WEDDINGS
WEDDINGS
GETTING MARRIED AT VICTORY
A wedding is a joyous celebration of love. It is the holy mystery of two becoming one, of beginning a life together, and of commitment. Marriage is ordained by God between a man and a woman and illustrates His relationship with His people. Thus, there is perhaps no greater tragedy than the violation of those sacred vows. A marriage is not just a legal contract. It is a covenant that has been made with God.
It is the desire of the pastoral staff at Victory to help prepare engaged couples for a life-long, God-honoring marriage, to assist in the preparation of the wedding ceremony and to provide resources after the wedding to help the couple maintain and enrich their relationship.
If you’d like to be married at Victory, please read the items below to get started on planning your special day with us!
FAQ
Contact Victory’s facility scheduler @ 607-962-7000, and a tentative date will be reserved for 30 days. To finalize your date, please:
• Fill out and return the Wedding Contract with full payment
• Set up an appointment with the pastor who has agreed to perform the wedding
• Complete the Bride and Groom forms and submit them to the pastor who will perform the ceremony
• Attend Victory’s premarital class (contact the church office to find out timing for upcoming classes)
• Couples must attend the pre-marriage class, offered on Sundays during the fall and the winter/springtime. If extenuating circumstances prevent class attendance, other arrangements must be made based on the availability of the pastor.
• Pastors request 6 months’ notice to allow time for counseling, the premarital class, and service planning. Couples must work with the pastor in the preparation of the ceremony.
• Victory’s wedding coordinator must be used.
• We ask couples to be celibate and not live together until after the wedding ceremony.
• A pastor reserves the right to decline, postpone or cancel a wedding at Victory if he/she feels that there are unresolved issues that could be a significant barrier to a long-lasting marriage. Issues may include emotional instability, substance abuse, spousal abuse, child abuse, financial mismanagement, immaturity, spiritual incompatibility, or any other issue that may be considered detrimental to the couple. In this event, all monies will be refunded, and the wedding will no longer take place at Victory. No other pastor on staff can marry a couple if another minister of the church has refused.
There will be fees for books and resources that the facilitator deems necessary.
• We realize the issue of divorce and remarriage is highly complex. The spiritual condition of those involved, the time and circumstances of the divorce, and other considerations all affect a final decision about whether or not to proceed with a new marriage. Therefore, situations involving divorce will be dealt with on an individual basis by the pastor.
• Those seeking remarriage after a divorce should be prepared to discuss the circumstances mentioned above.
There are several pastors on staff able to officiate at weddings. You may request which pastor you prefer, and our facilities scheduler will work with you on who is available.
It is our general policy that one of our pastors will officiate weddings at Victory; however, exceptions to this can be approved by the lead pastor.
Decorating the facility is the bride and groom’s responsibility. The couple should discuss all decorations with the Wedding Coordinator, and décor must be attached in a way that they can be easily removed and leave no permanent mark. All requests for changes to the platform must be approved by the Worship Arts Department.
$400 – Members and Regular Attendees
$900 – Non-Members
• Includes Wedding Coordinator and custodial, sound technician, and pianist for the wedding and rehearsal.
• Additionally, there is a suggested pastoral honorarium of $150.
• Receptions are not available onsite.
Cancellation must be received in writing. 100% of all paid fees will be refunded up to three months before the agreed wedding date. After this time, all fees are non-refundable. Victory reserves the right to cancel this agreement at any time for any reason that the governing body deems necessary. Should the church initiate cancellation, all paid fees will be refunded.