Wedding policy
Congratulations on your engagement! We want to help make your ceremony a memorable celebration. As long as at least one of you is Christian, the ceremony may take place at Central Presbyterian Church (CPC). It is not necessary to be a member of this church.
A wedding at CPC is a celebratory Christian worship service under the direction of a Christian minister. It is a sacred ritual of the church that requires thoughtful preparation. These wedding policies have been carefully designed to ensure that your wedding is a sacred and memorable occasion. Please read them carefully.
Scheduling a Wedding Date: CPC is one of the oldest churches in downtown Austin. It is a popular venue for concerts and other events as well as weddings. We suggest that as soon as you know when you would like your ceremony to take place, you start by checking the availability of your preferred date(s) with our Office Manager (, or 512-472-2445). We encourage you to make an appointment for a tour of the church and sanctuary at this time. The church office is open Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Ceremonies may be held any day of the week, starting between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., with some exceptions:
- We do not schedule Sunday ceremonies for nonmembers.
- We do not schedule ceremonies on Wednesday evenings or Thursdays at noon because of other regularly scheduled church events.
- Ceremonies are not held on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day (or the Saturday nearest if Christmas falls on a Friday, Sunday or Monday), or during Holy Week (Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday).
If the ceremony is on a holiday weekend such as Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, or Labor Day, please schedule the date at least 4 months in advance and confirm the minister at least 2 months in advance. Members of at least 1 years’ standing may hold their wedding on New Year’s Eve, with a starting time no later than 6:30 p.m.
Multiple ceremonies are allowed on the same day, with at least 3 (preferably 4) hours in between. Each ceremony is allotted 4 hours, beginning 2 hours before the starting time.
The Minister: “A couple requesting a service of Christian marriage shall receive instruction from the minister of the Word and Sacrament, who may agree to the couple’s request only if, in the judgment of the minister of the Word and Sacrament, the couple demonstrate sufficient understanding of the nature of the marriage covenant and commitment to living their lives together according to its values.”
– From the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Book of Order
The rehearsal and the wedding ceremony are under the direction of the officiating minister, who may rely on the wedding coordinator to assist in ensuring that the church’s policies are followed.
It is your responsibility to arrange for the minister. CPC has a list of ministers available to officiate your wedding. (NOTE: An internet or mail-order ordination is not acceptable).
The Onsite Coordinator: Use of one of CPC’s onsite coordinators is required for church members and nonmembers alike for all weddings. This coordinator will be in communication with your wedding planner and officiant, and is responsible for helping to ensure that CPC’s guidelines for decorations, photography, videography, and parking are followed.
The duties of CPC’s Onsite Coordinator are to:
- Consult with those responsible for planning the ceremony
- Interpret the wedding policies of the church
- Arrange for necessary rooms and additional equipment and its placement as needed
- Direct members of the wedding party to dressing areas
- Direct ushers in seating guests, parents, and grandparents
- Coordinate with the custodian to regulate heating/air conditioning, lighting, and sound equipment
- Ensure that all church facilities are restored to their usual worship and educational uses following the ceremony
Music: Music for your wedding service should be reviewed with your officiating minister.
Should you desire, CPC’s organist/pianist, Nathan Quiring may be available to play at your wedding. Please let us know if you desire to book him. If needed, CPC can provide a list of other musicians.
Prerecorded music is acceptable, but you must have the music on a device with a 1/8-inch output (iPod, iPad, etc.), and you must provide someone to operate the device during the rehearsal and the service.
Order of Worship and Communion: As a service of Christian worship, the ceremony is under the direction of the officiating minister, who has final authority over the order of worship and the music selection. Celebrating communion during the ceremony requires the permission of the church Session. Because we believe communion is a sacrament for the entire congregation, we require that all gathered for Christian worship are invited to participate.
Ushers: We recommend one usher for every 50 to 75 guests. It is also suggested that you have at least two ushers who are not groomsmen, so that they are available to close the doors after your attendants enter and then open them for the grand entrance (if that is what you wish).
Rehearsal: A rehearsal is usually scheduled for 1 hour on the day preceding the wedding, between 9am-2pm. The officiating minister is in charge of the rehearsal in consultation with the couple, and with the assistance of CPC’s Onsite Coordinator. It is recommended that all members of the wedding party be present for the rehearsal, especially ushers.
It is suggested that children taking part in the ceremony as ring bearers or flower girls be at least 5 years old. Another suggestion is that if candles are to be part of the ceremony, they should be lit at least 15 to 20 minutes before the ceremony begins.
Facility: Central’s sanctuary capacity is 450 people: 350 on the ground floor and 100 in the rear balcony (if available). The sanctuary is used for the rehearsal and the ceremony. A bride’s room with a bathroom is available upstairs by the back balcony. The groom and his attendants usually meet in the library outside the sanctuary.
Central has a wooden pedestal (approximately 48 inches tall) that may be used for a central flower arrangement, two gray pedestals (approximately 28 inches tall) that may be used for side flower arrangements, and two kneeling benches that may be placed side by side or facing each other in front of the communion table.
The main entrance to the sanctuary is accessible from 8th Street to people with mobility impairments, or they may enter the church through the Brazos Street door and use the elevator just down the hall. The sanctuary is on level 2.
No food or drinks other than bottled water are allowed in the sanctuary. Smoking is not permitted in the church building or on the grounds.
Receptions: Our Smoot Fellowship Hall is available for receptions for a fee. It holds 125 people. Furniture includes: 16 round tables (54 inches diameter), that comfortably seat 6 to 7 people each (we do not provide tablecloths), 96 black plastic chairs, and four 72-inch-by-30-inch rectangular tables.
For further information on making use of our fellowship hall, please see our page, “Booking Concerts and Other Events“.
Nursery: Our nursery may be available with prior approval; please make your request at least one month before the ceremony. You are responsible for hiring your own babysitter(s), and Central has no liability for your babysitters. The nursery must be left in good condition.
Liability: Central Presbyterian Church assumes no liability for you, your guests, or personal belongings. It is always a good idea to take out event insurance. The church office, which is locked during church services, is available for securing valuables — but again, Central is not liable in the event of loss.