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Marriage Laws » United States » Military Marriages » Chapels » Whiteman Air Force Base
Please read this brochure thoroughly before you make any plans and don't hesitate to call us if you have any questions. We pray that God would bless you as you enter this exciting new life together. Introduction We are pleased that you are interested in the Whiteman Air Force Base Chapel as the place to begin your marriage. Marriage is a covenant between a man and woman who desire God to bless their union, thus the marriage ceremony is a religious service of worship and not a civil ceremony. Only ordained clergy representing denominations and churches recognized by the Armed Forces Chaplains Board are authorized to officiate. All wedding ceremonies in either chapel are to be done reverently with dignity and in good taste. Marriage is never to be entered into hastily or unadvisedly. In every case our Chaplains will desire to meet with the couple prior to the ceremony for pre-marital counseling and to discuss the specifics of each wedding. We pray that God will bless you as you enter this exciting new life together. Eligibility To use the Chapel for your wedding either the bride or the groom must possess a valid DOD Identification Card. Legal Requirements A valid marriage license may be applied for at the County Treasurer's Office. Fees are required for both the license and certified copies. Without a valid license the chaplain cannot perform the wedding, so be sure to present the license to the chaplain before the service. Civilian Ministers Any requests for a civilian minister to officiate your wedding must be approved by the Wing Chaplain or his representative. The officiant must be properly licensed and ordained and adhere to the policies of this booklet. Usage Fee There is no charge for use of the Chapel and by regulation Chaplains cannot accept payment for performing services. You may make a donation to the Chapel by contributing to the Protestant or Catholic Chaplain fund by giving an offering during the regular worship services. Decorating Chapel weddings don't have to be elaborate or expensive. You can provide any flower decorations you would like, however, decorations ARE NOT to be tacked, glued or taped to Chapel furnishings. Furniture WILL NOT be moved unless authorized by the Chaplain. Only dripless candles with drip paper are allowed and will not be affixed to pews, walls etc. Reservations The Chapel is available on a "first come, first served" basis. Your
Chaplain will discuss dates and times with you and a facility request will
be coordinated with the staff to insure that there are no conflicts. The time for weddings must be strictly observed so that other wedding parties or worship groups won't be inconvenienced. Weddings are normally scheduled on Saturday for two hours (one hour for setup before and one hour for the ceremony, photos and clean up). With the following times available: Whiteman Chapel Receptions Receptions are not permitted in the Chapel. You are encouraged to contact the Community Center or Mission's End for a reception. Rehearsal A rehearsal is NOT recommended for Protestant weddings unless the wedding party is exceptionally large. In the event that a rehearsal is needed the entire wedding party MUST be present and on time because you only have one hour for the rehearsal. Denominational Requirements Denominational requirements and religious convictions may restrict a Chaplain from performing certain marriages. You must contact the desired Chaplain well in advance of the proposed wedding date. If a Chaplain is unavailable because of scheduling conflicts, TDY, etc. you may be referred to another Chaplain. Once a Chaplain has been assigned to your wedding he holds final approval in matters of etiquette, music, picture taking, etc. Protestant Please be advised that there are numerous Protestant denominations with different requirements for the Chaplain of that denomination. Please consult with your Chaplain for further details. A MINIMUM of three months is required to fulfill counseling requirements. Catholic Catholic Personnel should contact the Priest six months prior to their
wedding date and will provide the following:
New copy of baptismal record for the Catholic bride and/or groom. The
date on the copy should be no more than six months before the marriage.
Proof of freedom to marry (if non-military). Forms are available from
the Priest for your parents or other competent witnesses to complete with
the assistance of any priest, minister or notary public.
Dispensation from the bishop of the catholic party if one of the
parties is non-Catholic. The request for this is usually forwarded by the
Catholic's Pastor after the Catholic party signs the petition.
Written permission of the pastor of the Catholic party in a mixed
marriage if the Catholic member is not a member of the Military
Archdiocese. Pre-Marital Counseling There is a MANDATORY marriage preparation course offered in the spring
and fall. to register call 687-3652.
A marriage readiness evaluation (Focus) is provided free of charge by
the Catholic Parish.
Ceremony Rehearsals are conducted the evening prior to your marriage, please
provide the chaplain with your marriage license at that time. Secular music is NOT allowed during the ceremony. No decorative items may be placed on the altar. Please have your photographer consult with the Chaplain prior to the
ceremony.
Chapel Etiquette The American Flag and the contents of the hymnal racks will not be
removed. No special seasonal decorations will be removed. The throwing of rice, confetti, seeds, etc. is PROHIBITED in or on the
chapel grounds. Please advise your wedding party & guests. Smoking in Chapel facilities is PROHIBITED by Air Force regulation. Alcoholic beverages (except sacramental wine as a part of a service) are
PROHIBITED by regulation. The weddings ceremony will not be held when any
member of the wedding party is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Formal or informal military or civilian attire can be worn. Flowers will
not be worn on the Air Force uniform. Space for dressing is limited and it
is suggested that the wedding party arrive at the Chapel dressed in their
wedding attire. No valuables are to be left unattended at any time. The
chapel is not responsible for lost items. Photography Photographers may photograph or video tape the ceremony. You and your
photographer need to consult with the Chaplain prior to the wedding. Posed
photos may taken within the scheduled time limit. Civilian Guests Non-military members attending the wedding will need special arrangements
to attend the rehearsal & wedding. It is your responsibility to
contact Security Police well in advance of your wedding in order to meet
their requirements for admission to the base. Music Music is optional. If you desire a musician the chapel can assist you. You
need to contact this person to negotiate fees before the ceremony. If you
want someone besides one of the regular Chapel musicians they must be
familiar with the Chapel instruments and certified by the NCOIC. If you choose to have music, select carefully...remember that your wedding
is a service of worship. We suggest sacred music and texts be used during
the ceremony with secular music used during the reception. All music must
be approved by your Chaplain. To get a phone number of a base office, call the base operator at (660) 687-1110.
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