One way to ensure your wedding ceremony goes smoothly is to know your church’s policies.

Not knowing the policies can lead to extra work, unwanted discussions, frustration and possible disappointment.

Find out the policies early

You should find out your church’s policies as soon as possible.

The best time to find out is when you schedule the ceremony. Most churches will tell you, but some don’t or even have them written anywhere, so you should be prepared to ask.

Don\\\\'t assume \\\\"anything goes\\\\" if they don’t mention their policies in conversation. Make sure you understand or be sure to ask questions; you won’t be helping yourself otherwise.

Polices may be misunderstood, but in the end, they\\\\'re there to help

Sometimes you may like to negotiate or compromise on the policies.

Even if this situation arises, it’s still better that you know the guidelines so that you can bring your suggestions or requests to the table.

Instead of thinking of policies as strict rules, try to think of them as your guide to ensure a smooth wedding ceremony.

Churches often have many couples requesting to get married there. It\\\\'s only natural to have policies in place to help guide the ceremony, especially for couples that are unfamiliar with the church. It’s always important to respect the policies of a church.

Remember, the church isn\\\\'t a venue. It\\\\'s a house of worship. They also often rely heavily on volunteers for preparation.

Also remember that even places that are venues and are there specifically to serve you, such as the hall where your reception will be held have governing policies over what can and cannot be done. The following policies are guidelines to help provide a smooth reception.

Types of policies

Musicians

Payments for musicians

Instruments

What music can be played

There are plenty of variations in these areas for every church, which is more reason to become familiar with them.

I\\\\'m not a fan of all the possible variations...and there are many

There are plenty of church policies that many people don’t like. For example;

Some churches restrict to \\\\"classical\\\\" music ONLY,

Some churches provide a sheet of paper with a small selection of music that you have to choose from,

Some churches are open and will allow any kind of music at all!

In the first case, some classical music isn’t always appropriate. Choosing the wrong music shows a lack of understanding of what music the church approves of. Know what music constitutes \\\\"classical\\\\" and respect the church.

The second case severely limits your options and can create impersonal ceremonies that encourage a less inspirational atmosphere, even though it appears sufficient to the church’s standpoint. However, it helps make compliance more efficient and easier on the church and the musicians.

There is so much wrong with the third approach that I could write an entire article on it!

Summary

Make sure you know and have an understanding of your church’s policies prior to planning your music. Understand that the policies are in place for a reason. If the church doesn’t have any guidelines written, be sure to take notes because the respect you pay to the rules of a church are also reflected on how seriously you are taking the ceremony itself.