Lowell First UMC - Weddings

Wedding Policies and Information for the Engaged Couple

All wedding ceremonies are worship services.
We believe that Christian marriage takes place in the context of Christian worship.
Therefore, every wedding of the church, performed by our pastor, whether in the building
or another setting, will be conducted as a worship service, complete with scripture and
preached Word. Our pastor will preside at all weddings. Other pastors may participate in
special circumstances upon the invitation of the pastor.

Schedule your wedding date before making other plans.
Since the most important part of your day takes place at the church, it is wise to
schedule your wedding with the church first. A deposit of $225.00 secures your date. All
wedding fees double on holiday weekends. No wedding are performed on Good Friday or
Dark Saturday (the day before Easter). Our facilities will not be available if our pastor is
unavailable on that date.

Premarital Counseling with the pastor is required.
We believe the church can help marriages begin on a strong foundation. Therefore, we
require counseling with the pastor before the wedding date. The time and duration of the
counseling are arranged in consultation with the pastor. It is the couple's responsibility to
contact the pastor to set up times.

The pastor makes all final decisions concerning the ceremony.
The pastor acts on the church's behalf to ensure that all worship services are consistent
with church policy and doctrine. This means the pastor approves all music, musicians,
and additional celebrants before the rehearsal. Likewise, the church's organist will play
unless another musician is approved. All special music must be approved. Please note
that romantic love songs are usually unacceptable for the worship setting, but are
recommended for the reception. The pastor will require a recording (tape, CD or DVD) or
requested music, as well as a written copy of all words.

Cost and Fees ............................... M........ Members............Guests
Building Use…………………………………........$ No fee……....…$200.00
Personnel (organist, coordinator, custodian) $ 300.00*……….$300.00
Clergy…………………………………………….…No Set Fee…..…..$250.00
Basic Cost & Fees...................................... $ 300.00 ..........$ 750.00

*Please note that personnel fees double on holiday weekends.

* Additional Costs and Fees
Printing of Wedding Bulletins (paper extra) $ 25.00gggggggg$ 25.00

Deposit required to secure date..................$300.00 jjjjjjjjjjjj$300.00

1 - Member fees apply if the bride, groom, or their parents (s) are official members or
active constituents of this congregation with their prayers, presence, gifts and service.

2 - The Wedding Coordinator will make your wedding day run as smoothly as possible.
Please contact the church office as soon as possible. The coordinator will take care of
the details here at First United Methodist including; arrange for the time to place your
decorations, arrange your altar area and paraments, hanging of dresses in the church,
adjusting heat or air conditioning, works with the pastor and wedding party to time aisle
entrances, directs guests, and other tasks as needed. The Wedding Coordinator's fee
covers all pre-wedding consultations and conversations, and up to 5 hours including the
wedding rehearsal (if pastor determines it is needed) and the day of your wedding.
Additional time is at $20.00 per hour.

3 - The church will be available for 1 ½ hours on the rehearsal night; 3 hours before the
start time and 1 ½ hours after the wedding. Additional times, if needed, will be charged
at $20.00 per hour.

4 - The $300.00 deposit must be paid before a date is secured on the church calendar.
Please note that the Church Administrator will contact the pastor concerning availability.
If the pastor is not available, your deposit church will be returned unused within two
weeks of receipt. Once the date has been approved, the deposit is non-refundable.

5 - The remaining balance is due 10 business days prior to the wedding date.

Recommendations and Considerations

++Appoint a host and hostess- part of their responsibilities will be to make sure all
personal items of the bridal party (such as flower arrangements to be used at reception,
clothing in dressing areas, make-up, etc.) are removed following the wedding. They may
also gather gifts and cards for the couple.

++ Bulletins/Programs-they are a nice addition, especially if many of your guests
attending do not know members of your wedding party. Pre printed color covers are
available at most office supply stores or Christian bookstores. If you prefer we can
prepare and print your wedding bulletins for a fee of $ 25.00 and 3 weeks prior notice.
The couple must purchase the covers or paper stock and get it to the church office.

++Seating--our Sanctuary holds 180 people very comfortably. A good rule of thumb is
that on average about one person will attend for each invitation sent.

++ Decorations-- our Sanctuary, with its brass chandeliers, stain glass windows and
beautiful woodwork is decorated with a minimum of effort. Decorations must not be
attached by any tape, nails or tacks. Plastic pew clips are available at many craft stores
and florists. Chancel furniture is to remain in place. You may bring in candelabras. Please
have plastic sheets placed on the floor under them to protect the cork floor. The church
has a portable lectern for your guest book if you wish.

++Alternate Ceremonies-the pastor is willing to work with each couple to design a
personalized service. If you would like to write your own vows, the pastor has resources
to help you, and will need to review them prior to the rehearsal.

++Pictures-- It is strongly recommended that all pictures be taken prior to the wedding
ceremony. This allows a less rushed atmosphere. We are happy to arrange a private
moment for the bride and groom to first see each other dressed for the wedding.
This can be in the sanctuary or another room in the church. Such a pre-wedding
moment can be more special and intimate than the traditional first look down the
aisle, because the couple is alone and has time to talk. If the bride and groom insist
on not seeing one another before the ceremony, please do plan to take as many
separate photos as possible prior to the ceremony. Plan to complete your use of the
building no more than 1 ½ hours after your ceremony begins. No flash pictures are
permitted during the service. Flash pictures many be taken during the processional and at
the kiss. Video-taping is permitted as long as it is done with available light and does not
disturb or disrupt the service. The couple is responsible for communicating these policies
to their photographer and guests.

++ Receiving Line-There are many options these days. You may want to consider
these:
Have only the bride, groom and their parents in the receiving line;
Have the receiving line at the reception location;
Have the bride and groom exit and then return to greet people in the sanctuary
dismissing your guests row by row. This is the fastest way.
Have the traditional order: Bridesmaid and Groomsman (repeat as needed), Maid of Honor
& Best Man; Mother of Bride & Father of the Groom; Bride & Groom; Mother of the Groom
& Father of the Brides. (This order mixes the parents, but allows introductions of each
other's family

Building Use
Smoking is not permitted in the building. Alcohol and illegal drugs will not be tolerated in
the building or on the grounds, including the parking lot area. The use of alcohol or illegal
drugs before either the rehearsal or the wedding will not be tolerated. Failure to comply
could result in exclusion from the wedding party and/or cancellation of the
wedding; in which case, all fees are forfeited. The couple is responsible for
supervision of the wedding party and guests. You may want to consider having someone
responsible for supervision of children as well.
Rehearsal
This is normally the evening before the wedding. All members of the wedding party need
to be present. Please schedule the rehearsal prior to any rehearsal dinner, and please
respect the established time to begin the rehearsal. The sacredness of a wedding
requires that all those involved be completely coherent. The couple is responsible for
communicate all building use policies with the wedding party and tier families before the
wedding rehearsal. Please bring the marriage License to the rehearsal and give to the
Wedding Coordinator or pastor. Use of the building for rehearsal and any decorating is
limited to 1 ½ hours that day.
Wedding Day
All members of the wedding party should arrive no more than 3 hours before the
scheduled time of the wedding, and no later than ½ hour before the wedding.

Reminders for you-
NO flash pictures are permitted during the service. Flash pictures may be taken during
the processional and at the kiss. The couple is responsible for communicating this with
the photographer and your guests.
No rice or doves should be used at the church, please.
Plan to complete your use of the building within 1 ½ hours of the scheduled start time of
your wedding, unless your wedding reception is on site then you are allowed 2 hours.

Couple's Responsibilities Checklist

Immediately upon scheduling your wedding date:
___ Pay the $300.00 deposit to secure your date. (This is non-refundable.)
___ Contact the pastor to arrange for the pre-marital counseling appointments.
616.897.5936
___ Contact the organist as soon as possible. (Mr. Bill Zinke)
During the month before your wedding:
___ Pay all remaining fees no later than 10 business days prior to your wedding
rehearsal.
___ Finalize plans with the Wedding Coordinator.
___ Get all special music, musicians, and/or co-celebrants approved by the pastor.
___ Talk with your organist, at least one month prior to the rehearsal to select music.
___ Complete premarital counseling.
___ Get the marriage license and bring it to the rehearsal.
___ Inform your photographer, family members and guests of the "no flash pictures"
policy.
___ Inform the bridal party of the no alcohol/ illegal drugs policy.

It is our honor to assist you in making your wedding day special.
It is our duty to help you make your marriage special!
May God's blessing be upon you both.

Reverend Rick Blunt
Revised April 2009