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Church Wedding is a Service of Worship and Consecration; a Christian ceremony, and all preparations should be made with this in mind. The Worship Committee and the Board of Trustees of Long Memorial have worked out a procedure for this particular church, which follows:
Date and Time
Set the dates and hours of both the Wedding and the Rehearsal and clear these dates and hours with the Pastor of Long Memorial and the Church Secretary.
Facility Use Agreement
Read and complete the Long Memorial Board of Trustees’ Facility Use Agreement. Both the bride and groom sign this and return it with any applicable fees and deposit to the Church Office at least 30 days prior to the Wedding.
Wedding Policies Agreement
Sign the Long Memorial Wedding Agreement, a document which states the church policies governing weddings. Both the bride and groom sign this and then return it to the Church Office at least 30 days prior to the Wedding.
Wedding Director
Contact an approved Long Memorial Wedding Director within a week after the wedding date has been set in order to discuss arrangements. Long Memorial provides a Wedding Director to help make sure that the Rehearsal and Wedding run smoothly. You must use one of our Wedding Directors because they are familiar with all the furnishings, equipment, wedding policies, etc. A list of approved directors will be supplied by the Church Secretary. The approved director’s fee is $150, payable to the director, and includes both the Rehearsal and the Wedding.
If no approved Long Memorial Wedding Director is available, the bride and groom are allowed to use an outside director. In such a case, a volunteer wedding coordinator appointed by the church will be there during the Rehearsal and Wedding to assist the outside director to make sure the church is unlocked, lights are on, church policies are followed, etc.
Music
Meet with the Long Memorial Organist to discuss the music. Then the Pastor of Long Memorial must approve ALL music to be used in the Wedding.
Only if Long Memorial’s Organist is unavailable to play for the Wedding, will an outside organist be allowed to play. The choice of alternate organist is subject to approval by Long Memorial’s Organist.
The approved organist fee is $250, payable to the organist, and includes the Wedding Rehearsal plus the music before and during the Wedding Service. There is also an additional fee of $20 per half hour (or part there of) of accompaniment rehearsal time for any voice or instrumental solo that the organist is asked to accompany.
Minister and Ceremony
If you prefer that a minister other than the Pastor of Long Memorial Church conduct or participate in the Wedding, you must clear this through the Long Memorial Pastor, who will then invite that minister to officiate or participate. The minister conducting the service is customarily paid $150-200.
Meet with the Long Memorial Pastor about your plans. The Long Memorial Pastor MUST approve the marriage ceremony itself and the entire wedding service.
Audio System
Contact an approved Long Memorial sound technician at least 60 days before the Wedding. A church-approved sound technician will be required for the Rehearsal and the Wedding. Sound is very important to the wedding service and only trained personnel are allowed to run the system at Long Memorial. A list of approved sound technicians will be supplied by the Church Secretary.
The approved technician fee is $125, payable to the technician, and includes the Rehearsal and the Wedding.
OTHER RULES GOVERNING WEDDINGS AT LONG MEMORIAL
Custodial Fees
Fees for custodial work will be required of members of Long Memorial United Methodist Church, as well as for non-members.
The approved custodial fees are $125 for the Wedding and $100 for a Wedding Reception. These fees should be paid directly to the Long Memorial Custodian.
Decorations
As in all United Methodist churches, everything should be arranged to direct attention to the altar.
The altar cross and two altar candles must remain in place. The cross must remain in the center, but may be raised to a higher level.
Long Memorial specifies the number of decorations that can be used for weddings in either the Sanctuary or the Chapel. These are stated in the Wedding Agreement. The wedding director will keep florists informed of these requirements.
Pulpit and Chancel Furniture
No furnishings will be moved in or out of the Sanctuary or Chapel. The only exception will be the moving of the two flower stands if the florist provides containers for the two floral arrangements. The flags, altar furnishings, and the baptismal font are not to be moved. The hymnals and Bibles are never to be removed from the pew racks.
Photography and Videography
The only cameras allowed in the Sanctuary or Chapel during the ceremony are those of the professional photographer and the professional videographer. No other cameras or pictures are allowed. No flash pictures, or use of a tripod by the photographer, will be allowed during the entire wedding service. The wedding service includes the processional, the actual marriage ceremony, and the recessional. NO photographs, except videography, are allowed during the actual marriage ceremony. Only one stationary video camera may be used, and must be placed in one of the designated areas: the right hand corner of the choir loft or the left hand corner of the annex.
The professional photographer and videographer are required to be present at the Rehearsal. The wedding director or coordinator will assist them with placement of their equipment, and keep them informed of church wedding policy. It is the responsibility of the bride and groom to inform the photographer and videographer of this requirement.
