|
INTRODUCTION The marriage ceremony is one of the most sacred worship services held by any church. It should be a worshipful experience in which a man and a woman come togther invoking the blessing of God in marriage. It should never be considered only or even mainly a social event. We are happy that you have chosen the College Grove United Methodist Church for the joyous occasion in your lives. We want to help make preparing for your wedding a meaningful time which is as free from stress as possible. One or more members of our trustee committee will work with you in preparing for the wedding and will be present at the rehearsal and wedding to assist you in any way possible. Please feel free to ask for information or advice. Always bear in mind the old proverb, "A wedding is just one day, but a marriage is a lifetime." Don't get so swept up by the planning and pageantry of the wedding ceremony that you neglect to build a good foundation for your life together. Plan to meet with me (the pastor) as early as possible in the planning process. I want to give you a wedding worship-planning guide which will help you to choose the specific elements to be included in the ceremony, and to introduce you to some materials which will benefit your marriage relationship for years to come. In order to extend every help and courtesy to you, our customary procedures and policies are outlined for your information on this page. God bless you as you make plans, not only for your wedding day, but for a lifetime together. Sincerely, Pastor and Trustees MAKING THE RESERVATION Call the office as far in advance as possible to make a tentative reservation. At that time your names will be entered on the calendar, stating date, time, and location of the wedding, rehearsal and any reception. Members of College Grove United Methodist Church are invited to be married in our church facility. Members who have a family member wishing to use the church should contact the Chairperson of the Trustees or the Pastor. When a sister church requests use of our facility due to their own facility being unavailable or inadequate, the non-member prices will apply. Confirmation of the wedding reservation will be made upon receipt of the signed reservation form statement (see insert sheet), a fifty percent deposit of the total fees, and consultation with the pastor. Remainder of fees must be paid one week prior to the day of rehearsal. Planned date of your wedding:_______________ Time:_________________ Rehearsal:______________________________ Time:_________________ Date you called the church to make a tentative reservation:_____________________________ Person you spoke with:____________________ Date your reservation was finalized and confirmed:______________________________ Person making confirmation:________________ NOTES: MINISTERS Only the present minister of the College Grove United Methodist Church or other United Methodist pastors may officiate in the ceremony unless approved by the current pastor. A conference with the pastor eight weeks prior to the wedding is required of all couples, even if another minister is performing the ceremony. Call the church office to schedule a conference time. There will be a $100.00 non-refundable fee for non-members to cover the expense of counseling and written materials. MUSIC Since you have chosen to be married in the church, all music, vocal solos and other songs should be appropriate for use in worship. Carefully select the music to accentuate the reverent atmosphere of the service. Appropriate sacred, classical, contemporary Christian, or traditional selections may be used. Secular songs should be reserved for the reception since this is a social occasion rather than a worship service. We recommend that you use the church organist or pianist. If a guest organist is used, he or she must be approved by the Minister/Minister of Music at least thirty days in advance of the rehearsal. Before selecting a vocalist, make sure that he or she is capable of singing the sacred music you select, and will know the songs prior to the rehearsal. A copy of the music should be given to the organist, pianist or accompanist two weeks before the rehearsal. The organist or pianist will meet with the soloist thirty minutes prior to the wedding rehearsal, or by previous appointment. A music planning sheet is included in this brochure. CATERER AND FLORIST Care must be taken to protect all church property against damage. The following regulations must be observed and should be called to the attention of your florist and/or caterer.
REHEARSAL The pastor, entire wedding party, organist, soloist, your wedding director should attend the rehearsal. The rehearsal is the foundation of a beautiful, reverent wedding service. Promptness in arrival and proper dress are essential. During the rehearsal, the positioning of the wedding party members, lighting and sound levels for the ceremony will be decided, and the processional and recessional will be practiced. You and each member of the wedding party will also be shown where to dress before the wedding. PHOTOGRAPHY
WEDDING ATTIRE/VALUABLES The church cannot be responsible for any personal items brought to the church for use in the wedding or rehearsal, nor shall the church be liable for such items if lost, stolen or damaged. However, every reasonable effort will be made to assist the wedding party in protecting such property. CUSTODIAN It is the bride's and groom's responsibility to discuss with a member of the trustee committee and the church custodian to specify any special arrangements of furnishings required. A FEW "NO'S" TO OBSERVE
FEES Below is a listing of various fees for the use of the church buildings and equipment for non-members. Make checks payable to College Grove United Methodist Church. Buildings: Sanctuary (rehearsal and wedding): $300.00 seating approx #175 To include the *equipment listed below: Fellowship Hall (rehearsal and wedding) seating approx. #100 $100.00 Cleaning Fee: $100.00 Fees for Pastoral support if performing the wedding: $100.00 Joy Building: $50.00 *Equipment: Sound System, Small tables,Kneeling Bench Half of the total of the above fees are due at the time your reservation is confirmed. The remainder must be paid one week prior to the rehearsal. The above does not include fees for the organist, soloist, or wedding director, nor an honorarium for your minister-our minister does not accept honorariums. Ministers from outside our church should be reimbursed for any travel, lodging or meal expenses incurred. Note from the Trustee Committee When you have familiarized yourself with the information in the brochure, please complete and sign the attached forms as much in advance of the wedding date as possible. After the forms confirming your wedding date have been received, you will be contacted by a member of the church office who will be happy to work with you and answer any additional questions you may have. These forms, along with a fifty percent deposit of fees and security deposit, must be in the church office for the wedding date to be confirmed on the church calendar. The balance of the fees is due one week prior to rehearsal. We hope that this brochure has been informative and helpful. If you have additional questions, please feel free to call our pastor or one of our members of the trustee committee. Pastor: Tom Gibson; (615) 368-7611 (office) OTHER HELPFUL HINTS
INFORMATION FOR ORGANIST/PIANIST Bride's Name:___________________________ Telephone: ( )__________________________ Work Phone: ( )________________________ Groom's Name:__________________________ Telephone: ( )__________________________ Work Phone: ( )________________________ Minister________________________________ Wedding Director_________________________ Phone: ( ) ___________________________ Rehearsal Date/time:______________________ Wedding Date/time:_______________________ Number of bridal attendants, including Maid/Matron of honor:____________________ Number of groomsmen:___________ ____Flower girl? More than one?_______ ____Ring Bearer? Ushers?_____________ How many sets of Grandparents?____________ Will grandmothers be ushered out?___________ Approximate attendance expected:____________ Vocalist's name:_________________________ Phone:__________________________ Microphone Needed?_______________ Music to be sung before service (in order): ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Music to be sung during service (in order): Music:__________________________________________________________________ Cue:__________________________________________________________________________Music:__________________________________________________________________ Cue:______________________________________________________________________Bridal Processional:_______________________ Recessional:____________________________ Any special music to be played prior to the wedding: ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ AGREEMENT Date of Wedding __________ We have read the policies and rules concerning weddings and receptions at College Grove United Methodist Church. We agree to abide by them and to make every effort to insure that those in attendance at our wedding rehearsal and wedding ceremony and reception do likewise. Bride's signature: _______________________________________ Address:________________________________ Groom's signature: _______________________________________ Address:________________________________ Date Signed:_____________________________ FEES Total amount due for: Sanctuary $____________________ Fellowship Hall $______________ Pastor's Fee $__________________ Joy Building $________________ Cleaning Deposit $______________ TOTAL:___________________ Amount enclosed (50%):___________________ Amount to be paid one week prior to rehearsal: (50%)____________________ Office member receiving the funds: __________________________ NOTES: |