Weddings

Preparation for Marriage Classes

Couples being married at First United Methodist Church are expected to have premarital counseling. One option is a one-Saturday Preparation for Marriage Class, offered several times a year in partnership with the Samaritan Counseling Center. In addition, couples will meet with the pastor a few months before the wedding to plan their ceremony.

The Wedding Coordinator

It has been noted that it is most helpful to have someone familiar with the church and the wedding ceremony to assist the wedding party at the time of the rehearsal and the day of the wedding. Therefore, a wedding coordinator will assist you and the bridal party. She will, among other things:

• Assist the pastor at the rehearsal and at the ceremony, lining up attendants and starting them and the bride down the aisle.
• Assist in the Wright Parlor with dressing, pinning corsages and hair pieces; pinning boutonnieres on the gentlemen.
• Direct guests in and out of the Sanctuary or Chapel.
• Consult with the photographer and/or florist concerning church policies if the need arises.
• Assure all wedding fees have been paid.

Your Wedding Music                                                              

It is important to keep in mind that a church wedding is a worship service of the Church. The music should be in keeping with the reverence which is observed upon entering the House of the Lord. Although certain compositions of a secular nature are acceptable, music programmed for the concert hall may be inappropriate or unsuitable for the sanctuary.

Prior to both the rehearsal and the wedding, it is expected that the members of the wedding party will refrain from using alcoholic beverages. No alcoholic beverages may be served on the church premises at any time. Smoking is not permitted anywhere on church grounds. Birdseed or rice may be thrown, but not inside the church building. No flash pictures are allowed by guests. It is the responsibility of the ushers to assist in making this known to the guests. It is the obligation of the bride and groom to make certain that the members of the wedding party are acquainted with these procedures.

Photographs and Videos

Photographers are permitted at the rear of the Sanctuary or Chapel during the processional and recessional (eight pews from the back of the sanctuary). At all other times during the ceremony, photographers and videographers must remain out of sight and cannot move around or cause any distraction. A position in the balcony is most appropriate. No flash photography or additional lighting is permitted during the ceremony.

Because of the many requests for weddings in our building, each wedding is allotted a two and a half hour time period; an hour prior to the service and an hour following the service. Please let your photographer know that the time for taking pictures following the wedding must fall within this time frame.

Dressing Rooms

Facilities are provided for the bride and her party to dress at the church. The dressing table in Wright Parlor is equipped with needles, thread, pins, bobby pins, etc. Also available is an ironing board and iron and an area to hang long gowns. This Parlor is available to the wedding party one hour before the service. The gentlemen may dress in the Choir Robing Room.

Other Important Details

A deposit of $600 (or $500 for the Chapel) is required of non-members at the time the wedding is scheduled. The wedding secretary will place a tentative reservation on the calendar which becomes definite when the deposit is received.

One of the members of our pastoral staff will officiate. The pastor desires to help you plan a wedding that is both worshipful and beautiful. The ritual used is that of The United Methodist Church. Pastors of other parishes may assist upon the invitation of the host pastor.

Marriage licenses are obtained from the County Clerk's office. Contact your county clerk's office for required paperwork. There is a three-day wait for licenses. Since the names of the witnesses are typed on the license, it is important that the wedding secretary have the correct names and spellings. The wedding license is to be brought to the church office at least three days prior to the wedding.

Following are the general charges for the use of the facilities and the service. Non-members must pay the Sanctuary (or Chapel) fee as a deposit at the time the wedding is booked.

All other fees are due the week before the wedding, and should be given to the wedding secretary when you bring in your marriage license, at least three days prior to the wedding. These fees are paid directly to the persons performing the services (organist, coordinator, custodian). The wedding secretary will send you a letter one month before the wedding with their names.

Additional Information   The Sanctuary seats 532, including the balcony. The Chapel seats 100. There are 23 rows of pews in the Sanctuary.

                                                                                                                           Photos courtesy of Wally Spice Photography.