Weddings — Peapack Reformed Church

Firstly, congratulations! Peapack Reformed Church rejoices with couples as they prepare for marriage and welcomes the opportunity to be part of such a meaningful day. Our picturesque church offers a beautiful and sacred setting. We are glad to work with you as you plan your ceremony and prepare for one of the most significant moments in your life.

To inquire, please contact Peapack Reformed Church at 908.234.2733 to reach the church office or email pastor@peapackreformed.org to start a conversation directly with Pastor Mark. We would be glad to speak with you.

Getting Married at Peapack Reformed Church

Our full-time ordained Christian minister is available to perform wedding ceremonies at Peapack Reformed Church. If you are practicing Christians, the pastor would also be glad to provide premarital counseling and help you plan a worship service that celebrates your faith in Jesus Christ. If you would like another minister to perform the ceremony, that may also be arranged in conversation with the pastor and the church office.

Wedding dates should be scheduled with the pastor and church office as early as possible. Because the church calendar includes worship services, congregational events, and community use of the building, early planning helps ensure that your preferred date can be considered. The church can also provide the full wedding guidelines and fee information as you begin planning.

A wedding rehearsal is generally required. Rehearsals last about one hour and are often held in the early evening on the day before the wedding. The rehearsal gives the couple, wedding party, family members, and officiant time to walk through the service so everyone feels more settled on the wedding day.

Scheduling Your Wedding

Couples are responsible for obtaining a New Jersey marriage license before the ceremony. The State of New Jersey requires that the marriage license be obtained at least 72 hours before the wedding. This can be done through the appropriate municipal office for a fee. After the ceremony, the pastor will file the completed license with the Registrar of Vital Statistics in Peapack-Gladstone within five days, and a copy will be mailed to the couple.

Marriage Licenses

The church administrator can prepare a wedding program for your service. Couples may use the regular church bulletin cover, order a special cover from a catalog supplied by the church office, or have a cover commercially printed. The content of the program should be typed or printed cleanly and submitted at least four weeks before the wedding so there is time for preparation and proofreading.

Couples may also choose to have the entire wedding bulletin printed elsewhere. If you are handling the program independently, please still coordinate with the church office and pastor so that the order of worship and service details are correct. This helps avoid last-minute confusion and keeps the ceremony running smoothly.

Wedding Program

Photography is permitted on the floor of the sanctuary during the wedding service. Photographers and videographers may take non-flash pictures or video during the ceremony. Photos may also be taken in the sanctuary or elsewhere inside or outside the church building before or after the service.

Because the ceremony is a worship service, photography and video should be handled respectfully and without disrupting the service. Couples should make sure that their photographer or videographer understands the church’s guidelines ahead of time. Any special requests can be discussed with the pastor or church office before the wedding.

Photo and Video

Couples may have one or more floral arrangements at the front of the sanctuary. Florists may not pin, nail, or tape flowers or bows to the pew ends, but they may tie them on or use holders. Additional flowers elsewhere in or around the church may be acceptable, but these plans should be discussed with the pastor.

If you would like to donate the wedding flowers for use during Sunday morning worship, please let the church office know at least one week before the wedding. This allows the church to include an announcement of the donation in the Sunday bulletin. Flower wrappings, containers, and other materials should be removed after the ceremony.

Flowers

The candles on the Communion table at the front of the sanctuary will be lit for the service. Couples may include the lighting of a Unity Candle, but the Unity Candle must be provided in advance. The church will supply the tapers used to light the Unity Candle.

Any other candle lighting should be discussed in advance. This helps the pastor and the staff understand what is being planned and make sure the ceremony can be prepared appropriately and safely.

Candles

The Director of Music, Mr. Larry J. Carey, is available for musical consultation. He may be reached at 717.873.0643 or through the church office at 908.234.2733. Music during the wedding ceremony should be sacred in nature.

Couples are encouraged to speak with the Director of Music as they plan the service. Music is an important part of the ceremony and should support the worshipful nature of the occasion. Any special musical selections should be discussed ahead of time.

Music

Aisle runners are not used at Peapack Reformed Church because they can become unsightly and may create a tripping hazard. The church is fully carpeted, so an aisle runner is not necessary. Showering the couple with rice or confetti is also not permitted.

Please remove all personal items after the ceremony. Snack food and drink containers, flower wrappings, and other materials should be properly disposed of before leaving the building. No smoking is permitted anywhere in church buildings, and no alcoholic beverages are permitted on church property.

Church Guidelines

A wedding fee checklist is available through the church office. To request fee information, full wedding guidelines, or available dates, please contact office@peapackreformed.org or call 908.234.2733. The pastor and church office will be glad to speak with you about your wedding and help you understand next steps.