Weddings at Rosedale United

Congratulations! If you are interested in getting married at Rosedale United, here is our wedding guide and policy. 

To make your scheduling request please contact Cynthia at churchoffice@rosedaleunited.org.   Our fee list is available below.

 

Scheduling Your Wedding
The Earlier, the Better

The church should be booked for a wedding as soon as you determine a date for the event.

We request that you have attended two Sunday services prior to booking your wedding.

We often have weddings booked 12 or 18 months ahead of the date, and we sometimes have several weddings within the day. That means an early booking helps to make sure you have both the date and time you want. On booking your wedding, arrangements can be made for a preliminary interview with the minister and an outline of music requirements provided to the music director.  

Who Will Do Our Wedding?

Rosedale United has ordained ministers on staff who are able to officiate weddings. We would be delighted to be a part of your big day. 

If you have another minister in mind, please note our policy on guest clergy: As per United Church of Canada convention, we allow guest clergy to be involved, but only under the direction of a Rosedale United Church minister. If you are from another denomination and want your pastor or minister to be involved, let us know and we can work together on a service. 

The Wedding License

The wedding license must be purchased less than three months in advance of your wedding date. To find your nearest marriage license office, and to fill out your application, click here.  Then, you take that application to city hall.

Currently, only one person needs to go into city hall with the appropriate paperwork and identification of both individuals. Please confirm with your city hall for their individual requirements. 

Please bring your completed marriage license to your rehearsal.

We are a Same-Sex Couple

Rosedale United Church is proud and privileged to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples. We welcome persons of all sexual orientation and gender identities to celebrate life passages in this community.

Music

Music is a powerful memory-maker and our Director of Music, Dr. Sarah Svendsen, is available to play the organ and piano for your ceremony.  It is important that you discuss your music requirements directly with her well in advance of the wedding date as any special soloists need lead time to book.    

We recognize the growing popularity of recorded music and our sound technician, Ben Graham,  is well experienced in synchronizing chosen songs with the order of service. 

Flowers and other Decor

Many couples wish to decorate the church with flowers or other suitable decorations. Please arrange the set-up of any displays with the church office. We try to make sure there are two hours between each wedding (leaving time for your pictures and set-up for the next wedding).

Photos and Videos
Capturing the Moment

We know the importance of capturing the moment in stills and video. For professional photographers, taking pictures is allowed during the processional, recessional, and signing of the register. We will also remind guests that as this is a religious service, to please refrain from taking photos during the ceremony.

Videographers may set up in a place approved by the minister. Please note our priority is to ensure the congregation and couple are able to fully experience the ceremony. If you have any questions about how videographers can record your ceremony, please let us know.

Rehearsal

A rehearsal date and time should be set in the first meeting with the minister. All of the members of the wedding party are encouraged to be at the rehearsal, including those escorting the bride. Each couple should decide carefully whom they would like at a rehearsal (often it is not helpful to have a large number of people present without a specific role). Soloists or special musical participants should arrange another time for rehearsing with our Organist, Christine Hanson, prior to use of the church instruments.

Your Wedding Day

Ushers are asked to be at the church about 45 minutes ahead of the wedding time. The groom and best man should arrive 30-45 minutes early, and proceed to the Catherine Grant room (southwest corner of main church floor). The bridal party should seek to arrive 20 minutes early, and may move to the first reception room off the main doors (library) as the final guests are seated. Traditionally, the bride’s mother is seated last.  

MAKEUP ARTISTS & PREPARATION VIDEOGRAPHERS – we recognize the growing popularity of these services and offer our spaces for a further 3 or 4 hours to the couple prior to the service – see the fee schedule.    

Fees

The total cost for your wedding is $ 2,200.00. This includes rental of the church for rehearsal and wedding, fees for minister, organist, church custodian, & administration cost. A down payment of $ 825.00 will hold your wedding date. The balance is due a week before the wedding payable to Rosedale United Church. While you are free to bring your own musician (pending final approval by a Rosedale United Church minister) our fee remains unchanged.

 MAKEUP ARTISTS & PREPARATION VIDEOGRAPHERS: recordings that require a further 3 or 4 hours of the church spaces and custodian time: We offer these spaces to you for your convenience for this purpose. Per our fee schedule here, the complete package with this extra time is $2,550  – we require $1,000 at booking and the balance at rehearsal date.    

After the Wedding

The United Church here at Rosedale is a community. We are pleased to help you on this important day of your life and while our ministerial staff is available for support both before and after the wedding, please know you are most welcome to join us in worship every Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m.

We hope you consider Rosedale United for Your Wedding

photo credit: Kayla Rocca