Weddings at St. Matthew’s

The marriage ceremony is a Christian worship service.

St. Matthew’s takes its commitment to prepare couples for Christian marriage seriously. We are also committed to supporting couples after they are married. All couples married at St. Matthew’s must be active members of our church or another Christian faith community. We conduct services using the beautiful Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage liturgy found in the 1979 Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, and all readings and music used must be approved by the Rector. The service may or may not include the Eucharist or communion.

Dates

Weddings are usually held on Saturdays, between 10:00 am and 4:00 p.m. Dates are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, and should be set at least 90 days in advance. You will also need to obtain a Ramsey County marriage license at least one week before the service.

Pre-marital counseling

The Episcopal Church requires pre-marital counseling. One of our clergy will schedule 3-4 meetings with the couple for this purpose. Couples are also required to meet at least three times with a trained marriage therapist. It the clergy and therapist recommend it, the couple is required to do additional marriage counseling sessions with the therapist so they can begin their life together on the best possible footing. The cost of three sessions with a trained marriage therapist is generally around $300-400. Some or all of this may be covered by your insurance.

All-in-one fee

St. Matthew’s has a single comprehensive wedding fee that incorporates a clergy honorarium, music by the music director, altar guild, custodial, and other services. The fee is currently $900 for St. Matthew’s members and $1,200 for non-members. Members are actively involved in the St. Matthew’s community and have made a financial pledge or commitment to the church. Couples may have candle torches installed in the church for a candlelight service for an additional $150.

Receptions

You can also book the Parish Hall for your reception and arrange for outside catering services. For more information about building rentals see building use.

For more information or to inquire about a wedding, please contact the Rector.