Congratulations on your engagement! We at Southern Lakes Church believe marriage was created by God. Since He is the Designer, we look to Him for guidance in preparing for this life-long commitment. You will spend a lot of time preparing for this day and we want to help you enjoy your special day as well as help prepare you for your marriage. Below are our Wedding Guidelines, and answers to some questions you may have.

Who may be married at our facility?
The covenant that a couple makes should not be taken lightly, but reverently and deliberately. Since our purpose is to establish Christian marriages in the context of a loving community, weddings at Southern Lakes Church are for devoted followers of Christ who have been regularly attending Southern Lakes Church for at least six months prior to their application to be married here.

Sexual abstinence before marriage is God’s design for each couple. Abstinence and living separately from each other prior to marriage not only honors God and your fiancé but allows you to maintain the boundaries necessary to better develop your relationship. We would ask you as a couple to covenant with each other to abstain sexually throughout the pre-marriage period until you are married and to live separately from one another until your wedding.

Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as a covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, Southern Lakes Evangelical Free Church will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Further, the pastors and staff, whether paid or unpaid, of Southern Lakes Church shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facilities and property of Southern Lakes EFC shall only be used to host weddings between one man and one woman.

How do we arrange a wedding date?
Your first step in the Southern Lakes Church marriage process is to contact the church office at 262-742-2366 or slefc@slefc.org. Keep in mind that because of the nature of the church calendar, we can only schedule dates up to a year in advance, and that due to staff and facility commitments, weddings may not be possible on or around certain holidays.

May we have our rehearsal dinner or reception at Southern Lakes EFC?
We do not offer the church building for the rehearsal dinner or reception.

Do you have pre-marital counseling?
All couples are required to attend pre-marital classes. This involves several meetings with the pastor who will be performing the ceremony. We believe there is great value in being prepared for this life-long commitment and look forward to working with you.

Will a wedding facilitator assist us?
Our wedding facilitators will help you with Southern Lakes Church wedding resources, rehearsal staging and your ceremony. You must use one of our facilitators who will provide access to the building as well as helpful information and service. Your facilitator will work closely with the pastoral staff member involved in your wedding. Once the assigned wedding facilitator is made aware of your upcoming wedding, they will contact you to begin discussing the details of your wedding ceremony.

What are the next steps?

• Contact the church office at 262-742-2366 or slefc@slefc.org to find out if the date you have chosen for your wedding is available on the church calendar as well as with the pastor.
• Confirm availability of the wedding facilitator and sound technician. Both are required.
• Once the date has been confirmed, a $200 refundable deposit is required to hold the date on the church calendar.
• Once your wedding has been scheduled, a complete Wedding Guide which includes a Wedding Application will be given to you that will provide more information and help you plan your special day.
• 
  

What are the wedding fees?

A $200 refundable deposit is required to hold the date on the church calendar.

A $850 fee is to be given to the church administrative assistant one month BEFORE the wedding and is subject to change. The $850 fee includes the following services:
   Pastor
   Use of the church building
   Sound Technician
   Wedding Facilitator

Please note:
Additional $100 if media projection is requested

Additional $250 if video recording is requested

If you have any questions, please contact our office administrator at slefc@slefc.org or by calling 262-742-2366.