First Baptist Church

First Baptist Church rejoices with the couples and families who unite their lives in our sanctuary. We look upon the marriage ceremony as a testament to the love and loyalty of human relationships given to us by our Heavenly Father. Within the framework of a Christian ceremony, we also welcome and encourage your individuality and personality to come through during this holy event.

We enthusiastically invite you to meet our pastors and have one of them perform your wedding ceremony. We also strongly believe in the sanctity and dignity of all Christian denominations, and if you have a relationship with a pastor, you are welcome to have that person officiate your wedding ceremony in our church building.

To schedule your wedding or get a tour of the facilities, contact Keith at kponce@fbc-portland.org or 503-228-7465 x120.

The Sanctuary

First Baptist Church offers tasteful and elegant surroundings for weddings large and small. The sanctuary’s main floor seats 350 guests in a gently-curved arc facing the altar. A more than 40-foot center aisle divides the room, which is accented by beautiful original Povey stained-glass windows. The balcony can accommodate another 300 people with additional overflow seating available. The pews and altar are a warm, golden oak. The church also features a beautiful Austin pipe organ with intricately-painted pipes and a rich, full sound that lends majesty and warmth to a wide variety of wedding styles.

Candlelight Chapel

For smaller weddings, you may want to consider our Candlelight Chapel. It also features stained-glass windows and seats approximately 80 people.

Dressing Areas

Our large Bridal Parlor features a wall of gorgeous Povey stained-glass windows and an ornately carved floor-to-ceiling mirror fit for a Queen!

The men of your bridal party may dress in a similarly-appointed room directly above the Bridal Parlor on the second floor. Fellowship Hall is adjacent to both dressing rooms and serves as a relaxing and gracious common area for you and your families.

To schedule your wedding or get a tour of the facilities, contact Keith at kponce@fbc-portland.org or 503-228-7465 x120.

Pastor David Wheeler: Pastor David holds the Doctorate of Theology degree from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, the Masters of Divinity from Yale University Divinity School, the Masters of Arts from the University of Kansas, and the Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown College. With more than 30 years of ministry experience, Pastor David has served in small and large churches in California, Kansas, New York, and New Jersey. In additional to pastoral ministry, he has held faculty positions at Fuller Theological Seminary, the San Francisco Theological Seminary in Claremont, and the Central Baptist Theological Seminary. Additionally, he has held visiting professorships at the American Baptist Seminary of the West, the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, and at seminaries in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Columbia, and Russia. His sermons, essays, and academic articles have been published in a number of leading theological journals and magazines.

Chris Beard, Wedding Hostess: As FBC’s wedding coordinator, Chris will be your main contact for church-related wedding questions. She will consult with you before your wedding, and will work with your officiating pastor to orchestrate the rehearsal and make sure all members of the bridal party are clear on their duties and help "pull all the pieces together" at the church on your wedding day.

Chris has more than 15 years of experience planning weddings at First Baptist; in fact, she and husband Dan were married here themselves! She also has lots of experience with wedding planning and coordination at other venues in the Portland area, and she looks forward to working with you to make your special day just perfect. Chris' other professional experience includes producing news, public-affairs, and morning talk-show programming for KGW and KATU television stations in Portland.