If you wish to be married "in the Church" in a Christian Wedding, or if you wish to arrange for a service of Blessing of your Marriage/Civil Union/Domestic Partnership, contact a PUCC pastor as early as you can (3-6 months before the date you select, if possible). It is best if you not "rent a hall" or publicly announce your intention until you meet with a pastor. Only the pastor can "officially" schedule your service and you need to be sure there's space in the church calendar for "your" date before you put down a deposit for a reception hall. You should expect:

• one of our pastors to preside at (celebrate) your service. (You can't "bring your own minister," though it may be possible for a relative or very close friend to assist. Also, it is NOT appropriate for former pastors to return to celebrate or provide other pastoral services. However, if our staff pastors will be unavailable on your chosen date, the pastor will contact other clergy who are members of PUCC or who are on our substitute list in order to provide clergy for your service.)
• our accompanist(s) to provide piano/organ music. (You may arrange for other musicians and instruments besides, or in addition to, organ/piano.)
• at least three (3) counseling sessions with the pastor or with a counselor approved by Florida statute. (Counseling is NOT optional. Both partners must attend. Arrangements may be made for those away on active military duty or those with special needs.)
• the pastor to discuss your arrangements only with you (not your mother, not a wedding planner).
• your service to follow the standard service orders, texts, and norms in use by the pastor/church at this time. (Do not expect a service like one you saw on TV or at the movies.)
• to pay fees for use of the church facility and services of the staff if neither partner is a member of the congregation.

You DO NOT have to be members of PUCC; however, we encourage both partners to be baptized, active Christians in order that the service, in its Christian context, be most meaningful. Call the church office to make an appointment to meet with a pastor and to receive a brochure with full details.

Though most of the services PUCC pastors celebrate are held "in the building," arrangements may be made for services held in other locations, such as your home, a local park, garden, etc.

Since our pastors only "do" Christian rites, Christian norms would apply wherever a PUCC wedding/blessing service takes place. Our pastors do not participate in "gimmick" services, such as sky diving, under water, on horseback, Elvis impersonations, etc. Also, though our pastors occasionally cooperate with other Christian clergy in presiding at interdenominational Christian services, they do NOT participate in civil (non-religious) or interfaith (as between a Christian and a non-Christian) weddings/blessings.

CLICK HERE to check out current Florida State Law on Marriage.
CLICK HERE to check out current Florida State Law on Adultery and Cohabitation.

The cities of Key West, West Palm Beach, and Miami Beach (and other jurisdictions) provide for legal registration of Domestic Partnerships. These three do not require partners to reside in those cities, though other jurisdictions may require residency. Most jurisdictions providing for Civil Unions or Domestic Partnerships allow for reciprocity with other jurisdictions with similar provisions; however, it is still not settled if protections offered within these jurisdictions will be honored elsewhere.