OLD WHALING CHURCH WEDDING CEREMONY
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We welcome any type of ceremony: religious, civil (Justice of the Peace), interfaith, interracial and same gender.
Timing
You are allotted a 2-hour block of time starting 1-hour prior to your ceremony start time and going until 1-hour after your ceremony start time. (A 3:00 p.m. ceremony allows access from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.) You are also allotted one hour for a rehearsal the day prior to your wedding. Rehearsal times are typically in the late afternoon between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.
Music
The church is equipped with a Steinway “C” Concert grand piano and an antique Simmons Fisher tracker pipe organ. Both are available to your musicians. Musician services are not included in the fee for the use of the church. We are pleased to make recommendations for professional musicians experienced with the church and its instruments.
Flowers
You may choose your florist from our list of recommended vendors or you may provide your own flowers. Flowers are not included in the fee for the use of the church. Please plan to remove your flowers after the ceremony. They can be a beautiful addition to your reception décor.
Logistics and Staffing
We will coordinate your vendors’ access to the church for deliveries and decorating. We provide access for the groom and groomsmen one hour prior to the ceremony start time and recommend that they arrive at that time. Our staff will open the front doors for guest arrival 30-minutes prior to the ceremony start time and permit admission to invited guests only. We stay at the front of the church throughout the ceremony to turn away tourists.
There are no facilities for the bride and bridesmaids to dress or prepare at the Old Whaling Church.
Temperature Control
The Old Whaling Church is heated but not air-conditioned. Our staff will open the windows in warm weather or turn on the heat in cooler weather prior to your guest arrival. Gentle cross-breezes keep the space quite comfortable in the summer months.
Accessibility
The main sanctuary is on the second floor of the church. It is accessible by lift. The restrooms are located on the first floor of the church and are not handicap accessible. Wheelchairs must exit the building to access the first floor by exterior ramp.
