Wedding Information

Planning a Wedding?

At Greene Memorial United Methodist Church, we want your wedding to be a joyous and picture-perfect event. To help you prepare for your wedding, Greene Memorial provides the services of several experienced professionals. The following information is provided to help you plan your wedding at Greene Memorial and help ensure that your wedding is a truly memorable experience for you, your family, and your guests. A church wedding, as you know, is different from a marriage solemnized in a secular setting. A church wedding is first and foremost a service of worship. Friends and family are invited to gather together in the presence of God to celebrate with the bride and groom their love for one another and to support the couple as they make the most important promises that two people can make to one another. As a result, weddings at Greene Memorial are joyous and festive events, but they always seek to honor the sacred dimensions of the couples’ wedding vows.

Getting started: Church Wedding Coordinator

Greene Memorial provides a staff member to serve as the coordinator for all weddings in the church. The Church Wedding Coordinator will work with you to plan a wedding that both reflects your dreams and honors the sacredness of a Service of Christian Marriage. In addition to helping you make the initial arrangements with the church, the Church Wedding Coordinator directs all the activities at the church on the day of the wedding itself. She and the Pastor will coordinate the wedding rehearsal and oversee all of the details of the wedding itself. Because her responsibilities encompass all the details of the wedding proceedings, no additional coordinator will be needed. In the event that you already have a wedding coordinator, please know that he or she will be asked to honor the wedding policies of the church and be available to provide assistance to the Church Wedding Coordinator as she directs. If you would like to make Greene Memorial the setting for your wedding, please contact our Church Wedding Coordinator (344-6225) to set up a time visit the church, take a tour, and confirm arrangements for a Greene Memorial wedding.

Setting the Wedding Date:

To set your wedding date, contact the Church Wedding Coordinator. She will check the church calendar to see if the date is available. If the date is clear, you will need to fill out a Wedding Information Form. This form may be obtained by contacting our Wedding Coordinator. She will mail or email it to you. The form should be completed and returned to the Church Wedding Coordinator with your $200.00 deposit. Only after the form and the deposit are received will your wedding be placed on the church calendar. Please note: Weddings will not be placed on the church calendar more than one year in advance.

Deposit:

Once you contact our Church Wedding Coordinator, the Wedding Information Form along with the listing of the fees will be sent to you. A $200.00 deposit must accompany your Wedding Information Form and the remaining fee total is due to the church one week prior to your wedding.

Dates Excluded for Scheduling of Weddings:

Weddings may not be scheduled at the church for the following days:

• Sundays
• New Years Day
• New Years Eve
• Saturday before Palm Sunday
• Saturday before Easter
• Thanksgiving Day

We also do not schedule any formal wedding during the month of December. In addition, we ask that the time of your wedding be no later than 6:00pm.

Pre-Marital Counseling With the Minister:

Once your wedding date is on the church calendar, you should contact the church pastor to schedule your first pre-marital counseling session. The pastor usually meets with the couple three times before the wedding — once to meet the couple, a second time to go over a premarital “homework” assignment, and the third to plan the wedding ceremony. The general expectation is that the pastor of Greene Memorial will officiate at all weddings at the church. The church welcomes ministers from outside Greene Memorial to share in the ceremony, but the invitation to the guest minister should come from the minister of Greene Memorial.

Music:

Our church has an historic and celebrated pipe organ. Because of the age and complexity of the instrument, Greene Memorial’s Director of Music serves as the organist for all weddings at Greene Memorial. You will want to schedule a consultation with the organist to plan your wedding music. The use of singers and instrumental ensembles is permitted, but only with the approval of the organist. Because the organist does not usually attend the rehearsal, if rehearsals are needed, they should be scheduled through the organist. If you prefer not to have organ music, our director of music is willing to play the piano — or, if you prefer, you may choose your own pianist.

Acolytes:

The use of an acolyte is optional. If you would like to use an acolyte, the Wedding Coordinator will recruit one from the church’s list of trained youth.

Florist and Decorations:

The Gothic design of the sanctuary and chapel are ornate, eliminating the need for excessive decorations. A central floral arrangement on the altar and altar candles are all that is necessary. As you think about wedding decorations, please keep the following in mind:

• Unity candles, if you choose to use one, are available through your florist, or you maycreate your own.
• Although the church does not have candelabras, they are available through your florist.
• Please request liquid candles.
• A kneeling bench is available for use by the church.
• The permanent chancel appointments should not be removed or rearranged.
• Because aisle runners can become trip hazards, we discourage the use of aisle runners.
• Please do not scatter flower petals on the aisle carpet.
• Candles may be used only in the chancel area.
• Because of chemical sensitivities we ask that you use only unscented candles.
• We request that you do not throw rice or bird seed due to the safety of your guests.

Use of the Name of the Church:

In wedding invitations and news releases the full name of the church should be used, Greene Memorial United Methodist Church.

Marriage License and Certificates:

A Virginia marriage license should be left with the minister or wedding coordinator at least one week before the wedding, or as soon thereafter, as possible. After the wedding, the bride and groom will be given a signed marriage certificate. The license will be mailed to the proper authorities by our church secretary the first business day following the wedding.

Rehearsal:

A rehearsal is necessary for all but the smallest weddings. The rehearsal lasts about onehour and is usually held on the night before the wedding. It is recommended that the bride participate fully in the rehearsal and not use a substitute. The church will be opened thirty minutes prior to the scheduled time of rehearsal. Promptness on the part of the wedding party is appreciated. Please note that the rehearsal does not include music. The organist will arrange rehearsal times, if needed, for singers and instrumentalists.

Safekeeping of Personal Items:

Care should be taken in protecting personal items brought to the church. The church makes every effort to protect all items brought in, but cannot be liable for things lost, stolen and damaged. We have not had any trouble in this regard, the wedding coordinator will discuss security with you.

Photography and Videography:

Because every wedding service is a service of worship, photographers are to refrain from taking flash pictures during the ceremony, including the processional and recessional. Time exposures may be taken from the balcony. In addition, photographers should be careful that their movements during the ceremony not disrupt the service nor draw the attention of the guests. An unattended stationary video camera may be used during the ceremony without auxiliary lighting. Group and family pictures may be taken in the sanctuary and outside the church before or after the ceremony. We request, however, that you limit the photo session to 45 minutes.

The Day of the Wedding

The church will be opened two (2) hours prior to the scheduled time of the wedding. We regret that we cannot extend this time beyond this time limit.

Child Care:

Greene Memorial United Methodist Church does not provide child care for weddings. If you desire to have child care, you must secure your own care giver. The church does have a nursery and toddler room for your use if you plan to provide child care.

Tobacco and Alcoholic Beverages:

Tobacco and alcoholic beverages are not permitted in any form inside the church building or grounds at either the rehearsal or wedding.

A Final Note

Our Church Wedding Coordinator will be glad to set up a time for you to tour the church and ask questions. She can also provide you with the necessary paperwork and fee sheet so you can begin the preparations for your wedding here at Greene Memorial UMC.

Contact: Debbie Brown, (540)344-6225 or email: DebbieB@gmumc.org