St. Mark’s Episcopal Church at the corner of 3rd Ave. and 9th St. in Durango, Colorado.

St. Mark’s Church Wedding Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I book the church for a wedding?

A: First you must contact St. Mark’s Episcopal Church at (970) 247-1129 and speak directly to the Parish Administrator, Cheryl Birchard, who is the keeper of the church calendar. She will then check your wedding date request to see if the church is available. If you also are requesting Father Andrew to perform the ceremony, Cheryl will confirm the availability of the Rector before firmly booking the date. After the rector has confirmed the date, the event and rehearsal time and date will be added to the calendar, then you will be e-mailed or mailed the initial wedding forms which you must fill out and mail back to the church along with a 50% wedding deposit. The full amount is due 60 days before the wedding date. Should the wedding be cancelled, the deposit will be returned less a $200 service charge.

Q: What if one or both of the parties to be married has been divorced?

A: If the bride and/or the groom have been married before, they will need to apply for permission to remarry. The Bishop requires that both parties have been legally divorced for at least one year. The application is then given to Father Andrew who will submit it to the Bishop of Colorado who grants the permission to be married in the Episcopal Church. That form can be found here.

Q: What will my wedding in the Episcopal Church be like?

A: Weddings that are performed by Father Andrew at St. Mark’s Church will follow the outline of the marriage service in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. If there are changes the couple would like to make to the vows and prayers, they should discuss them with the Rector. Any changes must not alter the fundamental nature of the vows, the theology of the church, or the spirituality of the wedding. One area in which the couple expresses a personal touch is in the picking of lessons and music. For a worksheet on the wedding service, click here.

Q: How many will the church seat?

A: The Church will hold a maximum of 150 people, which includes the use of additional chairs to supplement pew seating. Without the use of additional chairs, the church will seat about 130. Please plan to limit your attendance accordingly. Our experience is that the altar rail and altar area will best accommodate no more than 5 or 6 attendants on each side.

Q: Is there parking available at the Church?

A: The parking is very limited around the church, especially before 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. During the marriage service, guests may park on both sides of the median on south- and northbound E. 3rd Ave. or on side streets as designated. Vehicles must be cleared from parking spaces next to the 3rd Ave. median immediately following the ceremony.

Q: Where can the bride and the groom and the wedding party get dressed?

A: Although there is a dressing area for the bride and her attendants, we suggest that make-up be applied at home or at your hotel, as the lighting may not be suitable unless you have your own lighted make-up mirrors. There is also a separate dressing area for the groom and his attendants. You will be expected to leave these dressing areas clean after the ceremony. Please designate someone to remove items from these areas. No alcohol is allowed at the church. Amenities will be available in these rooms through the Event Host.

Q: Can there be a Unity Candle at the service?

A: We do not include the lighting of a unity candle in our wedding service. For those desiring to light a unity candle, we suggest it be done at the rehearsal dinner as a symbol of intention or at the wedding reception.

Q: What are the guidelines for the use of fresh flowers?

A: Floral decoration in the church is limited to the retable behind the altar or at the steps. The size of our containers dictates the size of the arrangements. Additional small arrangements may be used in the windows or as pew end decorations. If it is desired, and the Holy Eucharist is not being celebrated, one large floor arrangement may be used. It is suggested that the florist be invited to visit the church before ordering the flowers so that they may see what the space looks like and get some idea of the best type of floral arrangements. If the flower girl is going to drop flower petals during the processional, the petals need to be silk, not real flower petals, so as not to stain the carpet.

Q: Do you create the bulletin (the program) for the service?

A: If you request that St. Mark’s make the bulletins for the service, we will design and print bulletins in black and white at a cost of $1.00 per bulletin. The Event Host will help you to put together the content. Otherwise, if you choose to have bulletins, you will have to arrange for them to be designed and printed through a professional print shop. You will need to work closely with the pastor when finalizing your bulletin content.

Q: What does the St. Mark’s Event Host do?

A: The St. Mark’s event host will assist you in helping to plan all the aspects of your wedding service in adherence to the St. Mark’s guidelines. The Host will be sure that you have scheduled access to the church in order to meet with florists, photographers, decorators and anyone else involved with providing services for the wedding itself. They are also available to answer questions about your service and the use of the building and the rooms. The Host will prepare the Bridal dressing room for you, including amenities to create a relaxed and nourishing atmosphere while the bridal party prepares for the wedding.

Q: Is the Parish Hall available for rent for the Rehearsal Dinner or Reception?

A: You may rent the Parish Hall for the dinner or reception. St. Mark’s has a commercial kitchen where a caterer could prepare food or your caterer could choose to bring in food. Please request more information from Event Host if you want to consider using the Parish Hall.

Q: Can our wedding guests throw rice or birdseed after the ceremony?

A: Rice, birdseed or leaves, such as aspen leaves, may be thrown outside the church only. You may also blow bubbles. We do ask that you appoint someone to be in charge of sweeping the area immediately following the departure of the bride and groom. Also please note: our grounds and building are a designated no smoking area.

Q: Can an aisle runner be used? What about flower girls dropping flower pedals?

A: Aisle runners are not allowed. Due to the aisle carpeting the flower girl may only drop silk flower pedals ahead of the bride. NO potpourri or other substance is allowed to be mixed in with the flower pedals.

Q: Are there any restrictions about flower girls or ring bearers?

A: We have no restrictions – you are welcome to use children in your ceremony, however, we would urge you to consider the age of the children. From our extensive experience, we have found that children under the age of four are often reticent to participate when the wedding day arrives (no matter how well they do at the rehearsal) and can often cause delays or confusion in the ceremony. Young children also tend to attract attention that should more appropriately be focused on the worship ceremony. If you are including children younger than four in your wedding party, please be prepared to be patient and understanding; we will try to be. Please also have a back-up plan for children under age four when they refuse to participate in the ceremony. (Note: no animals are allowed to participate in the ceremony, even if you love your dog like a child! Dogs assisting the handicapped would, of course, be allowed.)

Q: May we have a Eucharist (Holy Communion) at our wedding?

A: It is certainly acceptable to have Holy Communion at your wedding, however, this decision is between the bride and groom and the minister who is performing the ceremony. If the minister and the couple choose to have Holy Communion, it may be shared between the bridal couple or with the congregation.

Q: Can groomsmen double as ushers?

A: Yes, this is certainly acceptable. Ushers will be asked to inform guests who arrive with cameras in hand that “no flash photography is requested during the ceremony.” Ushers should also encourage guests who arrive with gifts to please take these to the reception.

Q: If we are bringing a guest book, is there a place to put it? What about a place to put gifts?

A: We have an assigned place for the guestbook inside the entrance to the church. We also have a small rolling cart that we cover in a lace drape that can be used and may be more convenient to access than our permanent guest book spot. Some brides may wish to put flowers by the guestbook. Should guests bring gifts to the wedding and the reception is not being held at St. Mark’s, ushers will need to instruct guests to take the gift to the reception. Ushers may offer the long windowsill at the back of the church as a place to keep the gifts until the service is over or the Event Host may request that gifts be taken to the brideÕs dressing room where they can be picked up by the wedding party when the room is emptied of belongings. If the reception is being held at St. Mark’s, ushers may direct guests to place them on the gift table at the top of the stairs in the Parish Hall.

Q: Is it possible to have the church bell rung as we leave?

A: Yes, if you will designate someone to be in charge of ringing the bell as you exit down the walkway, the Event Host will show that person how to briefly ring the outdoor bell.

Q: How clean do we need to leave the church?

A: Our janitor is responsible for vacuuming and general cleaning, however, we would ask that you appoint someone (a friend or a family member) to please stay for a few minutes after everyone leaves to walk through the church with the Event Host to make sure all personal items are out of the dressing rooms and bathrooms, that they are left tidy and that nothing is left behind in the church. All flowers and decorations used should be removed as well, with the exception of the flowers in the vases behind the altar. If you wish to give extra flowers to the church, they will be taken to people who are sick or shut-ins to brighten their day.

Q: Is there any other information I should share with my wedding party?

A: Please be aware of altitude sickness especially if your wedding party is arriving from a lower elevation. Getting plenty of sleep, drinking lots of water (not tea, coffee, pop, etc.) and limiting alcohol consumption will help to avoid altitude sickness.

Q: When should we arrive at the church for the wedding

A: All participants in the wedding are asked to arrive at the church no later than 30 minutes before the wedding is scheduled to begin. You may arrive up to one hour before your wedding begins. If you need more time at the church, please coordinate this with the Event Host in the week prior to the wedding, as there may be another wedding on the same day and we want to allow plenty of time for everyone without any added stress. We request that attendants (and the bride and groom!) please do not chew gum.

Q: Can we use pew bows? What about a candelabra? Where can flowers be placed?

A: You are welcome to use pew bows or greenery. They may not be attached to the pews or any woodwork using tacks, tape or anything else that may damage the wood varnish. Pew bows must be tied on to the pew. Please appoint someone in your wedding party to be responsible for removing these after the ceremony. If you wish to use a candelabra during the marriage service, there may be one placed on the altar if there is not to be communion at the ceremony, otherwise no candelabras can be used during the service. St. Mark’s does not own a candelabra at this time, so if you choose to have one on the altar, you will have to rent one. You may also appoint someone to light the candles prior to the ceremony. Please consult the Event Host for suggestions regarding flower placement.

Q: What rules apply to my photographer and videographer?

A: There is a sheet of rules which we require that you make copies of and share with your photographer and videographer that is available athere for download. The taking of flash pictures during the actual wedding is not permitted by either photographers or guests. If you are having an order of service or a bulletin/program printed for your ceremony, we encourage you to list this rule on that leaflet. Flash photographs during the ceremony distract the wedding party and the congregation and are inappropriate to the joy, reverence, beauty and worship of the liturgy. Photographs can be taken by professional photographers without flash during the ceremony; however, photographers and videographers are not allowed to approach or stand within the altar area. In respect to videotaping the ceremony, the most appropriate location for this taping is the rear of the church. Please encourage your photographers and videographers to remember that the on-site Event Host is representing the church and should be consulted with any questions. The Host has the final authority concerning the appropriate use of photographs and videotaping. We will post a sign in the entryway asking guests not to take flash photography during the ceremony (and also asking them to please turn off cell phones and pagers!).

Q: How long is my wedding ceremony likely to take?

A: We suggest you check with your presiding clergy on this question. Normally, a ceremony takes approximately 30 minutes. If there is to be a Eucharist (Holy Communion) either for the bride and groom or for the whole congregation, the service will probably take a bit longer.

Q: How long can we take pictures at the church before the ceremony?

A: We try to be accommodating, however, we encourage you to complete your photographs promptly after your wedding (and/or perhaps consider taking some pictures before your ceremony). If you wish to take some pictures before the ceremony, plan on less than 30 minutes of photographs and plan to be out of the church sanctuary at least 20 minutes before your wedding start time. For pictures taken after the wedding, you need to remember you have guests waiting at your reception and there may be another wedding following yours. We suggest that brides and grooms who feel they are going to have a great many pictures to take after the ceremony, please do not take time to greet your guests after the ceremony so that you can begin pictures immediately. All photographs in the sanctuary must be completed within one hour after the end of the ceremony. Please inform your photographer accordingly.

Q: How early should I plan to arrive for my rehearsal?

A: Please stress to your entire wedding party (including ushers if they are different people from the groomsmen) to be on time for your scheduled rehearsal. Request they arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before the start time. It is important that rehearsals start on time as another rehearsal might be scheduled following yours. Rehearsal time allowed is approximately one hour. It is also helpful if parents of the bride and groom are present at the rehearsal in order to practice seating procedures.