A wedding is an occasion for commitment and joy. It is an earnest covenant, made between two people, in the presence of God and in the midst of family, friends and/or witnesses. The basis of this whole religious service is the promises which you state to each other.

Your wedding is one of the important moments in your life and you will have plans to make, questions to ask, and alternatives to consider. The ministers and the Co-ordinating Committee of Newtonbrook are anxious to show their interest and support of you and hope this information regarding weddings in the church will be helpful.

Couples who, in all honesty, do not accept Christian beliefs and who do not have or wish to have any active relationship with the United Church should consider a secular or civil ceremony at the City Municipal Building at Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge Street, North York. You can click on the following link for more information: www.toronto.ca/registry-services/contact.htm#other

The church is more concerned about marriage than it is about weddings. In other words, it is one thing to make practical arrangements for a wedding; it is another thing to be as well prepared as possible for marriage with all its responsibilities and demands as it is to be educated for one’s daily work. So, we require that couples wishing to be married in this church attend a Preparation for Marriage Course. Details of this will be discussed during your first visit with the minister.

It is usual to meet with the minister a number of times before the wedding to discuss your immediate and future plans, and to become familiar with the service.

It is not unusual for there to be more than one wedding on any given weekend. You are asked to contact the minister (or the church office) before any change of an agreed-upon time is made.

It is expected that a Newtonbrook minister will officiate at weddings in this church. However, there are times when another minister may be requested to assist, and this should be cleared through discussion as soon as possible.

Except in cases of private weddings or more informal weddings in the chancel or in the Fellowship Room, a rehearsal is necessary. A convenient time, usually in the evening or two evenings before the wedding, is agreed on and all members of the wedding party should be present. Please be on time since more than one rehearsal may be scheduled for an evening. In addition, our choirs practice on Thursday and Friday evenings.

We are unable to perform weddings on Sunday as we have two congregations holding weekly worship services and meetings in this church on Sundays.

For members or adherents, or those whose parents or grandparents are members or adherents of Newtonbrook United Church, there is no fee for use of the church. However, for others who do not regularly contribute financially to the ongoing life and work of Newtonbrook, there is a fee of $210.00. If this proves to be difficult, you are welcome to discuss it with the minister. Other fees have been established by the Ministry & Personnel Committee of the church as follows:

A $250.00 deposit is to be paid at the time of booking. All fees are to be paid in advance of the wedding ceremony, preferably when you bring the licence in to the church office, or at the latest at the wedding rehearsal. Fees should be in separate envelopes for the church and minister (where applicable), wedding co-ordinator and organist.