TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Friday, September 10, 2010
Charleston's Oldest Methodist Congregation - Established in 1791
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Trinity United Methodist Church
Wedding Policy SCHEDULING OF THE FACILITIES
Reservations for the use of the church facilities for the rehearsal and wedding should be made through the Church Office with the approval of the pastor and/or secretary. Weddings on the same day will be scheduled a minimum of three (3) hours apart. No weddings will begin after 7:30 PM. This enables the church staff to properly prepare the sanctuary for each wedding and gives each wedding party ample preparation time. 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), Easter, after December 15, on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The wedding date of a non-member will be secure upon receipt of the required deposit and paperwork. AVAILABLE FACILITIES 1. Sanctuary Seats @ 350 (downstairs) and 150 (balcony) 2. Chapel Seats @ 25
The church facilities will be open two (2) hours prior to the ceremony unless coordinated through our wedding director at least ten days prior to the wedding. The parties concerned should see that all articles of clothing and items of personal property are removed immediately after the ceremony because all buildings are closed and locked as soon as possible. Trinity Church cannot assume responsibility for any items of personal property prior to, during, or following the ceremony. THE WEDDING The fact that you wish to be married in Trinity 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 new 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 Trinity is a United Methodist Church, the order of the service shall follow the liturgy of the United Methodist Church. The United Methodist “Service of Christian Marriage” is the only service allowed! "The Service of Christian Marriage" can be found on page 864 of the United Methodist Hymnal. 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 to celebrate this sacred time with you. The celebration of Holy Communion is mandatory for United Methodist couples and an option for non-Methodist couples. All present must be given the opportunity to commune. Please speak to the pastor about the significance and theology of Holy Communion and its importance in the Service of Christian Marriage. WEDDING DIRECTOR
If you choose to employ an outside wedding planner, please be advised Trinity Church’s wedding director will be in charge at the rehearsal and ceremony. No outside professional director is necessary for the service or rehearsal. MINISTER It is the policy of Trinity United Methodist Church that Rev. Daniel Flessas be in charge of any wedding in this church. When desired, it is quite proper to have another United Methodist minister to assist, provided the minister in charge is consulted and approves. Other clergy must be approved by Rev. Flessas. As soon as the date is confirmed on the church calendar, the bride and groom are asked to consult the minister in charge regarding a pre-marital conferences prior to the wedding. The purpose of pre-marital counseling is to prepare for marriage as well as to plan the wedding service. At this time, the pastor will insure that the couple is familiar with the Trinity Wedding Handbook. The pastor of Trinity is well-trained in pre-marital counseling, and his intent is to provide an occasion for the bride and groom to examine their relationship in a thoughtful way. It is an appropriate way for you to consider the many decisions involved in your wedding. You will be in control of what you say; your privacy will be respected; and the discussions will be held in strictest confidence. Normally, the pastor who officiates at the wedding will lead the pre-marital counseling. It is his desire that you are adequately prepared for this important moment in your lives, and he welcomes the sense of friendship and trust that results from these sessions. If, however, for reasons of distance and circumstance, this is not possible, another person, whose qualifications and skills our pastor recognizes, may be called upon. Trinity’s pastors believe that pre-marital counseling is vital. They believe that the first session should be scheduled as near as possible to the beginning of the engagement, and that there would be one or more additional sessions. FEES The following are the fees that are appropriate for the services by the staff of Trinity in regard to your wedding. To qualify for no rental fee for use of buildings, the bride, groom or their parents, must be active members (your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your service) and have been on the active membership rolls of Trinity Church for two years prior to application. Non-members are required to complete the wedding application and submit a deposit of $950.00 (payment to Trinity UMC) to secure their desired date on the Trinity wedding calendar. Our organist is a very capable musician. Even if you choose to use a string ensemble, harpist, etc. for your wedding, our organist shall be paid her fee.
The fees are listed below. Total cumulative cost is determined by the facilities requested. USE OF BUILDINGS IS $950 FROM OCTOBER - FEBRUARY.
Use of buildings: Sanctuary *$1,850.00 ($950 FROM OCT.-FEB.) Chapel $400.00 Chapel (with no rehearsal) $300.00
Personnel:
Minister’s Fee $400.00 Organist $300.00
Wedding Director $300.00 Sexton $200.00 Secretary’s Admin. Fee $100.00
*$950 deposit (for use of facility) with signed paperwork & $900.00 thirty days prior to wedding (March-September). Final payments (personnel) must also be made thirty days PRIOR to the rehearsal date. Checks should be made to staff personnel individually: Pastor $400.00 (Rev. Daniel Flessas) Organist $300.00 (Dianne Power) Wedding Director $300.00 (Helen Robbins) Sexton $200.00 (Benjamin Brown) Administrator’s Fee $100.00 (Dixie Tunno) Total non-member fees (facility & personnel) are: $3,150.00 (Mar - Sept.) $2,250.00 (Oct. - Feb.)
DECORATIONS The general rule for decorating the church for weddings is that the Chancel is designed for all worship services and a wedding is a worship service. Our sanctuary is a place of unique and dignified beauty. It does not require “decorations” to make it suitable for a wedding. Efforts to change the appearance of the Chancel by over-elaborate decorations only mar the grandeur of this sacred place. It has been described by many as “Charleston’s most beautiful church for a wedding.” No decorations are permitted which conflict in any way with city fire ordinances. Pews may not be blocked in any way. Only Trinity’s candelabras may be used and Trinity will supply all candles used for the wedding. Absolutely nothing shall be attached to any of the brass candelabra. No nails, tacks, wire, gummed or scotch tape, or thorny vines or evergreens, may be put in or on the walls, woodwork, columns, pews, chancel rail, furniture, or choir rail of the church building or any other building. The following regulations are thus given to preserve the proper atmosphere of the church and to safeguard the furnishings. No pew or regular furniture may be moved. Under no circumstances will the pulpit, communion table, the bible, cross, candles or Christ Candle be moved. All wedding decorations whether in the sanctuary or elsewhere, must be done under the supervision of and with the approval of the wedding director. The florist/decorator must contact the wedding director concerning the time desired for decoration. The bride must also inform the florist/decorator of rules for the floral decorations. The sanctuary's center aisle is carpeted, making any type of aisle cloth unnecessary. If desired for evening weddings, the church will place a white candle encased in a clear glass globe in each of the side windows. Only church supplied equipment may be used in the windows. Additional decoration such as greenery in the windows is the responsibility of the bride or her florist. All decorations should be removed from the sanctuary immediately after the wedding. The altar flowers will remain in the church for the following day’s worship service and proper recognition may be given in the church bulletin. All weddings held in the Chapel should be simple. Only one (1) vase of flowers and the altar candles will be used. MUSIC Once the date of the wedding is placed on the church calendar, the Organist should be contacted and an appointment made to discuss the music for the ceremony. 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. You will receive a recommended list of music with the Wedding Guidelines. 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 Organist in consultation with the pastor(s). All music will be played by the Organist or instrumentalist, or sung by the soloist. As to vocal music, placement in the wedding ceremony will depend upon the number of selections and their text which have been approved by the Organist. No recorded music may be used. Congregational singing is appropriate at a wedding, enabling the assembled worshipers to participate in the service more fully. MAKING MUSICAL CHOICES:
The music at your wedding is a very important part of the service. Always remember that your wedding ceremony is a church service. The music should enhance the spirituality and the beauty of the worship experience. Therefore, all music will have to be approved by our organist/choirmaster who will be happy to help you in any way as you plan for this special event. You are welcome to contact the Director of Music of the church at 843-766-1307 or at musician3@yahoo.ie for assistance, advice or help in planning the music for your service.
MUSIC FOR PRELUDE:
The first music that guests will hear as they enter the Sanctuary for your wedding is the prelude music. Prelude music usually begins thirty minutes before the service as the guests begin to arrive. This music is typically selected by the organist. Requested selections, however, can be discussed and agreed upon by the bride, groom, and organist.
CHOOSING MUSIC FOR SPECIFIC TIMES IN THE CEREMONY:
It can be very effective to choose music for specific times in the ceremony.
For example: :
Music for the seating of the mothers and grandmothers
Music for Procession of the Wedding Party
Music for Procession of the Bride
Music for the Recessional
The organist at Trinity will provide you with a list of approved music selections as well as a website for listening to these suggestions.
PHOTOGRAPHS
No photography by guests or wedding photographers will be taken inside the sanctuary once the service begins . Guests should be reminded of this as well as your wedding photographer. If necessary, the service will be stopped until guests or photographers cease with picture taking during the ceremony. If desired, a photograph of the bride and her father may be taken in the Narthex as they arrive, as they process down the aisle, 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 during the ceremony. The bridal party may return to the church after the ceremony for 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 after the wedding ceremony begins. The wedding director and/or pastor reserves the right to restrict any photographer and/or stop the ceremony if photographers (professional or wedding guests) do not abide by the church’s policy. It is the bride's responsibility to contact the professional photographer to insure he/she understands the rules. THE MARRIAGE LICENSE The marriage license must be secured at the County Court House in the office of the Probate Court. It should be brought to the church at the rehearsal and given to the presiding minister. No wedding will be performed without a license. Immediately following the wedding ceremony, the presiding minister will have the license signed by the bride and groom. SEXTON Trinity employs a sexton who will ensure that the church is open, lights are on, heating/air conditioning on, and all is ready one (l) hour before the rehearsal and two (2) hours before the wedding unless prior plans have been made with the wedding director. The sexton will present at both the rehearsal and wedding. OTHER REGULATIONS
ALCOHOL: Alcohol is not allowed on church property. Members of the wedding party are strictly enjoined that under no circumstances must any of them come to the rehearsal or the wedding under the influence of alcohol. The minister has complete authority to cancel a wedding at the last moment for any deviation from this rule. Remember that the rehearsal and wedding are religious ceremonies - avoid embarrassment. No rice, confetti, or other items may be thrown in the church, chapel, or on the grounds, portico, steps, or sidewalk. Smoking is not permitted in the church buildings or on church property. FINAL INSTRUCTIONS AND REMINDERS: The responsible party must fill out and return to Trinity UMC the following before the wedding is officially placed on the calendar: A non-refundable check for $950 to place your wedding on the calendar.
The “Bride’s Checklist”: The information sheet which contains personal information as well as gives us information about number of bridesmaids, groomsmen, florist, photographer, etc. Pay careful attention to the music/organist information following this document. This contains approved selections and suggestions. Contact with the Organist prior to your wedding and musical selections made 30 days prior to the wedding!
Thanks for your attention to these items. May God bless you as you plan for your special day!
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE (843)722-8449 OR EMAIL: 273metst@bellsouth.net
The Wedding Staff
Trinity United Methodist Church
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