Wedding Policies & Guidelines

Thank you for inquiring into the use of our facilities for your wedding. When two people are joined in marriage, they not only pledge faith to one another, they also enter into a covenant with God. Therefore, we believe a wedding ceremony is a celebration of worship.

As a celebration of worship, it is the desire of MPC's Ministers and congregation that every wedding ceremony be one of reverence and dignity. To ensure this within our facilities and upon our grounds, comprehensive policies and guidelines have been established. Please read them carefully.

Officiating the Ceremony

As set forth in the Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Order, one of our Ministers, currently Olin McBride and Rachael Knoll, will lead in the officiating of your wedding ceremony, including the rehearsal. Both Olin and Rachael are available, at your convenience, to discuss with you the joys and responsibilities of marriage, as well as the specifics of your wedding celebration. Our Ministers' honorarium is $225 (which includes being available for pre- and post-marriage counseling) and is payable no later than two weeks prior to the rehearsal.

You are welcome to have another clergyperson assist our Minister in officiating. As set forth in the Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Order, participation of additional clergy for any service performed within McDonough Presbyterian Church properties is allowed only by invitation from the Moderator of the Session. Should this be your desire, please forward your request, including the clergyperson's name, address and telephone number to the Moderator of the Session, McDonough Presbyterian Church, no later than 120 days before the planned date of your wedding ceremony.

Wedding ceremonies performed on our property under the officiating leadership of a clergyperson other than our Senior Minister are rare and require the approval of the church's Session. Should this be your desire, please forward your request, including the clergyperson's name, address and telephone number to the Moderator of the Session, McDonough Presbyterian Church, no later than 150 days before the planned date of your wedding ceremony.

Church Facilities

There are a number of available areas on our property for use on your wedding day. These include our Sanctuary, Chapel, Garden Courtyard and The Anchor Family Life Center. All are described below with corresponding guidelines for usage and rental fees, if applicable. The Church facilities (Sanctuary, Chapel and Resurrection Garden) will be available no more than six hours prior to and no more than two hours following the ceremony.

Sanctuary

Our center-aisled and balconied Sanctuary accommodates approximately 400 people. Complete with piano, organ and PA system and walled with large powdered glass windows, the Sanctuary provides a classic setting for a dignified and memorable wedding ceremony of any size. No audio-visual presentations are allowed in the sanctuary.

The rental fee for the Sanctuary is $900. The Sanctuary will be reserved upon receipt of the attached Wedding Contract and a deposit of $450. The remaining balance shall be paid in full at least two weeks before the wedding date. Your wedding deposit of $450 will be applied to the $900 Sanctuary rental fee as long as no damage is done to the church buildings.

Chapel

Our Chapel can accommodate up to 100 people and provides a quaint, reverent setting for smaller ceremonies. The Chapel has only a piano and does not have a PA system. It does have a video screen and projector. Attached to the Chapel is a reception room and kitchen that can accommodate up to 100 people.

The rental fee for the Chapel is $500. The Chapel will be reserved upon receipt of the attached Wedding Contract and a deposit of $250. Your deposit of $250 will be applied to the $500 Chapel rental fee as long as no damage is done to the church buildings.

Resurrection Garden

Our Resurrection Garden is located between the Parlor and the Sanctuary and will accommodate approximately 100 people. It provides a beautiful quiet setting for small ceremonies.

The rental fee for the Resurrection Garden is $500. The Garden will be reserved upon receipt of the attached Wedding Contract and a deposit of $250. Your deposit of $250 will be applied to the $500 Garden rental fee as long as no damage is done to the property.

Anchor Family Life Center

Our Family Life Center, the Anchor, is available for receptions. The Anchor accommodates up to 400 people and boasts a fully-equipped commercial kitchen. You, or the caterer, are responsible for arranging the tables and chairs as you would like them, or hiring our Housekeepers ($150) to do so for you.   If you do not want the mats on the floor, our Housekeepers will remove/replace them for a charge of $150.

The rental fee for the Anchor is $600 and includes the use of our commercial kitchen (our Kitchen Coordinator's fee is separate). The Anchor will be reserved upon receipt of the attached Wedding Contract and a deposit of $300. Your deposit of $300 will be applied to the $600 Anchor rental fee as long as no damage is done to the church buildings.  Wedding receptions must conclude by 10 p.m. and the catering service must depart by 11 p.m.

Fellowship Hall

The tiled area outside the Chapel is available for small receptions and rehearsal dinners.  It can accomodate 50-80 people and is attached to a small kitchen.  The cost to rent this space is $20 per hour with a minimum of three hours.  Our housekeeping charge for this space is $50.  As with the Anchor, receptions and/or dinners mus conclude by 10 p.m. and the catering service must depart by 11 p.m.

Mandatory Services

In addition to rental fees, there are a number of services we provide, and must be used, to ensure your use of our facilities is realized to its fullest potential. These services, along with their fees or honorariums, are described below.

Wedding Hostess

Our Wedding Hostess will handle the details of your use of our facilities (opening and closing, answering your questions, being your site coordinator). Our hostess will contact you once your confirming deposit is received. In the event you would like to speak to her prior to your confirmation, please contact Cyndi Israel by phone at 770-954-1774 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

In addition to the services mentioned above, the Wedding Hostess will assist you and the pastor with the Rehearsal and Ceremony. Also included: up to three meetings/conversations to discuss the wedding; communicating with other clergy, musicians, soloists, florists, photographer and caterer, if necessary, about our facility; organizing the processional and recessional.

The honorarium for the Wedding Hostess is $400 (payable no later than two weeks prior to the wedding).

Reception Hostess

Our Reception Hostess will handle the details of your use of The Anchor and our kitchens. She will be glad to meet with you and /or your caterer about our facilities. On the day of your event, she will open the building for the caterer and remain on site for the duration of your event should any questions or needs arise. At the end of the event, she will review the clean-up checklist with you and / or your caterer.

She will be the one to help you with the layout of the room and will make sure it is set up according to your needs. Diagrams of the room layouts are available for your perusal. In the event you would like to speak to her prior to your confirmation, please contact Cyndi Israel by phone at 770-954-1774 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The honorarium for the Reception Hostess is $400, unless her services are in conjunction with a wedding. At such time, the honorarium is $250 (payable no later than two weeks prior to your event).

Housekeeping

Our housekeepers, Jimmy and Regenia Lindsey, will be employed to clean up both before and after your wedding. They are extremely meticulous, and will have the building prepared and in "tip-top shape" for your marriage celebration; they receive $100 per wedding and an additional $150 if The Anchor Family Life Center and kitchen are used for a reception (payable no later than two weeks prior to the wedding).

Organist

We prefer only our church organist, Jane Robinson, operate our organ. Guest organists may be invited only if Mrs. Robinson approves of them in advance.

Mrs. Robinson's honorarium is $200 (payable no later than two weeks prior to the wedding) and includes 1 hour for rehearsal. You will need to contact Ms. Robinson at 770-954-0461 to check her availability and to select music. If a soloist requires additional rehearsal time (other than the wedding rehearsal date), there will be an additional fee.

Other musicians are welcome and available. May we recommend:

Cyndi Israel                     Celtic Harp    770-954-1774 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jane Robinson           Piano                 770-954-0461     This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jill Shedd                         Vocal Solos    770-957-7117 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sound Technician

Our sound technicians are available to operate our sound system. The honorarium for rehearsal and wedding is $150 (payable no later than two weeks prior to the wedding). If you plan to use any recorded music, please let the Wedding Hostess know during your first meeting and she will coordinate with the technician.

Audio-Visual Technician (Chapel)

Our audio-visual technicians are available to operate our AV equipment in the Chapel. The honorarium for rehearsal and wedding is $100 (payable no later than two weeks prior to the wedding).

Optional Services

Should you require additional assistance with your ceremony, the following service is available.

Nursery

Our Church requires that two nursery workers be present for all functions. Our nursery coordinator, Tom Williams, and our nursery worker, Gail Carter,  can be employed to staff our nursery. Cost is $40 per worker for the first hour and $20 for each additional hour. The nursery can accommodate up to 16 children. Please advise the Wedding Hostess during your first meeting if you will require this service. It will be helpful to our nursery staff if you will provide an approximate number and the ages of the children.

General Guidelines

No smoking or alcoholic beverages are permitted.

No rice, birdseed, glitter, confetti or fresh rose petals in the building, please!

Reverend Alvis or Reverend Knoll will be in charge of the rehearsal and wedding. Our Wedding Hostess will assist the minister at both rehearsal and ceremony. The rehearsal, normally, will last no longer than one hour. The sanctuary will be opened thirty minutes prior to rehearsal.

When your date is confirmed, our wedding hostess will contact you to discuss your plans and these guidelines.

The Communion Table is not to be moved from the center of the Chancel area.

Nothing should be fastened to walls, furniture or floor with tacks, nails, staples or tape.

Protective covering should be placed under all candelabra and candle-holders if the candles are not drip-less.

Candles must be in globes if they are used in the windows or aisles.

No potted plants are to be used anywhere inside the building unless they have protective containers under them.

All decorations should be removed immediately following the conclusion of the wedding.

If you would like to leave flowers for Sunday morning worship, please let the Wedding Hostess know.

No flash photographs, please, during the ceremony. Time exposure and videos are best used from the balcony.

After the service, the wedding party may return to the chancel for as many pictures as desired, and other scenes of the wedding ceremony may be simulated and may be made anytime before or after the ceremony. The parlor may also be used for photographs.

Comfortable dressing rooms are available and will be assigned at the time of rehearsal. McDonough Presbyterian Church cannot be responsible for personal items if lost, stolen or damaged.

Our wedding policy and the honorariums/fees are subject to change. Please be sure, at the time of confirming your wedding plans, that you have the current policy.

At the time of confirmation, a checklist will be mailed to you providing date required, amounts and those to pay.

Important Contacts:

MPC Administrative Assistant - 770-957-9890

Rev. Olin McBride and Rev. Rachel Knoll - 770-957-9890

McDonough Presbyterian Church

427 McGarity Road, McDonough, GA 30253

Phone: 770-957-9890

Fax: 770-957-9904

We have tried to think of everything to make your wedding as special and sacred as it should be. It is our sincere wish that your wedding experience will be a memorable one and will be the beginning of a long and happy marriage.

Click here for Wedding Contract and Acknowledgement