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Weddings
Can we get married at
First Church if we are not members?
Yes. The cost varies according to your membership
status.
What
classifies someone as a member?
Definition of Member:
The category of member is for the bride or groom or
their parents who are current members of First United
Methodist Church. However, if you are a non-member
child of member parent(s) you fit the member
definition if you are a full time student between the
ages of 18-25 and living at home. If you are a non-member child of member parent(s) and are over 18 years
of age and not a full time student, you do not fit the
member definition.
Definition of Non-Member:
The category of non-member is for the bride or groom
or their parents who do not have current membership
with First United Methodist Church.
What is the
cost to have a wedding at First Church?
Member Fees
Non-Member Fees
How do I
schedule a wedding?
Before extensive wedding plans are
made by the bride and groom, they should contact the
Administrative Secretary to determine whether the
Sanctuary is available on their preferred date. An
appointment will be scheduled for the first of three
pre-marital conferences. No Saturday weddings will
begin after 4:30 p.m. There will be no weddings
scheduled during Holy Week. Any church visuals that
are in the sanctuary and/or chancel for Advent and
Lent (Christmas and Easter) will remain in place as
the Church witness to the spiritual significance of
the season. The use of rice, birdseed, or confetti is
not permitted. Should you or any of your wedding
guests throw rice, birdseed, or confetti an additional
custodial fee* will be added to your wedding fees.
Please share this information with your family and
friends. The public address system is required during
the wedding with the service* of the church audio
technician. When the Unity Candle is used, a holder
for the Unity Candle is available. It is the
responsibility of the bride to secure the candle for
the Unity Candle portion of the service. The unity
candle holder requires a candle with a 3 inch base.
The two side candles are dinner table tapers and
should be shorter than the Unity Candle. The church
will provide the side candles for the Unity Candle and
any other side candles as requested. Please bring the
Unity Candle to the wedding rehearsal. The use of
aisle candles is not permitted.
Fees:
All fees are due two weeks before your wedding date. A
$30 non-refundable deposit must be received by the
church office in order to place your wedding date on
the church calendar. Checks should be made out to the
First United Methodist Church. In the event that your
wedding is canceled, all fees except the deposit shall
be returned. A complete fee schedule for weddings is
provided by the Administrative Secretary when a
wedding inquiry is made.
Persons using our facilities are responsible in case
of damage to the building or equipment, either by
people who scheduled the wedding and/or reception or
by persons attracted by their activity.
Can I have a
guest minister participate in the service?
Visiting ministers are always welcomed to
participate in the wedding ceremony. A minister from
First United Methodist Church will be required to
participate in the ceremony, and at least one meeting
with the bridal couple and both ministers will be
scheduled two weeks before the ceremony. The First
United Methodist Church minister will direct rehearsal
and pattern of the wedding ceremony.
Do we have
to attend pre-marital counseling?
Pre-marital counseling is an important part of your
wedding preparation and should not be taken lightly.
Please look upon it as a time to establish that good
and solid foundation which every marriage needs.
Counseling requirements vary slightly among our
ministerial staff. It is our hope that you will start
your wedding preparation far enough in advance in
order to allow yourself sufficient time to complete
the counseling sessions in an unhurried manner. This
will afford you maximum benefits from the sessions and
be of consideration to our pastoral staff, their
families, and their ministerial responsibilities.
Please strive to keep all appointments as negotiated.
We know difficulties do arise, but please try to give
the church office 24 hours notice in the event of a
cancellation.
When do we
bring the marriage license?
You are requested to bring the license to the
rehearsal. This is essential. Following the wedding
ceremony, the license will be presented to the Wedding
Hostess who will see that it is received by the bride
and groom. The wedding license is secured through the
office of The Probate Court in the county of your
residence. The wedding license fee varies between
counties.
Can we throw
rice or birdseed?
The use of rice, birdseed, or confetti is not
permitted. Should you or any of your wedding guests
throw rice, birdseed, or confetti an additional
custodial fee will be added to your wedding fees.
Please share this information with your family and
friends.
The fee for throwing rice, birdseed or confetti is
$100. It must be thrown outdoors. If you choose to
have something thrown, please consider birdseed over
rice. When birds eat rice it expands in their
intestinal walls and can be fatal to them. For other
ideas click here.
Decorating
The placing of elaborate decorations
in the chancel area and on the altar must be cleared
with the Minister and the Altar Guild, so they will
not conflict with the service.
Decorative bows or ribbons may be used on the pews
provided that no tacks, pins, or adhesives be used
which might mar the finish of the wooden surfaces.
This includes all wooden surfaces (pews, altar, rails,
etc.). Candles may not be used on the pews or in
bridesmaid or bridal arrangements.
Four candelabra (2 altar and 2 floor) are available
with the candles arranged by the Altar Guild. Floral
decorations may be placed on the floor candelabra, but
not on the altar candelabra.
White altar cloths and paraments will be placed on the
altar for the celebration of your marriage. An aisle
runner is not conducive to safety in our church aisle,
therefore, aisle runners are not permitted.
When the Unity Candle is used, a holder for the Unity
Candle is available. It is the responsibility of the
bride to secure the candle for the Unity Candle
portion of the service. The unity candle holder
requires a candle with a 3 inch base. The two side
candles are dinner table tapers and should be shorter
than the Unity Candle. The church will provide the
side candles for the Unity Candle and any other side
candles as requested. Please bring the Unity Candle to
the wedding rehearsal. The use of aisle candles is not
permitted.
Click here for
pictures of the sanctuary.
Florist:
The florist is requested to deliver
the flowers to the church on the wedding day, prior to
the service using the North Entrance on High Street.
The Wheeling Street doors are not opened until 1 hour
before the wedding.
First United Methodist Church provides the services of
a Wedding Hostess. The florist should consult with her
when they arrive with the flowers. The hostess will be
at the church 1 ½ hours before the wedding.
If the florist delivers flowers earlier than when the
Wheeling Street doors are open the flowers may be left
on the table in the Parlor, near the High Street North
Entrance.
Single flower arrangements are not suggested, but
rather we request that two vases, be used due to a
large heavy cross which sits at the center of the
altar and is not removable. Two vases are available to
be used for your wedding. It is your responsibility to
see that the vases remain on the altar when the
wedding flowers are removed. If the vases are missing
after your wedding, you will be contacted to return
them. If they are not returned a charge of $322 will
be added to your wedding fees. Please make sure
everyone in your wedding party is aware that the
flower vases remain on the altar. Placement of an
arrangement on the fair linen cloth of the altar is
not permitted.
Photography
Pictures of your wedding are important
but should not detract or disturb the ceremony. Formal
photographs before the wedding are to be completed 40
minutes before the service so the Sanctuary is cleared
for arriving guests. Informal photographs before the
wedding are to be completed 20 minutes before the
service with the exception of the ushers who will
report to the Wedding Hostess 40 minutes before the
wedding. All wedding photographs are to be taken in
the Fellowship Hall or Sanctuary, not in the Church
Parlor, which is needed for other purposes.
Flash photography is acceptable only during the
processional and the recessional. Other photographs
shall be with light available (no flash) film. and
only from behind the last row where guests are seated
or from the balcony.
On the processional the photographer will work from no
more than half way down the center aisle. At no time
will the photographer ask the processional to pause
for a picture. At no time will the photographer work
from the front of the Sanctuary because that limited
space is needed for the wedding party.
Video recording is permitted at the church but only
from either the balcony or from behind the last row of
guests. Video persons are not to be at the front of
the church or in the aisles.
The philosophy of weddings at First United Methodist
Church is that the wedding is a worship service. The
photographer is requested to work within that
philosophy so that the worship of God can be foremost
for you.
When employing a photographer, professional or friend,
it is requested that the photographer confer with the
Wedding Hostess before the ceremony. Please inform
your friends that they may not take pictures during
the wedding. Your friends may take pictures of the
wedding party after the ceremony is concluded.
Photography should be concluded one hour after your
ceremony. Should the photographer take longer than
this hour the fees for the custodian and wedding
hostess will double.
Music
The church organist will be notified
of the wedding schedule through the Church Office. It
is the responsibility of the bride and groom to
contact our organist to discuss the organ music.
Pre-nuptial music is primarily a
recital of organ music to set the mood for a religious
and Joyful service. Generally, the organist selects
the music in consultation with the bride and groom.
Music of quality and suitable to this high occasion is
preferred. Requests from the standard organ literature
are welcome with at least six weeks advance
notification The performance of other types of music
is open to discussion and the approval of the
ministers. The use of recorded music on tape or disc
is prohibited as a rule, but some permission may be
granted based on conversation with the minister and
organist.
It is the responsibility of any
vocalist to contact the organist and to arrange for
music and rehearsals. Vocal selections during the
ritual of marriage will be planned by the bride and
groom with the officiating minister. Please review the
financial form regarding wedding party
responsibilities for soloist and soloist rehearsal
time. It is the responsibility of the bride/groom to
provide payment for the soloist.
If an organist other than our regular
organist is requested, this must be arranged through
the church office and the organist (this option is not
available for non-members). Because of the time needed
for our church organist to assist an organist who is
not acquainted with our organ, a bench fee will be
applied. Please discuss the desire for another
organist in the initial counseling session with the
officiating minister. NO PRE-RECORDED MUSIC IS
PERMITTED DURING THE CEREMONY AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE
ORGAN.
Sound System Tape Requirements:
When the use of pre-recorded music is granted,
following discussion with the minister and organist,
all music is to be on sixty (60) minute or less
cassette tapes with one tape for each song or piece of
music. The side of the cassette tape to be played must
contain only that song or piece of music. Each
cassette tape shall be sequentially numbered for the
order m which they are to be played, with the
sequential number appearing on the side to be played.
The sound technician must be notified two weeks in
advance of the use of any other equipment to be used
in conjunction with the church's sound equipment.
 Reception
Receptions are available at the Rising
House or Church Fellowship Hall. Agreement forms must
be completed, signed, and returned to the Church
Office. No Saturday wedding receptions in the church
or Rising House will be permitted beyond 6:00 p.m. No
more than 175 persons will be permitted for a
Fellowship Hall wedding reception. Reception fees are
arranged through the Administrative Secretary.
Rehearsal
The rehearsal time shall be arranged
in consultation with the office. On rehearsal night
the Minister and Wedding Hostess shall carry out the
ceremony plans that have previously been confirmed
through consultation with the bride and groom.
Wedding
Hostess
She attends the first counseling
session and the wedding rehearsal to become acquainted
with the bride and groom, the families, and the
details of the wedding. She assists the minister in
explaining the duties of the ushers, the proper
seating of guests, formation of receiving line, etc.
The Wedding Hostess is necessary for
any wedding held in our Sanctuary. On the day of the
wedding, she plans to arrive at the church 1 ½ hours
before the ceremony. She will assist the bride and her
attendants in the preparations.
While preparing for the wedding
worship the use of alcohol by any member of the
wedding party or guests is prohibited on the church
property. Smoking within the church facilities is
prohibited by the Fire Department. The Wedding Hostess
is responsible to see that this expectation is
honored.
In addition, the Wedding Hostess sees
that the floral decorations are properly displayed.
She sees that the flowers, corsages, etc. are
distributed. She guides the ushers in their duties,
lighting the candles, seating guests, and seating of
parents. She sees that the bridal party is properly
formed for the processional and starts each member of
the procession down the aisle. She is available to
assist any unexpected need and to be of service to the
wedding families.
Following the wedding, she assists the
wedding party and families in arranging the receiving
line. She remains to see if she can assist the
photographer.
After everyone has left the Sanctuary,
she prepares the altar and chancel area for the Sunday
worship service. She changes the liturgical colors,
puts the wedding candelabra and flower vases away.
The time involvement for the hostess
is generally 1 to 1 ½ hours on the evening of the
rehearsal. On the wedding day, the time involvement is
generally 2 ½ hours. Also, she attends the first
counseling sessions with the minister, which usually
requires an hour.
Seating
capacity
The maximum seating on the main floor
is 365 people. The balcony can seat an additional 124
people (typically, the balcony is closed, with access
for video/photography only). There are 15 rows of pews
in the center aisle.
Pictures of the sanctuary.
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