Weddings at St. John's
First and foremost, marriage is a sacrament of the Church between a man and a woman and is therefore a religious ceremony. Additions, subtractions, or the writing of one’s own vows are not options for the sacramental form as laid down in the Book of Common Prayer. At St. John’s, we use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer as our standard worship form. For weddings, exceptions may be made for those who prefer the 1549 (original) Prayer Book liturgy or England’s 1662 Prayer Book.
Who May Be Married at St. John’s?
We primarily perform weddings for our parishioners and their adult children. Additionally, we may allow weddings for members of other Episcopal churches in the Diocese of Michigan who need more space or who wish to be married in downtown Detroit.
St. John’s may also be available to those whose families are spread far and wide and who find Detroit to be a convenient central location. However, in such cases, at least one member of the couple must be a practicing Episcopalian, with a letter of introduction from their parish priest.
Ultimately, the decision of who may or may not be married at St. John’s lies with the Rector (in accordance with Canon Law), who may decline any outside requests without cause.
Who May Not Be Married at St. John’s?
We are not a wedding chapel or commercial venue, and we do not perform weddings for those who are simply “looking for a pretty place to be married.” We receive—and turn down—about 50 such requests each year.
We take our faith seriously at St. John’s, and weddings are understood as an extension of our parish life and vitality. If you do not currently have a church home or a relationship with Jesus Christ, we invite you to begin that journey with us. We hope you will make St. John’s your spiritual home and begin attending Sunday services regularly. In such a case, a decision about your wedding will be made after a period of active commitment to the parish.
A good first step is to attend one of our Sunday services. Stick around afterward and introduce yourself to the priest.
For More Information
Please contact the Church Office:
313-962-7358
✉️
The Church Office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except on holidays.