Wedding Ministery

Custom weddings honoring your faith tradition at site of your choice

On Marriage

“...The outcome of true marriage love is

Innocence, peace,

Tranquility, inmost friendship,

Unreserved trust, and a mutual desire

Of mind and heart to be of every possible

Service to each other…”

- From the work “Marriage Love,” written by Theologian Emanuel Swedenborg in 1786

AN INVITATION

If you are planning a wedding, we invite you to consider our Wedding Ministry, a ministry of the Church of the Holy City. We offer a religious ceremony for those who do not have a church home, or choose not to be married there. You may select a location of your choice, rent from the Royal Oak Women's Club building where we offer our Sunday services, or enjoy the simple beauty of our country wedding chapel in Almont, Michigan. Our pastor will do all that she can to help make your wedding day a memorable experience. We would be honored to be a part of your lives at this significant time.

We respect the individuality of all people, and the distinctiveness of each couple's relationship. Our wedding ministry operates on a nondenominational basis. We meet with each couple to plan and develop their own personal ceremony. Thus we are able to celebrate the uniqueness of every couple.

Whether the simplest or the most formal ceremony, your wedding receives our special attention. Our pastor can help you with many details, and organists can be contacted through us to provide a wide range of music from which to choose. The Wedding Ministry provides a ceremony where the possibilities of marriage begin!

THE RICHNESS OF MARRIAGE

We believe that neither the marriage license nor the ceremony make the marriage - but rather the trust, respect, deep affection, friendship, and support one partner gives to the other. The wedding ceremony serves as a rite of passage, a celebration of people moving from one way of life to another. We believe that marriage is a loving relationship that continually grows in intimacy, understanding, and fulfillment.

This marriage relationship can open the door to a new unity, in which your own individuality can be supported and continue to grow. This unity emerges as each of you, bringing from your own background and experience, blends into what you are becoming.

Your marriage relationship offers you the opportunity to complement each other and grow together in vision and purpose. Walk down the same road together, but let each of you explore and develop interests of your own. Be one in love, but love the other for what he or she is becoming. Marriage in its fullness and richness becomes an ebb and flow of your very selves, an interaction, making your journey together more rewarding.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR WEDDING AT THE SITE OF YOUR CHOICE

$300 includes - Consultation, rehearsal, wedding ceremony, reception blessing

$250 - Consultation, same day ceremony, reception blessing

Note: Extra fee for distances over 60 miles from Royal Oak area

ALMONT WEDDING CHAPEL

$150 Rental Fee for chapel and use of dressing room and bathrooms across the street

Contact Administrator: Lola Vollink at (810) 798-8487

1513 Cameron Road, Allenton, MI, 48003

THE ROYAL OAK WOMEN'S CLUB RENTAL

The building can accommodate a maximum of 75 guests for an intimate wedding

$60/hour rental fee

Contact Rental Chairperson, Blanche Roth at (248) 549-2191

* YOUR WEDDING DATE AND TIME WILL BE CONFIRMED WHEN YOU HAVE FILLED OUT A RESERVATION FORM AND PAID THE DEPOSIT OF $100.00

* THE BALANCE OF CONTRIBUTION IS DUE THE DAY OF YOUR WEDDING CEREMONY

* YOU AND REV. RENEE MACHINIAK WILL MEET TO PLAN YOUR WEDDING CEREMONY

SCHEDULING

Wedding dates are on a first come first serve basis, so couples are encouraged to make their arrangements as far in advance as possible to allow for the best selections of dates and times. Two hours are allotted for your wedding (one hour before and one hour after the scheduled start of your wedding.) Rev. Renee will schedule wedding rehearsals at a mutually convenient time.

THE GOLDEN RULE

In fairness to other couples whose wedding may be scheduled the same day as yours, all appointments, rehearsals and weddings must start on time.

ABOUT THE CHURCH

If you are not familiar with the Swedenborgian approach to spiritual life, please feel free to discuss it with the pastor.

Consistent with our focus on personal spiritual growth, we offer retreats, workshops, seminars and ongoing growth groups. Personalized ceremonies are available for baptisms, reaffirmation of marriage vows, and memorial services.

This church has a distinctive ecumenical flavor. It is about diversity and unity, attitude and action, intellect and emotion. It is about personal growth, self-understanding, tolerance, and the encouragement of those qualities in others.

We invite the spiritual traveler to join us in worship at 11:00am on Sunday mornings.

“Where love unites, faith cannot divide”