Congratulations,
We are excited for you!
Marriage is a beautiful and sacred commitment, and at The Vail Church (TVC), our goal is to support you and your spouse in experiencing all that God intended for this lifelong union. We believe that marriage is one of life’s greatest blessings, offering deep joy and companionship. At the same time, we recognize that it can also present challenges. In a world that is often broken, relationships require guidance, grace, and intentional effort.
God has provided us with a blueprint for marriage—one that, when followed with humility and openness, can bring lasting love, strength, and fulfillment. Because we seek to honor Him in every marriage we bless, we take great care to ensure that our role in officiating reflects His Word and His ways.
This page helps us walk alongside you in preparing for a Christ-centered marriage. We are excited to be part of this important season in your life and look forward to supporting you in the journey ahead!
God has provided us with a blueprint for marriage—one that, when followed with humility and openness, can bring lasting love, strength, and fulfillment. Because we seek to honor Him in every marriage we bless, we take great care to ensure that our role in officiating reflects His Word and His ways.
This page helps us walk alongside you in preparing for a Christ-centered marriage. We are excited to be part of this important season in your life and look forward to supporting you in the journey ahead!
Getting Married?
MARRIAGE APPROVAL FROM TVC
Before scheduling your wedding at The Vail Church (TVC) or with a TVC pastor, you must receive approval from our church.
Step 1: Fill Out Our Couple Info Form
The first step in this process is to complete the online Premarital Intake Form. Please provide as much detail as possible, as this helps us better understand and support you.
The initial review process may take 2–3 weeks. Once your form has been submitted, our office manager will be in touch with you regarding the next steps.
Step 2: Participate in Premarital Counseling
At The Vail Church (TVC), we believe that a strong foundation is key to a thriving marriage! That’s why we require a minimum of four to six premarital counseling sessions with you and your officiant. These sessions are designed to help you grow together, strengthen your relationship, and prepare for the lifelong commitment of marriage.
We recommend beginning premarital counseling at least three months before your wedding day. If you live outside the Vail Valley, don’t worry—sessions can be arranged via Zoom, or you may choose to attend premarital classes at a similar church or counseling center pre-approved by your officiant. Once you have filled out the Premarital Intake Form, one of our staff members will follow up with you to set this up.
Before scheduling your wedding at The Vail Church (TVC) or with a TVC pastor, you must receive approval from our church.
Step 1: Fill Out Our Couple Info Form
The first step in this process is to complete the online Premarital Intake Form. Please provide as much detail as possible, as this helps us better understand and support you.
The initial review process may take 2–3 weeks. Once your form has been submitted, our office manager will be in touch with you regarding the next steps.
Step 2: Participate in Premarital Counseling
At The Vail Church (TVC), we believe that a strong foundation is key to a thriving marriage! That’s why we require a minimum of four to six premarital counseling sessions with you and your officiant. These sessions are designed to help you grow together, strengthen your relationship, and prepare for the lifelong commitment of marriage.
We recommend beginning premarital counseling at least three months before your wedding day. If you live outside the Vail Valley, don’t worry—sessions can be arranged via Zoom, or you may choose to attend premarital classes at a similar church or counseling center pre-approved by your officiant. Once you have filled out the Premarital Intake Form, one of our staff members will follow up with you to set this up.
What We Believe About Marriage
Biblical marriage is defined as "a divine union between one man and one woman
for a lifetime (Matt 19:4-5)." Based on God's Word, this definition and through experience
we observe the following:
1. A minimum of a one year dating relationship is recommended before marriage. There are really no short-cuts to building intimacy, trust and communication no matter how mature you may be.
2. A public ceremony, including vows and prayers, that clearly communicates the couple's commitment to each other, links the couple's love to the sacred story of God's love and gives the community a supportive role in helping to maintain the marriage.
3. Divorced persons may be considered for marriage provided they meet one of these Biblical Criteria:
a. The former spouse is now deceased. (Rom 7:2)
b. The divorce occurred prior to one's conversion to Christ. (2 Cor 5:17)
c. The divorce occurred because of sexual unfaithfulness by spouse.(Matt19:3-9)
d. Desertion by an unbelieving spouse. (1 Cor 7:15)
e. The former spouse initiated divorce and has remarried. (Rom 7:3)
* If none of the above criteria apply to your situation, then a meeting with the pastor may need to be arranged to consider your individual case.
b. The divorce occurred prior to one's conversion to Christ. (2 Cor 5:17)
c. The divorce occurred because of sexual unfaithfulness by spouse.(Matt19:3-9)
d. Desertion by an unbelieving spouse. (1 Cor 7:15)
e. The former spouse initiated divorce and has remarried. (Rom 7:3)
* If none of the above criteria apply to your situation, then a meeting with the pastor may need to be arranged to consider your individual case.
4. Remarriage following death of spouse should occur no earlier than after one year from spouse's death.
5. The couple must commit to remain celibate and not live together at any time prior to the wedding. Couples that live together have higher divorce rates than those who do not. Read this article of study about couples who live together before marriage
These guidelines have been created by the Spiritual Leadership at TheVail Church. They are believed to be aligned in God's plan for marriage and meant to encourage, protect and strengthen the couple's commitment to Christ. The chances that a situation occurs different from the situations above are high. The above are general guidelines and each individual case will be assessed by the Pastor who will officiate.