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Wedding Policies and Forms
INTRODUCION
Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life and we want your wedding at Blacksburg United Methodist Church to be just that. We have develop some policies to help make your wedding be the best that it can be and those policies are outlined in this section. If you desire to have your wedding at Blacksburg United Methodist Church, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible to learn about the availability of the facilities. Please note there is a policy that nonmembers cannot reserve the facilities until four months prior to their wedding date.
THE NATURE OF A CHURCH WEDDING
We at Blacksburg United Methodist Church are pleased that you have chosen to have your wedding here. As you plan for this happy occasion, we want to do everything possible to make your wedding a beautiful and meaningful experience.
Christian marriage is a sacred worship experience which indicates the desire of a couple to establish a Christian home. Because your relationship has been created with God's blessing and help, the church believes that it is proper to solemnize this relationship in the reverence of a church service. Your wedding will mean more to you, your families and your friends when there is careful concern for all the reverent aspects of this holy occasion.
OFFICIATING
One of the pastors of the church or associated with the church, including the Wesley Foundation, will officiate at all weddings. If a family desires for another clergyperson to officiate the wedding, the request may be discussed with the pastor. If a pastor of the church is not available for a service on your desired date, the pastor will assist you in securing another clergyperson for your service.
WEDDING DIRECTOR
One of the BUMC wedding directors will meet with the bride to show her the facilities and items available for use in weddings. Please direct all questions and concerns to the wedding director rather than the church office. The director will arrive at the church at least one hour before the ceremony to check details, supervise ushers, distribute flowers and be of assistance as needed. She will watch the time and guide the seating of special guests, grandparents, parents and finally, assemble the wedding party for the processional. She will remain at the church through the recessional and until everyone leaves the sanctuary. Even if the bridal couple chooses to select their own director, the church wedding director still needs to be consulted concerning all plans and will be present during the rehearsal and the ceremony.
DATES EXCLUDED
No weddings are scheduled during Holy Week, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Saturday weddings may not be scheduled later than 8:00 PM, since the sanctuary must be prepared for use on Sunday morning by 8:45 AM. It should be understood that the pastor may schedule more than one wedding on any given date and that the scheduling of a wedding does not reserve the entire facility for a whole day. Depending on the busyness of the season, you may be asked to schedule florists, etc. within a clearly defined time frame. All activities in the church facilities must be completed by 10 PM.
REGULATIONS
Use of tobacco products is not permitted in any part of the church building. No alcoholic beverages in any form may be served or consumed on the church premises (including picnic area and grounds).
SOUND SYSTEM
The church sound system operators are available to manage the use of the sound system during weddings. The system capabilities include the use of all church microphones (including a wireless microphone for the attending clergy) for loudspeaker use within the sanctuary, playback of audio cassettes and CD's, and recording of the ceremony onto audio cassettes. Connection of additional equipment to the church sound system is prohibited.
There is sometimes the question of whether to use the sound system during a wedding. For small weddings (fewer than 100 guests) for which no recording of the ceremony is desired, it is recommended that the sound system not be used. For larger weddings and for any wedding for which a recording is desired, the sound system should be used. Note that if a tape of the ceremony is made, microphones must be in place for all participants - this includes any soloists or musicians. In order that the tape be as complete as possible, the recommendations of the sound system operator should be followed in regard to microphone placement.
All due care will be used by the church sound system operator. However, in the case of system failure, the church can only refund the sound system fee.
As a final note, please realize that, like any fine sound system, the church sound system is delicate and requires care in operation. It is critical that it be left exactly as it was found, so that it is ready for the two Sunday morning worship services and the recording and live radio broadcast of the 11:00 AM service. For further information or to schedule sound system assistance, please contact Glenn Kraige at 951-7384 at least one month in advance.
WEDDING MUSIC
The marriage ceremony is a service of worship in the house of the Lord. Appropriate music should be carefully chosen from sources of sacred music. Secular, "pop", or pre-recorded music should be saved for the rehearsal party and reception.
Please make an appointment for no later than 5 weeks before the wedding, to meet with our organist Carter Edmundson. He will help you make your musical decisions. If he is unavailable to play for your ceremony, he will recommend a substitute organist or pianist. Any outside organist must consult with the church organist or our Director of Music, Leigh Anne Taylor, in advance of the ceremony. Please discuss appropriate attire with the musicians.
Please consult the fee schedule for the services of our church organist.
PICTURES, PHOTOGRAPHERS, AND VIDEOS
Photographers and other persons bringing cameras are to refrain from taking pictures in the sanctuary from the time the ceremony begins until after the recessional begins.
The church considers any violation of this request a breach of good taste. Persons planning the wedding photographs are asked not to request any modifications of this regulation.
The use of video cameras may be allowed if their use can be done without distracting from the worship experience. This should be discussed with the pastor. It is the responsibility of the couple to deliver the "Instructions for the Photographer" attached to these guidelines to the photographer.
Please discuss appropriate attire with the photographer and videographer.
THE MARRIAGE LICENSE AND CERTIFICATES
The marriage license should be brought to the church office no later than the week before the ceremony. After the wedding, the bride and groom will be presented with the completed certificate which comes with the license.
THE NAME OF THE CHURCH
In the wedding invitations and news releases the full name of the church should be used:
BLACKSBURG UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
FEES FOR MEMBERS
(Total fees depend upon the following services selected)
BUMC Wedding Director (required) $150.00
Sound Technician $ 40.00
Kitchen $ 35.00
Picnic Shelter No Charge
Security Deposit (refund if no damage) $150.00
Fees for Custodian:
Sanctuary $ 75.00
Whisner Building (fellowship hall) $ 75.00
Dan Kite Chapel $ 20.00 (wedding director not required)
Room in Education Building $ 10.00 (for child care)
FEES FOR NONMEMBERS
(Total fees depend upon the following services selected)
Sanctuary $150.00
Dan Kite Chapel $ 30.00 (wedding director not required)
Whisner Building (Fellowship Hall) $100.00
Kitchen $ 35.00
Picnic Shelter $ 30.00
Room in Education Building $ 20.00 (for child care)
Pastor $200.00
BUMC Wedding Director (required) $200.00
Sound Technician $40.00
Security Deposit (refund if no damage) $150.00
Fees for Custodian:
Sanctuary $75.00
Whisner Building (Fellowship Hall) $75.00
Dan Kite Chapel $20.00
Room in Education Building $10.00
Fees for musicians are made with the musicians and the church does not set musician fees.
All fees are due to the church office TWO WEEKS before the wedding date. THE SECURITY DEPOSIT IS DUE AT THE TIME THE AGREEMENT FORM IS RETURNED TO THE CHURCH OFFICE. Checks should be written to: Blacksburg United Methodist Church.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Photographs may not be made in the sanctuary or from the balcony at any time during the service, including the processional and the service proper. (There are two exceptions: 1. One "non-flash" picture may be taken from the balcony during the service proper. 2. One "non-flash" picture may be taken of the father and bride proceding down the aisle. Photographer should not be closer to the front of the sanctuary than necessary.) Posed, formal pictures may be made in the sanctuary before or following the service, and casual pictures at other points in the building prior to the service. The purpose of this regulation is to eliminate distractions which interfere with the reverent nature of the service.
Any inquiries may be addressed to the church office.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE FLORIST
Bear in mind that the wedding service is a service of worship. Simple decorations enhance the beauty of the sanctuary and do not compete with the worshipful significance of the service itself. Additional greens and candelabra may be used as desired.
Nails, tacks, staples, or tape are not to be used in attachment of decorations.
No decorations may be placed in the pulpit, lectern areas, or on the chancel rail.
Placement of decorations should not interfere with door passages or with the placement of participants in the wedding.
If candelabras are used, they must be dripless candles.
Decorations placed by the church in celebration of significant seasons, such as Christmas, Easter, or any other special religious observance, may not be removed, obscured, or altered.
We welcome your contribution toward making this wedding service a memorable experience for the couple.
Any inquiries may be addressed to the church office.
DECORATIONS
The wedding service is a service of worship. Simple decorations enhance the beauty of the sanctuary and do not compete with the worshipful significance of the service itself.
Nails, tacks, staples, or tape are not to be used in attachment of decorations.
No decorations may be placed in the pulpit, lectern areas, or on the chancel rail.
Placement of decorations should not interfere with door passages or with the placement of participants in the wedding.
If candelabras are used, dripless candles must be used.
Decorations placed by the church in celebration of significant seasons, such as Christmas, Easter or any other special religious observance, may not be removed, obscured, or altered.
All decorations and use of candles are subject to approval by the Pastor and Wedding Director's Guild.
Rental or personal equipment and decorations need to be removed immediately after the wedding. The church is not responsible for any items remaining on the church property. It is assumed that any items remaining are to be discarded.
(It is the responsibility of the couple to deliver the "Instructions for the Florist" attached to these guidelines to the florist.)
WEDDING FORMS
If you would like to plan your wedding at Blacksburg United Methodist Church, please e-mail Judy Davis for a particular date and get confirmation for that date. You may down load the wedding registration below and mail it to Blacksburg United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 931, Blacksburg, VA 24063:
(click here to download)
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