Wedding Handbook

 

Congratulations from Taylor United Methodist Church on your upcoming marriage! A wedding is one of the happiest and holiest moments in life. As you join your lives to establish a Christian home, our church rejoices with you and is eager to provide a setting that upholds the joy and sanctity characterizing the ceremony of Christian marriage. The church staff and the members of Taylor UM Church are willing to do all they can to make your wedding an event worthy of the significant and sacred commitment you bring to marriage.

 

This booklet has been prepared to assist you in the preparation of your wedding. It explains fully Taylor’s wedding policies, and is designed to enable you to experience as little confusion as possible in planning the wedding service. Please read it carefully.

 

A member of Taylor United Methodist Church will assume the responsibility of serving as a representative of the church and a point of contact for you. If you have questions not answered in this material, please do not hesitate to contact our pastor or the designated church representative.

 

 

 

 

Reservations for use of the church facilities for the rehearsal, wedding, and reception, if desired, should be made through the Administrative Office with the approval of the pastor and Administrative Board. Non-members are required to complete the Use of Facilities request. A deposit must be made to reserve the desired date. (Please see the Fees section below.)

 

Weddings and rehearsals will not be scheduled for the following holidays: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Holy Week (the week before Easter), Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

 

The wedding date of a non-member will be secure for a period of six weeks prior to the wedding with the receipt of the required deposit.

 

 

Event	Facility	Capacity
Wedding	Sanctuary	Seats 100
Reception	Fellowship Hall/Kitchen	Standing: Approximately 50 adults

 

 

The fact that you wish to be married in Taylor UM Church indicates your desire for a Christian service. Because you, the prospective bride and groom, are coming together to ask God’s blessing upon your life together as husband and wife, every aspect of this service should be characterized with not only dignity, reverence, and joy, but also by the awareness of the presence of Christ in your lives.

 

Because Taylor is a United Methodist Church, the order of the service shall follow the approved ritual of the United Methodist Church. The Service of Christian Marriage can be found on page 864 of the United Methodist Hymnal. It is acceptable for it to be combined with or adapted to other Christian orders of worship. Those who are a part of your wedding are not simply spectators or witnesses. They are participants and worshipers. This includes those who are in the wedding party, as well as your families and guests who come before the altar of the church to celebrate this experience with you.

 

A celebration of Communion is an optional part of the service and can be arranged through the pastor or church representative.

 

 

 

The minister of Taylor United Methodist Church will gladly officiate at your wedding. It is also acceptable for another minister of your choice to officiate. As soon as the wedding date is confirmed on the church calendar and with the officiating minister, the bride and groom are asked to contact the officiating minister for a conference prior to the wedding. The purpose of the conference is to schedule pre-marital counseling as well as to plan for the wedding service. If a minister other than the minister at Taylor UM Church is officiating, please schedule a conference with the minister at Taylor UM Church. At this time, the Taylor UM Church minister or the church representative will insure that the couple is familiar with the Taylor Wedding Handbook. In addition, please submit the name and address of the officiating minister if other than the Taylor UM Church minister.

 

 

The following amounts, effective July 1, 2009, are charged for use of the sanctuary and fellowship hall.  Couples who contacted Taylor UMC prior to July 1, 2009, are eligible for the fee schedule in existence at the time of their initial contact. To qualify for a waiver of fees for use of the building, the bride, groom or their parents must be members of Taylor UM Church.

 

Final payments must be made two weeks PRIOR to the rehearsal date. Checks for the total amount should be made payable to Taylor United Methodist Church.

 

 

 

Time of Wedding	Fee for Member	Fee for Non-Member	Date Due	Type
Daytime (through 6:00 p.m.)	- $0 -	$350	Four weeks prior to the rehearsal date	Non-refundable
	- $0 -	$150	Two weeks prior to the rehearsal date	Non-refundable
Total	- $0 -	$500		Non-refundable
Evening (8:00 p.m.)	- $0 -	$350	Four weeks prior to the rehearsal date	Non-refundable
	- $0 -	$150	Two weeks prior to the rehearsal date	Non-refundable
Total	- $0 -	$500		Non-refundable
plus	- $0 -	$150 deposit	Two weeks prior to the rehearsal date	Refundable[1]

 

Taylor United Methodist Church has a beautiful and historic sanctuary. The chancel is designed for all worship services and, as a wedding is a worship service, elaborate decorations are unnecessary.

 

The following regulations are thus given to preserve the proper atmosphere of the church and to safeguard the furnishings.

 

 

 

Music, as used in the service of the church, is an expression of worship. Because a wedding is considered to be a public act of worship, sacred music selected for this service shall be that which is considered appropriate to the traditions of this parish and the United Methodist Church. Secular love songs, ballads, etc., are not appropriate for the ceremony nor is music in the gospel, contemporary, or folk rock tradition.

 

All music selected is subject to the approval of the church representative in consultation with the pastor. Placement of vocal music in the ceremony will depend upon the number of selections and their text. Recorded music also may be used with approval. All music selections must be submitted to the church representative for review no later than 3 weeks prior to the wedding. Congregational singing is appropriate at a wedding, enabling the assembled worshipers to participate more fully in the service.

 

 

No flash photographs may be taken inside the church during the ceremony. If desired, a photograph of the bride and her father may be taken in the door of the church as they arrive and a photograph of the bride and groom as they leave the church following the ceremony. Out of respect for the religious ceremony taking

place, photographers should refrain from distracting movement and noise during the ceremony. Before and after the ceremony, the bridal party may make as many pictures as they wish. It is important that the bride and groom tell their friends that no picture taking is allowed in the sanctuary. The church representative reserves the right to restrict any photographer who does not abide by the church’s policy. The bride must arrange for the photographer to contact the church representative to discuss these rules.

 

 

 

The marriage license must be secured at the County Court House in the office of the Chancery Clerk. It should be brought to the church at the rehearsal and given to the presiding minister. No wedding will be performed without a license. On the date of the wedding, the presiding minister will sign the license.

 

 

A church representative will ensure that the church is open, lights are on, heating or air conditioning is on, and all is ready before the rehearsal and the wedding. The bride should contact the church representative to designate a time for the church          to be opened for each event. The church representative will remain in the Church/Fellowship Hall and will be available as needed. As mentioned in the section on fees (see “Evening” section of fee table, page 3), the $150 deposit will be forfeited if the inspection of the facilities reveals unsatisfactory conditions or the church key is not returned upon the conclusion of the event and clean-up. The church representative will perform the inspection and receive the key. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_____ I have read the Taylor UM Church Wedding Handbook from cover to cover.

 

_____ I have checked to see that the florist understands how to arrange for delivering flowers to the church on the day of the wedding.

 

_____ I have reminded the florist about the rules for decorating the church.

 

_____ I have checked to see that my photographer understands and accepts the rules and requirements of Taylor UM Church regarding the taking of pictures.

 

_____ I have notified all wedding participants that rehearsal begins promptly at the appointed hour and have requested their compliance.

 

_____ I will advise my wedding party and guests that no personal photographs are allowed during the ceremony.

 

_____ I have contacted the pastor and church representative in preparation for the rehearsal and wedding.

 

_____ I have reminded the wedding party that no rice shall be thrown.

 

_____ I have reminded the clean-up crew to reconnect the sound system if disconnected.

 

_____ I have reminded the caterer that no tents are allowed on the church grounds.

 

 

Attachment 1

 

 

                                 Taylor United Methodist Church

                                      Request for Use of Facilities

 

 

Today’s Date_____________________________________________________________

 

Name of Group___________________________________________________________

 

Printed Name/Names of Person/Persons Responsible

 

I/We agree to follow all building use policies and pay all fees according to the schedule prior to the event.

 

Day Time Phone Number: Home__________________Work______________________

 

Cell Phone Number_________________________________

 

Email Address_____________________________________

 

Dates requested for use of facilities___________________________________________

 

Facilities Requested: Sanctuary_____Classroom_____Fellowship Hall/Kitchen________

Nursery_____

 

Collection of fees or dues during activity: Yes_____No_____

If yes, explain:____________________________________________________________

 

Key to facility needed? Yes_____No_____Dates keys needed______________________

 

I understand that additional fees may be incurred when requesting a key.

_________ (Please initial here)

 

I understand that keys must be turned in immediately after conclusion of event -- no later than 10:00 p.m.__________(Please initial here)

 

I understand that a member of Taylor United Methodist Church will be present during the event._____________ (Please initial here)

 

I understand that the building must be cleaned and garbage and trash bagged and removed no later than 10:00 p.m. on the day of the event._______ (Please initial here)

 

 

 

 

For Church Administrative Board Use only

 

 

Required fees_________________________________________________

 

Approved____________________________________________________

 

Disapproved_________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

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