Making a Reservation
We welcome any and all baptized Christians to be married at Trinity Lutheran Church. To inquire about available dates, contact Amber Moltzau, Office Administrator at 832-6601.
If the date you desire is available and you have reviewed all the information about weddings at Trinity, the next step is to contact Kurt Jacobson, Administrative Pastor, to complete a Wedding Reservation form. Reservations for a particular date are guaranteed only after the form is completed and any applicable deposit is paid.
Contact Amber Moltzau
Contact Pastor Kurt Jacobson
Scheduling the Healthy Marriage Instruction
Once you have completed the reservation, the next step is to schedule two other important preparations to assist you in developing a healthy marriage. These include an online inventory and counselor session as well as a one-day workshop.
PREPARE Pre-Marriage Inventory
The online inventory “PREPARE” identifies strengths and growth areas in your relationship. Each person completes the inventory and within two weeks after completion, you meet with a professional counselor to review and discuss the results. There are several versions of PREPARE to fit your situation. To learn more about PREPARE visit www.lifeinnovations.com.
When you make your Trinity wedding reservation, the Pastor will guide you in taking the PREPARE inventory. The Pastor will direct you to contact a professional counselor who will provide you the inventory online. Once the inventory has been completed you will meet for two hours with the counselor. Contact information for the counselor will be provided to you. Plan to take the inventory and have the appointment occur within a two week period.
There is a processing fee of $29.95 for the PREPARE inventory and a fee for the professional counseling session.
Pre-Marriage Seminar
This is a one-day event offered by Lutheran Social Services and is held on periodic Saturdays from 8:30 AM until 3:30 PM. It is your responsibility to register directly with LSS for this seminar. You may find a schedule of seminar and the registration form at: www.lsswis.org and click on “Find a Program” and go to Pre-marriage and Marriage Enrichment or by calling (715) 838-9856.
The Marriage License
Plan to apply for a marriage license at the Eau Claire County Courthouse at least 5 days in advance of your wedding. All applicants will need to show identification and proof of residence; applicants under 30 years old will need to bring a copy of your birth certificate. A marriage license is valid for 30 days. Wisconsin law requires that divorces be official for 6 months prior to remarriage.
The Pastor for your Wedding
As a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Trinity requires that an ELCA pastor officiate weddings here. When you complete the registration form you will have the opportunity to indicate a preference of a Trinity pastor to preside at your wedding. The pastors do their best to honor your request but a particular pastor cannot be guaranteed.
If you desire to have another ELCA pastor preside at your wedding service, or if you wish to have a non-ELCA clergy person cooperate with a Trinity pastor, please consult with Pastor Kurt Jacobson before making an invitation.
About three months before your wedding you will be contacted with the names of the pastor who will work to make your wedding a very worshipful service in thanks to God for the love you share together.
The Musician for Your Wedding
Trinity’s Director of Worship and Music provides excellent organ or piano music for weddings. Please contact her directly to reserve her services for your wedding. You may schedule another musician or ask our music director for ideas to involve other instrumentalists or vocalists.
Your wedding music selection is an important way to reflect the sacredness and beauty of this worship service. To guide and assist you in music selections, please arrange a music preview and planning session with the Director of Worship and Music. To set up an appoint, contact Shirley Sands at 832-6601.
Contact Shirley Sands, Director of Worship and Music
Wedding Coordinator
All weddings at Trinity are hosted and served by a Wedding Coordinator who will assist you in all the details of your wedding worship service. About three months in advance of your wedding, you will receive an email from the Office Administrator informing you of the name of the wedding coordinator who will serve at your wedding. It will be your responsibility to initiate contact with the wedding coordinator.
The wedding coordinator conducts the rehearsal. She will instruct ushers, photographers, videographers, guest musicians, etc. as to their duties for the wedding. The wedding coordinator will be present for the two hours leading up to the wedding worship service to guide the wedding party and assist in all details to make this worship service meaningful and memorable. We know that you will find this assistance valuable as you plan and carry out your wedding worship service.
Scheduling the Wedding Rehearsal
At the time the reservation is made you have the opportunity to schedule a rehearsal. This is normally conducted the evening before your wedding and lasts about 45 minutes. Rehearsal usually starts at 6:00 or 6:30 PM. The Wedding Coordinator will lead the rehearsal and give attention to making your wedding worship service a meaningful and pleasant experience. The pastor does not attend the rehearsal.
Sound Technician
Trinity has a superb sound system which requires trained operators. We will arrange a sound technician to serve at your wedding. The sound technician will arrive an hour before the service and properly mix and adjust sound levels for readers, soloists and instrumentalists. Because Trinity’s musical and audio equipment is used every weekend, only the technician may move or alter equipment or settings.
Notes about Photography
Your wedding photos are best taken before the service when you have just completed preparations for the day. Photos taken after the wedding service make your guests wait unduly for you at the reception. Additionally, the ancient practice of "not seeing the bride" prior to her march down the aisle dates back to times when marriages were arranged and where the groom had never met the bride. This practice was intended to assure that the groom would not back out of the arrangement if he didn't like the way the bride looked!
Today, the meaning behind this practice has evolved. The bride presents herself in her wedding attire as a gift to her groom. You can still preserve this moment without inconveniencing your wedding guests by planning a "first encounter" before the wedding ceremony. When you are adorned in your wedding attire, it is possible to arrange to meet privately for a special moment in our chapel. You may want to consider inviting your photographer to record this moment.
Photography and videotaping at your wedding are certainly important, but should not be distracting or disruptive to the worship service. Flash pictures are not allowed during the service and professional photography and/or videotaping should be done discreetly from the balcony or behind the pulpit. Your photographer may take photos from the aisle during the marches. Photographers and video personnel should speak with the wedding coordinator about specific questions.
Receptions at Trinity
Members of Trinity may hold their reception at the church. The Trinity Room can hold 225 people.
There is a fee for the use of the hall, and couples are responsible for their own consumables, decorations and clean-up. Room arrangements must be made with the Facilities Director at least 2 weeks prior to the event.
