Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love NEVER fails !

                    1 Corinthians 13:4-8

1. Marriage preparation in the Vineyard is a process that takes a minimum of 6 to 9 months.  And we desire that your marriage would be strong and full of vitality!    For that reason, the Vineyard pastoral staff deems this time frame foundational for spiritual, relational, and logistical preparation.  You as a couple have already been through a process leading up to the decision to marry.   Now begins the process of the church putting its blessing upon this union through pastoral counseling and pre-marital mentoring. In order to begin the premarital process you must be formally engaged.
2. Based on God's Word, prayer, and experience, we have several further beneficial prerequisites of the pre-marital process. The first prerequisite involves the duration of your relationship. To marry in the Vineyard, you must have dated one another for at least 6 months.  Certain relational dynamics can only be experienced with these time frames as minimums. 
   
3. In addition, couples marrying in the Vineyard must be committed to premarital sexual abstinence, making the fight for sexual purity a foundation stone of their future together. 
   
4. Next, we encourage couples marrying in the Vineyard to commit to faithfully attend a small group ministry in the church.  This may be a home group, or it may be a men's or women's group.  The Christian life is lived in community, and marriage will not thrive in isolation apart from the connection and support of God's community.
5. With these requirements in place, a request to a specific Vineyard pastor to consider officiating your wedding may be made. This request process takes several days to a week depending on the availability of the pastor to respond to your request. (If the pastor you have requested is unavailable, another pastor will be contacted). Our current procedure for Marrying in the Vineyard requires that one of our Raleigh Vineyard staff pastors officiate at every wedding performed in our church.  If you desire to involve an outside pastor, you need to coordinate their involvement with the Vineyard staff pastor who is officiating at your wedding.  You may make a request of a specific pastor you want to perform your wedding; however due to schedules and other considerations, another pastor may be assigned.  After determining which pastor is available to officiate at your wedding, the pastor will schedule an initial exploratory appointment with you as a couple.

The next step following your appointment with a pastor is to make an appointment with Lorin our Administrative Assistant for both persons to come in together and take the PREPARE Inventory.   This helpful tool highlights both the strengths and growth areas of your relationship, information beneficial in your premarital preparations.  This appointment takes about one hour.  

Building and personnel costs for weddings:
Fees for weddings are $500 per event and are based on current costs to the church incurred in the wedding preparation, planning, and implementation of the weddings held here at the church. Fees help reimburse the church for custodial costs and supplies, administrative expenses, and sound personnel costs.

• Wedding dates cannot be confirmed on the church calendar until completing the preliminary pre-marital steps, namely Pre-Marital Registration Information, PREPARE Inventory and Pastoral Review of the Inventory and Intake information.
• We are not equipped for rehearsal dinners and receptions on site.

God bless you!  We are excited about your future marriage relationship!  Our hearts' desire is to fully and adequately assist you as you prepare for your marriage and your wedding day.  If we can be of any help, please feel free to call the church office (919-790-0001).