Weddings
“For love is strong as death…Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it…”--Song of Solomon 8: 6,7
Whether you’re planning a large or intimate wedding ceremony, we desire to help you make the experience memorable and personal.
Plan Ahead
HPCUMC’s Sanctuary and Chapel are in high demand; advance reservations for the church, rehearsal time, dressing rooms, etc. are a must! Contact wedding coordinator Pam Johnson at (513) 979-8185 or pjohnson@hpcumc.org to discuss space and clergy availability as well as other important arrangements. Please note: Reservations are confirmed upon receipt of fees.
Weddings are not scheduled between Palm Sunday and Easter, Thanksgiving weekend nor the weeks before and after Christmas.
“We affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant which is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man and a woman. We believe that God’s blessing rests upon such marriage, whether or not there are children of the union. We reject social norms that assume different standards for women than for men in marriage.”
--From the United Methodist Church Book of Discipline (Part III, Paragraph 71-C)
HPCUMC WEDDING POLICIES
Clergy
Weddings at HPCUMC must be conducted by one of our ministers. The wedding coordinator will invite a minister to officiate or will submit a request on your behalf. The officiating minister maintains ultimate responsibility for ensuring the solemnity of the service; he/she serves as your primary contact for service content.
A note about wedding planners: We appreciate the role that a professional coordinator plays in overseeing details on your behalf. However, he/she cannot interfere, direct, or dictate any aspect of the Sanctuary or Chapel service during the rehearsal or the wedding. Please reserve his/her services for other areas of your special day.
Required Counseling and Classes
All couples being married at HPCUMC are expected to attend designated counseling, classes and worship. We believe this better prepares you for marriage, facilitates relationships with other couples and equips you to live out your vows. Requirements are:
- A minimum of two sessions with the officiating minister. At the first session, you will get better acquainted and explore the nature of the wedding ceremony. You will also have one or more follow-up sessions to complete plans for your wedding ceremony.
- Weekly attendance at worship services—at the church of your choice—is also encouraged. If you do not have a church home, we invite you to attend HPCUMC’s Sanctuary services (Sundays 8:00; 9:30 and 11:00 AM.)
Wedding Decorations & Floral Arrangements for HPCUMC
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you plan the church decorations for your wedding:
- HPCUMC will provide white paraments (decorated coverings) for the altar, pulpit, and lectern.
- You may not cover or obscure the pulpit, lectern or altar with other decorations.
- No tacks, tape or nails may be fastened to any part of the Sanctuary or Chapel furnishings, including the pews and floors.
- Appropriate floral arrangements are permitted on the altar. The length of the Sanctuary altar is 90 inches; the length of the Chapel altar is 82 inches. Remember to allow space for the altar candles (and unity candle, if desired).
- Ferns may be placed by the altar rail.
- An aisle runner is available at the church. The length of the Sanctuary aisle is 98 feet, while the length of the Chapel aisle is 34 feet. Aisle runner is required if flower girl drops petals.
Selected wedding furnishings, altar candles and candelabra are available for your use.
Contact Pam Johnson (513) 979-8185 or pjohnson@hpcumc.org to reserve the following:
- Aisle candelabra and seven-branch candelabra
- Candles and holder for a Unity Candle Service, if desired.
- Two plant stands
For the florist:
It is not necessary to provide boutonnieres for the officiating minister and organist, as they will be wearing robes. Contact Pam Johnson to schedule a time to decorate and to notify the church if you plan to donate floral arrangements following the ceremony.
Dressing Rooms
Dressing rooms are available for bridal party use.
Personal belongings
All belongings MUST be removed from dressing room prior to ceremony. HPCUMC is not responsible for items left in the building before, during or after the ceremony.
Restricted Activities & Legal Requirements
Confetti, rice, or other material may not be thrown in the church or on the church grounds. Bubbles ONLY are permitted outside of the building.
The following activities are not permitted:
- NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE PERMITTED IN THE CHURCH BUILDING, ON THE GROUNDS, OR IN THE PARKING LOT.
- HPCUMC IS A SMOKE-FREE FACILITY. There is a smoking area at the rear of the building.
- Confetti, rice, or other material may not be thrown in the church or on the church grounds. On wet days, it creates a slipping hazard. It is also a cause for ecological concern. If you wish to practice this custom, we suggest you do so at your reception if it is held elsewhere. Bubbles ONLY are permitted outside of the building.
- No food or drink is permitted in dressing rooms.
- There are certain legal requirements that you must meet in order to be married at HPCUMC:
- In the State of Ohio, you must get a marriage license from the Probate Court. This must be accomplished a minimum of five (5) days in advance of the wedding.
- You must bring your marriage license to the minister or to the church office at least forty-eight (48) hours before the wedding.
- The minister will not be able to perform your wedding ceremony unless he/she has a valid Ohio marriage license in his or her possession.
Photography & Videography
Matrimony is a sacred occasion; flash photography is prohibited. Only dignified and unobtrusive professional photography and videography is allowed during the ceremony. Please ask your guests to refrain from photos until the service has ended.
A note to professional photographers and videographers:
- Pre-ceremony pictures may be taken forty-five minutes prior to the ceremony
- Post-ceremony pictures may be taken forty-five minutes following the ceremony
- Natural lighting—not flash—may be used from the balcony or rear of the Sanctuary or Chapel to capture images during the ceremony
- Appropriate attire should be worn
- It is the wedding party’s responsibility to communicate HPCUMC’s photography/videography policies to family, friends, and especially photographers.
MUSICHPCUMC Wedding Music Policies
We believe a marriage ceremony is a sacred occasion, and the music should be appropriate for a worship service, focusing attention on God. If a song that you like is not fitting for a worship service, please reserve it for your reception instead. All music in the wedding must be performed live; we do not allow taped music.
The wedding organist, Brenda Portman, maintains the right-of-first-refusal to play at all weddings involving HPCUMC’s organ. If you request—and Ms. Portman agrees—the use of an outside professional, full payment of fees are still due the church organist.
Ms. Portman must approve all musical pieces, including those performed by soloists. You may bring your own soloist, or you may request assistance in hiring one. Final musical selections must be submitted at least six weeks prior to your wedding. Soloists (instrumental or vocal) must also be contracted at least six weeks prior to the wedding. The officiating minister maintains the right to reject unsuitable pieces.
A note to soloists: You should contact the church organist at least two weeks prior to the ceremony to discuss certain technical details (use of microphone, musical arrangements and keys of selections, number of verses, etc.) and to schedule a time to rehearse (usually one hour prior to the service, although this can sometimes be done at another convenient time).
Music Guidelines
As you plan the music for your wedding, here is a brief guide to the different places in the ceremony where music is involved, and what you will need to select.
PRELUDE - The organist will play prelude music for approximately 20 minutes before the ceremony as guests are being seated. You do not need to choose specific music for this; the organist will play appropriate selections but you may provide input if you wish.
SEATING OF MOTHERS - This happens at the end of the prelude. You may select a piece to be played as the mothers and/or grandmothers are being seated. If you do not choose something, the organist will still play during this time.
PROCESSIONAL - This is when the bridal party enters. Most people choose one piece for the bridesmaids and flower girls, and a separate piece for the bride. You may also elect to have the same piece played the entire time.
VOCAL SOLOS (optional) - If you would like a soloist to sing at your wedding, it is typical to have one or two pieces during the service - during the lighting of the unity candle and/or after the Scripture readings. Too many solos can make it seem more like a concert than a wedding. If you would like more than two solos, they can be used as prelude music or during the seating of mothers.
LIGHTING OF UNITY CANDLE - If you do not have a soloist singing during this time, the organist will play
quietly as you light the unity candle and finish playing when you are back in your places.
RECESSIONAL - This is when the bridal party exits at the end, following which the guests are ushered out.
Depending on the time it takes for guests to exit, there may be time for more than one recessional piece. If you wish to select additional music, you are welcome to do so.
MUSIC SELECTIONS: CLICK HERE to listen to samples and make your wedding music selections.
CONTRIBUTIONS & FEESPlease note that we exclude certain fees for members of HPCUMC. This exclusion becomes effective one year after you become a member. All contributions and fees are subject to change.
Please make out checks for all services to "Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church". Please make out a separate check for the Minister's fee to the individual minister who is performing your ceremony.
A bill will be sent to you four weeks prior to the wedding.
Calendar Confirmation (non-members only)
These fees are non-refundable:
Sanctuary
$400.00
Chapel
$225.00
Your wedding date is considered confirmed and you are entitled to use our facilities only after:
This confirmation fee is received
The date has been confirmed with the wedding coordinator
The wedding coordinator has confirmed which minister will perform the ceremony
FEES FOR CHURCH AND MUSIC STAFF
(Please note that payment of these fees should be made to HPCUMC, with the exception of the Minister's Fee, which requires a separate check.)
Minister's Honorarium
$200.00 (Optional for church members)
Minister's Honorarium (Off-site)
$300.00 (Optional for church members)
Custodian/Set Up
$150.00
Organist's Honorarium
$200.00 (Includes phone/email consultation, a rehearsal with one soloist and the wedding service. )
The following amounts are charged for:
Additional Staff Soloist/Musician Rehearsal with Organist
$50 for each additional soloist rehearsal (first one is included in organist fees)
Organist at Wedding Rehearsal
$100.00
Vocal Soloist (from HPCUMC staff)
$125.00 - includes up to 3 selections
If you use musicians other than HPCUMC music staff, you are responsible for all arrangements.
Seven-branch candelabra
$25.00 (Set of two)
Aisle Candelabra
$4.00 each (16 available)
Aisle Runner (disposable)
$30.00
Unity Candle
$15.00