Weddings

"Thank you for all your help and we had such a wonder time! Everyone was raving about how beautiful the church and ceremony was! Thank you again, Liz & James"

Having your wedding at St. James by-the-Sea can be somewhat of a fairy tale experience. Because of our historical setting, stained glass windows, high wooden ceilings and breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean from the church steps, people from all over the United States and Canada plan their weddings here.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We are pleased to announce that the Clergy and Vestry have recently decided to administer the Sacrament of Marriage to current, active parishioners of St. James by-the-Sea and to those who are not parishioners, but choose the beauty of St. James for their wedding ceremony.

Our wedding policy, in part, is listed below. After reading this abridged policy, please call the church office at (858) 459-3421 for further information with regards to remarriages after divorce, scheduling parameters, flower and photography guidelines, and included services.

Our beautiful facilities for wedding receptions are, of course, available to both parishioners and non-parishioners as well.

Thank you very much for your interest in a wedding at St. James by-the-Sea.

A Parishioner of St. James, for the sake of Wedding Policies, shall be defined as a person or a son or daughter or parent of a person who:

• Is on the parish roll, is a contributor of record, and has participated in worship or other functions at least ten times in the year prior to scheduling the wedding; or

• Is an individual who is known to the clergy or other parish leaders to have been an active parishioner of St. James for many years, especially through childhood to young adulthood, and who subsequently moved away or stopped attending as a regular parishioner.

• One of the parties must have been or is willing to be baptized in a Trinitarian Christian Church.

• The couple agree to participate in all premarital counseling, consisting of a preliminary meeting with the clergy of St. James, five sessions with a PREPARE-ENRICH Counselor chosen in consultation with the clergy, and a follow up session with the clergy of St. James.

• The couple agree to the Episcopal Church's definition of marriage defined in its Declaration of Intention and plan their wedding according to the "Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage" from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.

• The couple agree that one of the clergy of St. James shall preside at their wedding.

• $4,500.00 for non-parishioners. (Please call for information regarding what services are included in this fee, parishioner rates and discounts for active members of the Armed Forces.)