your license to the wedding rehearsal for the pastor’s signature.
Saturday Weddings are regularly scheduled, except the third Saturday of the month. We are not booking receptions at this time. To allow maximum time for each couple, the following schedules are required:
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Wedding Time
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Access Time
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Friday Rehearsal
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11:30 a.m.
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10:30 a.m.
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4:30 p.m.
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2:30 p.m.
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1:30 p.m.
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5:30 p.m.
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5:30 p.m.
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4:30 p.m.
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6:30 p.m.
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If a wedding time is desired that involves two scheduled times, a double booking is required, and double building fees are charged.
Fees and Honoraria
(Fees are to be paid 30 days before the wedding. The security deposit is due with the application.)
Members of The First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh should talk to Verl about scheduling and to Pastor Gary about fees.
For nonmembers the following fees apply:
1. Security Deposit:
Experience dictates that respect for times booked and personnel involved be safeguarded with a Security Deposit of $200.00. Rehearsals and weddings are expected to start and finish on time. In the event of late starting or finishing times, a portion up to the entire deposit will be retained. In the event of cancellation a $50.00 processing fee will be retained. The Security Deposit, being returnable, is in addition to the other fees.
2. Wedding Fee:
Non-members remit $600.00 for one booking. This covers use of the sanctuary and dressing areas the evening of the rehearsal and the day of the wedding, and FBC staff assistance at rehearsal and wedding. Double booking requires a double wedding fee:non-members remit $1000.00.
FBC staff will attempt to accommodate the need to lock items in a safe place if desired, but ultimate responsibility for articles left after the wedding rests with the wedding party.
3. Organist:
If the church organ is to be used, the Church Organist will assume responsibility. Organist fee: $175.00
Couples are permitted to use their own pianist or other instrumentalists. The church does not supply audio/electronic equipment to play pre-recorded music, nor is it set up to record the wedding ceremony. Any such equipment is the responsibility of the wedding couple.
4. Minister
Members may consider the services of the FBC Pastor to be regular duties associated with the office of Pastor. Non-members utilizing the services of the FBC Pastor are encouraged to donate to the Pastor's Fund, with which work is done for children and youth in the church and community.
Suggested donation - $150.00.
Conduct at Rehearsal and Wedding
The Rehearsal:
1. One hour is allotted for rehearsals. FBC staff will oversee rehearsals.
2. All persons involved in movement at the wedding, plus instrumentalists playing processionals and recessionals, are expected to attend rehearsals.
3. Familiarize yourself with the building in advance. Especially if you are utilizing the services of a friend or hired wedding coordinator, that person should thoroughly understand the space and the plan for the ceremony in advance. FBC staff maintains ultimate oversight for rehearsals and weddings.
4. The order should be as follows: Arrange people in positions where they will be at the end of the processional. Let the Minister talk through the ceremony. Rehearse the recessional. Rehearse the processional, and talk through the ceremony a second time. Answer questions, then rehearse individuals such as ushers, mothers being seated, candles being lit, etc., where the attention of the entire group is not required.
Be attentive to arrival and departure times. See Schedules and Security Deposit above.
1. FBC provides two seven-branch candelabra with candles and a kneeling bench if desired.
2. Couples provide decorations, flowers, aisle runner, pew markers, Unity Candle, etc. There are 25 pews on each side, a total of 50 pews. The aisle is 90 feet. Most florists can provide a 100 ft. aisle runner. Observe the arrival times listed above.
3. Music: The church does not supply any audio/electronic equipment to play prerecorded music, nor is it set up to record the wedding ceremony. Any such equipment must be supplied by the wedding couple and tested well in advance of the wedding day.
4. Pictures and videos: Professional photographers exercise considerable respect and are treated as professionals. FBC staff will suggest the best places to benefit from the use of professional equipment. Ushers should inform guests to minimize movement or undue use of flash during the service.
The wedding schedules posted provide for a maximum of 30 minutes of photography following the ceremony. Pictures may be taken before the ceremony, in compliance with the building access times.
5. Separate dressing areas are provided for the bridal party and the groomsmen. The bridal party assembles in the first level parlor, the groomsmen on the second level in the conference room. The library is available for photos, meeting with family, etc.
6. Guests will be encouraged to enter the sanctuary using the front doors of the church. Those requiring wheelchair access or handicap assistance may use the parking lot entrance.
7. All purses, valuables, etc. belonging to the wedding party should be cared for during the wedding. FBC staff will lock up valuables as requested. All belongings should be removed immediately following the ceremony.
8. Rice, bird feed, confetti, and balloons are considered environmentally dangerous or difficult to clean items, and are not permitted.
The information posted here plus an application form are available in Adobe PDF format.
Wedding Brochure.pdf
Application Forms.pdf
Good directions are posted at our website:
http://www.first-baptist-pittsburgh.org/
For the purposes of your invitations, wedding programs, etc., the official name of the church is:
The First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh
159 North Bellefield Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Florists:
Please advise that no decorations which damage woodwork in the church are permitted. There are 25 pews on each side, a total of 50 pews. Note access times listed above. Removal of decorations and flowers is the responsibility of the wedding families.
For Florists, Hotels, Reception Halls, Caterers, Photographers, etc. we recommend checking the Heinz Chapel suggestions at their website: http://www.heinzchapel.pitt.edu/weddings/planning.html
May be used for entire entry march or for bridal attendants:
_________ Jeremiah Clarke, Trumpet Voluntary in D Major
_________ John Stanley, Trumpet Voluntary in D Major
_________ Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Prelude (from Te Deum)
_________ André Campra, Rigaudon (from Idomenée)
_________ Ludwig van Beethoven, "Ode to Joy"
_________ Johann Pachelbel, Canon in D
If you want a second march for the bride only, one of the following is recommended:
_________ Richard Wagner, Wedding Chorus (from Lohengrin)
Used only for entrance of the bride or possibly when
there is one bridal attendant. May be preceded by any
of the marches listed above. If you have a professional
trumpeter with organ for any of the items above, the
trumpet drops out for the Wagner because of the
musical problems caused by the change in keys.
_________ George Frideric Handel, Overture to the Fireworks Music, __a good alternative for the traditional Wagner
_________ George Frideric Handel, "The Rejoicing" (from the Fireworks Music)
Recessional March
You need only one march:
_________ Henry Purcell, Trumpet Tune in C Major
_________ Felix Mendelssohn, Wedding Music (from Midsummer Night's Dream)
_________ Ludwig van Beethoven, "Ode to Joy"
_________ George Frideric Handel, Hornpipe (from Water Music)
Please let us know the names of any additional musicians who will perform. List the pieces to be performed. Please indicate if NO organ accompaniment is required.