Welcome to Trinity United Church

Trinity United Church's Wedding Policy

Statement of Understanding and Principle

At Trinity United Church and in The United Church of Canada we know human relationships are gifts from God.  We affirm these gifts and give thanks to God for them.

All of our relationships, our most public and communal, and our most personal and intimate, are influenced greatly by our faith values.  We understand that these values call us into relationships that are just, generous, respectful, mutual and nourishing.  As Christians we see these expressed most fully in the life and being of Jesus, the Christ, who teaches that we love one another as God loves us.

In our most intimate relationship with a chosen partner we benefit from rituals that allow us to publicly profess our love for the other, entering into a covenant with each other, and with God, to live in love, with God as our helper.  In the presence of God, and with those assembled, we commit ourselves to live in a relationship that sustains and nurtures both partners and that is marked by mutual respect and honour, shared goals and values, interests and commitments.

A Christian Wedding at Trinity United Church includes a profession of love, belief in God, and the signing of a legally binding contract under the laws of the Province of Ontario.  It is celebrated in a service of worship in which the couple asks God’s blessing and seeks the support and care of those assembled.  The commitments are entered into with the intent of being life-long.  Declarations are spoken and the couple exchanges vows and symbols of their vows.  The service includes prayers, readings and acts of thanksgiving.

The Wedding Process:

In order to be married at Trinity United, a couple should meet the following basic criteria.

1. At least one of the two people being married is of a Christian faith.

1. At least one of the two people being married is either a member of Trinity United, an adherent of Trinity United, or is sponsored by a member, an adherent, or the current Minister of Trinity United.

1. The couple is legally entitled to marry in the Province of Ontario (both parties are single and of the appropriate minimum age based on Province of Ontario legislation).

1. The couple has met with the Minister (usually twice) and the Minister agrees to allow the couple to be married at Trinity United.

1. The couple is required to secure the appropriate marriage license and present it to the Minister to be completed no less than one month prior to the date of the wedding.

Use of Sanctuary

At Trinity United, a marriage ceremony is celebrated in the context of an act of worship and as such, is normally held in the Sanctuary of the church. It is a planned event and as such, requires the involvement of the Minister and the Director of Music in its planning and delivery. When a rehearsal is requested, it is normally held the evening before the ceremony.

It is recommended that the couple discuss music plans and expectations for their wedding ceremony with the Director of Music at least one week prior to the ceremony. Special musical requests (both material and use of soloists and musicians) must be approved by the Minister and the Director of Music.

Fire regulations limit the capacity of our Sanctuary area to 190 persons exclusive of the Choir Loft which is not available for general seating. Any proposed re-arrangement of seating, furnishings and facilities and any additional decoration of the Sanctuary requires prior approval of the Minister and consultation with the Facilities Co-ordinator.

Flash photography is permitted during the processional, during the signing of the documents, and during the recessional. Please avoid flash photographs during the ceremony itself. Videotaping is permitted from a single camera on a tripod from a location approved by the Minister. No confetti, rice, or other material is to be thrown in the sanctuary, or anywhere else on church property.

Please contact the church office by phone at 905-845-3152 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   if you have any questions regarding our policies or to arrange for a meeting with our minister to discuss your wedding plans.