Grace Church

Congratulations to you both on your decision to marry. We are happy that you are considering Grace Church for your wedding, and believe that you will find the magnificent architecture and lush green spaces to be among the most picturesque settings in all of New York City. What follows are the questions most asked by engaged couples. Our guidelines have evolved over time and are not meant to be restrictive, but to answer your questions about what is appropriate for a Christian wedding ceremony. Planning a wedding can be a stressful activity. We hope these guidelines help to answer your questions early on, so you can both fully enjoy your day when it comes. Christian marriage is a sacramental act between a man and a woman, who in the presence of God and God's people, commit themselves to each other in body and spirit. While we are very accommodating of non-members, ideally the couple is expected to be an active part of Grace Church community that is bearing witness to their mutual pledge. In addition, the national canons of Episcopal Church require that one person be a baptized Christian, and, when one or both parties have been previously divorced, that permission to remarry be sought from the Episcopal Bishop of New York. This permission must be sought at least four months in advance, in consultation with the priest performing the wedding. Episcopal Church requires pre-marital counseling with the priest. This is usually accomplished in about three to four sessions, though in some cases the clergy may require the couple to seek additional outside premarital counseling prior to the wedding ceremony. The focus of the meetings with the clergy is mainly to help the couple explore their coming marriage relationship more fully, and the nature of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Couples should first contact Bill Nave in the Parish Office 212-254-2000, ext 100 or bnave@gracechurchnyc.org. Bill will check the calendar for the availability of your preferred wedding date, will assist you in setting up this date, will collect your pertinent information, and then arrange an appointment for you with one of the clergy. The date for the wedding should be made before you make any date for a reception hall. Weddings are often held on Saturday, but other days are acceptable.