Wedding Book Information
The information provided below is from our Wedding Book.
You may obtain a copy of this from our Pastor or our Church Administrative Assistant.
The basic information is shown here for quick reference.
THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Moscow, Idaho
Dear friends:
We are delighted that you are
considering our church for your wedding.
In the church, the wedding is a service of Christian worship. By it the man and woman declare before God
their commitment of marriage to one another.
Invited to be witnesses, but also an extended and supportive community
for the couple, are the guests, wedding party members, musicians, wedding
reception chairperson, wedding hostess, and pastor.
It is our desire that your
wedding day be memorable, and a truly joyful launching of your journey in
marriage to each other. To that end, we
offer you this booklet that states this congregation’s policies, fees and other
suggestions for your wedding.
Please read through this booklet,
carefully. If, after you have become
familiar with its contents, you would like to use this church for your wedding,
please call me to schedule an introductory interview. You will also need to establish dates and
interviews with the church organist and wedding hostess.
If you have further questions, or
if there is anything I may do to be of help in preparing for your wedding,
please feel free to call on me.
Blessings on you!
Susan E. Ostrom,
Pastor
________________________________________________________________________________
Contact Information
To contact Pastor Susan E. Ostrom, or to get information to contact the Organist, the
Wedding Hostesses, and the Custodian to make detailed arrangements for your
Wedding, please contact or phone the Church Office:
Moscow First United
Methodist Church
322 E. 3rd St.
PO Box 9774
Moscow, Idaho 83843
208-882-3715
________________________________________________________________________________
WEDDING FEES
CONTRIBUTING NON
BUILDING
MEMBERS MEMBERS
Sanctuary
$300.00
Use of the
Social Hall $100.00
ORGANIST $75.00 $75.00
WEDDING
HOSTESS $100.00 $100.00
CUSTODIAN $45.00
$45.00
Additional
fees when
choir risers must
be taken down $20.00
$20.00
Social Hall
cleaning $20.00
$20.00
Sound Technician $50.00 $50.00
PASTOR’S
HONORARIUM Optional $125.00
NURSERY $10.00 $10.00
Wedding party must supply their own babysitters
________________________________________________________________________________
POLICIES
1. GETTING STARTED
It takes time to plan for a wedding so you should contact
the pastor as early as possible. The
first meeting will be a get acquainted time, and a chance to discuss the
wedding service. In addition, Pastor Sue requires at least one additional
session to help you assess how your relationship with each other can be
strengthened. Both sessions will be scheduled at the mutual convenience of all,
but are best done several months prior to the wedding. It is the responsibility
of the bride and groom to set up appointments. Finally, the bride and any other
people who are appropriate (sometimes the bride’s mother and the groom) need to
set up a meeting with the wedding hostess.
2. OFFICIATING CLERGY
The pastor will ordinarily
officiate at all weddings conducted in the church
building.
Weddings must be scheduled a
minimum of six weeks in advance, usually several months.
3. WEDDING HOSTESS:
The services of the wedding
hostess and the custodian are required--with the rare exception of extremely
small weddings.
The wedding hostess is an experienced advisor who assists the pastor in coordinating all aspects of the wedding. She is available to advise and assist in any way to make the wedding a beautiful and satisfying experience for you. She will assist the pastor during the rehearsal and on the day of the wedding. She will distribute flowers to the wedding party, pin on boutonnieres and answer all questions concerning wedding etiquette. All wedding fees (pastor, organist, custodian, church and hostess) shall be given to her in separate envelopes at the rehearsal for her to distribute.
You need to make an appointment
to discuss wedding plans with the wedding hostess at least one month before the
date.
4. DECORATIONS:
The church has two black wrought
iron standing candelabra (seven candles each) and a kneeling bench which you
are welcome to use at no additional charge.
The two altar candles will also be provided. An aisle cloth can be supplied by your
florist. Candles must be dripless and are provided by the bride. Thumbtacks, nails, screws, rough clamps or tape are not
to be used on the furniture, walls or floors.
All decorations must be removed
by those who provide them following the ceremony. Flowers may be left for the Sunday church
service and picked up later.
5. MUSIC:
The church wedding is a service
of Christian worship so the music should be appropriate to this type of
setting. The pastor and church organist
can help you in making your music selections.
The pastor has the final say on all music.
In most weddings, the church
organist will be used, and is to be consulted for all weddings regardless of the
musician(s) preferred. If you request
another organist, he or she must be able to play a pipe organ. We also have a grand piano available. Be sure
to arrange all music and soloist rehearsals with the organist or pianist.
6. CONDUCT:
No intoxicants are allowed on the
church premises. Smoking is not
permitted in the building. Throwing rice, confetti or birdseed inside or outside
the building is not permitted. Blowing bubbles is an acceptable
alternative.
7. PICTURES:
No flash photos are
permitted during the wedding ceremony, and the ushers should so notify any
guests having cameras.
Video
taping the
service is an excellent idea. Consult
with the pastor or wedding hostess as to the best way to do this.
8. GIFTS:
We suggest that gifts not be opened at the reception.
9. QUESTIONS:
The pastor or wedding
hostess will be most happy to clarify any questions you may have regarding your
wedding and the above conditions.
10. FEES:
All fees and honoraria shall be
paid at the rehearsal, or before. For
your convenience, these are given to the wedding hostess to pass on to the
appropriate persons. You will note that
members are not asked to pay certain fees.
This recognizes that members are contributing regularly to the
maintenance of the church.
________________________________________________________________________________
CHECKLIST
____ consult with the pastor on wedding plans
____ set a
date for the wedding, and clear it with church office
____ schedule
conference with wedding hostess
____ choose
music
____ choose
wedding party members
____ outline
your reception plans
____ printed
program (check with wedding hostess)
____ contact
reception committee chairperson, if reception is to be at the church
____ contact
wedding party members
____ contact
organist
____ contact
vocalist
____ contact
florist
____ contact
photographer
____ contact
bakery
____ contact
instrumentalists
____ order
food for reception
____ order
invitations, announcements, thank you cards, napkins, dripless candles, etc.
____ get the
marriage license
____ give marriage license to pastor
____ arrange
for payment of fees
____ purchase
gifts for those who have participated in the service or helped with wedding
planning.
____ arrange
for payment of fees
____ arrange a
checklist of photos you want the photographer to take.
____ _ _____ reserve
lodging for out-of-town guests.
BEFORE THE
REHEARSAL:
____ alert
party members, organist, soloist, etc. to starting time; ask them to be prompt.
____ arrange
for a rehearsal lunch or dinner, if wanted.
AT THE REHEARSAL:
____ be sure
the pastor has marriage license
____ remind the
wedding party members of the time you want them at the church on wedding day; ask them to be prompt.
____ give fees
in envelopes to wedding hostess to distribute.