SACRAMENT PREPARATION • COUPLE GUIDANCE • REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
The Sacrament of Marriage bears witness to God’s presence in the union of a man and woman in mutual love, faith, and commitment. Our clergy and church office will guide you through the ecclesiastical requirements, documents, and preparation for your wedding.
Start here: Email office@assumptionlb.org before selecting a date or making arrangements. A wedding date is confirmed after the church office and clergy review the applicable requirements.
Prepare for Your Wedding
- Contact the church office. Begin before selecting a date or making arrangements.
- Review the sacrament requirements. Confirm eligibility, stewardship, sponsor requirements, fees, and supporting documents.
- Complete and sign the Affidavit for License to Marry. The bride and groom complete the official fillable PDF and add their electronic signatures.
- Complete Form 165 if applicable. Each applicant who has previously been married must complete a separate form.
- Provide supporting documents. The church office will identify the certificates, letters, decrees, or explanations required for your circumstances.
- Obtain the civil marriage license. Apply less than 90 days before the sacrament and submit the license to the church office before the wedding.
Wedding Documents
1. Affidavit for License to Marry — Complete and Sign
This official Metropolis form is required for the couple. Download it, open it in a PDF application that supports Fill & Sign, complete every applicable field, and add the bride’s and groom’s electronic signatures. Save the signed PDF and return it using the method provided by the church office. The parish priest will review, certify, and sign the affidavit.
Because the completed affidavit must reach the Metropolis no less than 15 days before the anticipated wedding date, return it to the church office well in advance.
Download the Affidavit for License to Marry
2. Wedding Sacrament Requirements — Review Carefully
Review the requirements for the bride and groom, koumbaro or koumbara, stewardship, fees, the wedding coordinator, the optional organist, and the civil marriage license. The organist’s contact information is provided in this PDF.
Download the Wedding Sacrament Requirements
3. Supplemental Marriage Record Form 165 — Only If Previously Married
Each applicant who has previously been married—whether in the Orthodox Church, another church, or civilly—must complete a separate Form 165. The form requests information about previous marriages and how they were dissolved.
Bride, Groom, and Sponsor Requirements
Bride and Groom
- One or both members of the couple must verify that they are Orthodox Christians in good standing.
- A non-Orthodox Christian spouse must verify baptism in a recognized Trinitarian faith.
- Assumption stewards in good standing pay no church sacrament fee. Good standing requires an active, up-to-date Stewardship Pledge Card for the current and previous calendar year.
- Members of another Orthodox parish must provide a letter of good standing from their home parish and pay the confirmed $1,200 church fee before the wedding.
Koumbaro or Koumbara
- The sponsor must be an Orthodox Christian in good standing.
- A sponsor from another Orthodox parish must provide a letter of good standing from their priest.
Wedding Fees
- Wedding coordinator: $400, required. Payment details are provided in the requirements PDF.
- Organist: $250, optional. Contact the organist using the information provided in the requirements PDF.
- Clergy, chanter, and custodian: Honorariums are left to the family’s discretion.
Supporting Documents and Timing
Depending on your circumstances, the Metropolis may require Freedom to Marry certificates, documentation of previous marriages, death certificates, ecclesiastical divorce decrees, written explanations, or parental consent. Review page two of the affidavit and speak with the church office before gathering or submitting documents.
Civil marriage license: Apply less than 90 days before the sacrament and deliver the license to the church office before the wedding. The sacrament cannot be performed without it.
Questions or Ready to Begin?
Email office@assumptionlb.org or contact the church office. Because the forms contain private personal information, do not submit completed documents through a public website upload. Follow the submission instructions provided by the church office.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church
5761 E. Colorado Street
Long Beach, CA 90814
(562) 494-8929