Guidelines For Wedding in GFIC

GENERAL GUILDLINES FOR WEDDINGS IN GRACE FAMILY INTERNATIONAL CHURCH

Marriage is honorable… (Heb. 13:4). All singles of marriageable age are hereby notified of the procedures and guidelines required of them towards planning for their wedding.

The intending couple must write a Letter of Intent, at least six months before the wedding, enumerating the date and venue of the proposed wedding ceremony. The level of involvement of the church should also be specified.  A letter of recommendation from your partner’s church will be required if not a member of Grace Family Intl. Church.

In addition, a Premarital Counseling Form must be duly filled and submitted. The chosen wedding date must be open and suitable in the church’s calendar. Recognizing that a wedding lasts for a day but a marriage lasts for a lifetime, intending couples are required to attend Marriage Classes (commencement dates would be announced several times during the year), and Counseling Session with their Zonal or Resident Pastors as well as one (at least) Post Marital Counseling session after the wedding.

The responsibility rests on the intending couple to carry along their Zonal Pastor and all relevant workers with regards to the extent of the involvement of the church with their wedding ceremony.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT HOLINESS AND ABSTINENCE FROM PREMARITAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY OF ANY KIND MUST BE ADHERED TO! THIS FORMS A SOLID, BIBLE-BASED FOUNDATION FOR THE MARRIAGE. HENCE, STANDARDS OF MORAL EXCELLENCE AND PURITY WILL NOT BE COMPROMISED!!

Moreover, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has suggested making it mandatory for all member Churches to make sure intending couples undergo an H.I.V/A.I.D.S. test before sanctioning their wedding. Grace Family Intl. Church subscribes to the tenets of CAN. Hence, candidates will be required to carry out medical tests at the Church’s designated laboratory after which public announcement of the wedding will be made in church.

Grace Family Intl. Church can provide three types of wedding depending on your prevailing circumstances.  Please Note: ALL THREE TYPES OF WEDDING ARE HOLY BEFORE GOD.

  • CHURCH OFFICE BLESSING: The couple, upon arrangement with the Senior Pastors/Zonal/Resident Pastors, come to the church office to pronounce vows before certain witnesses. This wedding can be conducted on any day of the week.
  • SIMPLE CHURCH WEDDING: The couple upon prior arrangement with the Senior Pastors/Zonal/Resident Pastors, come to church on a Church Service day to pronounce vows and receive blessings without fanfare.
  • FORMAL WEDDING: Couple come to church on set day with vehicles decorated , full bridal train etc. This is an expensive wedding and the cost must be counted before being embarked upon.

The attire of the couple as well as the bridal train must be God-glorifying. Sleeveless gowns and dresses that are revealing are absolutely disallowed. Please let your Zonal/Resident Pastor sanction your wedding dress design before the D-Day!

*          Further detailed instructions will be given at the commencement of your counseling sessions. Not abiding by these simple biblical guidelines means that the church will not be involved with the wedding of the party involved. If you need further clarification, please consult your Zonal/Resident Pastor. God bless you! – GFIC