Reading between lines?

keyaira04

Sorry for the 2nd email this morning. The church office manager and I are having a conversation about who is serving as the officiate for the wedding. We are looking for a new one. We dropped our minister and their pastor will be out of town. The next few lines are this:

Since you've not committed any funds, I'm wondering if you want to consider another venue since you have some time to do that.  If not, a different pastor will need to be in touch with us to request permission to perform the service here at the church.

It took me a year to find a non-member, our own pastor, reasonable-priced church  FI will only get married in a church. And they told us not to put funds down now, but I did send the contract 2 weeks ago. So is she asking me to find a new church or do I just need to find a pastor? Some times I over-analyze...I'm starting to freak out, for real...

rowenac82

I had a sort of similar situation. Back in May while visiting Arizona, FI and I were suppose to meet with the pastor and he cancelled due to an emergency. And this was the email. 

We pray for God's blessings as you travel this weekend.  

We regret we need to cancel your meeting tomorrow, Sunday, May 27, 2012. Pastor Shane Davis was called away on a family matter and will not be able to meet with you.  Again, I humbly apologize and wish you Gods wonderful blessings on your upcoming nuptials in October.   

Uhm, doesn't that seem like they totally canceling on me? I straight ask, is Pastor Shane able to perform the ceremony or not? And the response I got was yes. 

Sometimes it's just easier to ask direct questions when it comes to situations like this. 

CreoleBride30

This is my take on it: they are asking for some type of deposit/contribution to use that church and if you do decide to stick with them then you need to find a pastor as well so he/she can coordinate with them the church.

MissusD1116

I agree with creole, that's what it seems like to me.....

[Deleted User]

I'm sideyeing the hell outta "since you've not committed any funds"  but agree with everybody else.  ask her for clarity, ask how much of a deposit is required and shop for a minister.  is there a reason one of the pastors at this church can't marry ya'll?  or is theire only pastor unavailable?

MrsBoss2012

I would reply directly saying:

We are still interested in having our wedding at the church on _________ as we have already mailed in the contract. We are in the process of finding another officiant and we will be in touch with you soon.

Signed,

QUIT FREAKIN' RUSHING ME WE STILL HAVE A YEAR!

*Ok maybe not that last part.... Sorry I've been scorned dealing with my own church secretary which ultimately led me to cancel our Pastor due to the secretary's poor communication skills! #churchfolks

M1ssJ

I like Mrs B's approach but I would add.

If there are any forseeable obstacles to our wedding ceremony being performed at your church please let us know as soon as possible.

keyaira04

LOL. I'm smiling now. Thanks to each of you. 

I feel each of you with the payment comment. I've asked a few times, including the day I sent the contract, about the deposit. They have always said it was too early, "no worries'. But it's ok. I am going to start sending payments on Friday. This way, it will be PIF soon.

@ sultryzulu Their annual convention is during our wedding date. They only have one pastor, to my understanding. Otherwise, I think he would have done it. Total is $450, but told me to start payment next year and the contract holds the date. 

@ MrsBoss2012 Thank you for the verbiage. I will use this now. I keep telling tell FI church people have been my biggest issue planning this wedding. It's been crazy getting a blessing from my former pastor. Then crazy to find and schedule a church in this city. Crazy going through this officiant issue...burns me just thinking about it. Even though this church has been amazing thus far.  But all these hoops when we are trying to do things the proper Christ-like way...

@ M1ssJ Will add. Thanks!