Weddings at Marysville First UMC

Step One

Initial Planning

Contacting the Church

If you are interested in planning a wedding at the First United Methodist Church in Marysville, please contact the church office by phone at 530-743-3007 or by email at mvfumc@att.net.

Setting the Date

The church secretary can tell you whether the date you wish to hold your wedding is clear on the church calendar, in consultation with the pastor. When the wedding date is tentatively set, the first appointment with the pastor should be arranged. The date will be confirmed by the pastor and couple at this first appointment. Due to busy church activities, no Sunday weddings will be considered.

Sanctuary Seating

You may have up to 200 guests. There are 28 pews.

The Pastor

Weddings at Marysville First United Methodist Church will be conducted as a religious ceremony, and it is presumed that the pastor of this church will officiate.

The pastor will meet with the couple for 2-3 one-hour sessions to help the couple prepare for the Covenant they are about to make, and to examine the vows they will make on their wedding day. The first appointment is a time for the pastor and the couple to get acquainted and explore the unique relationship of each couple.

The second appointment will visit the nature of their relationship to help with its enduring success.

The third session will deal with the ceremony itself and final arrangements. In very rare situations, the pastor may suggest that the wedding is not appropriate, or that the couple is not ready to make the commitment at this time.

Wedding Coordinator

A wedding coordinator will be designated by the Church to help make your day worry-free and special. This person will be available for consultation about florists, photographers, details of the ceremony, and Church etiquette. The wedding coordinator is present at the rehearsal and on the day of the ceremony.

No outside wedding coordinators are permitted.

The Ceremony

Wedding Service

A wedding in our sanctuary is a religious ceremony. You are making your vows before God, your family and friends. Because you are making this choice, your marriage will have a firm base in God's love. The words, actions, musical selections, flowers and other decorative items must be respectful of the importance of the ceremony.

The Church and the pastor will provide an order of worship in keeping with the religious nature of the ceremony, the importance of your vows, and the joy you feel in your love and decision for commitment.

The addition of poems, prayers, and other words to the vows will be considered. All music and additions to the wedding service must be approved by the pastor at least one month before the ceremony.

Music

Our Church organist or pianist will provide the traditional church wedding music. Special music requests must be made by providing the sheet music to the organist two weeks before the wedding. If you want the organist to accompany a soloist, there will be an extra fee for practice times.

CDs or flash drives should be brought in at least one week before the wedding.

Additional vocalists and instrumentalists are at the couple's expense. The pastor must approve their music in advance. The pastor must also approve the placement of additional musical selections in the order of service. As the Lord's Prayer is part of the ceremony, the use of it as a solo is not appropriate.

The Church sound system is to be operated by our sound board technician only.

Photographers

Please make your own arrangements for a photographer. That photographer must check with the wedding coordinator at the time of arrival at the wedding ceremony.

No flash pictures may be taken at any time during the ceremony. The photographer must stay at a distance, out of the sight of the congregation, and must not interfere in the ceremony in any way. The pastor will be available for pictures immediately after the ceremony.

Video recording and still, available-light photography at a discreet distance is possible. The wedding coordinator has final word on what is appropriate. We keep a scrapbook for our memories, so an extra photo of your wedding would be appreciated.

Floral & Decorative Preparations

Please make your own arrangements for a florist. The florist should provide any stands you will need.

No tacks, nails, or tape can be used. Flowers or decorations may not obscure the cross. The paraments on the altar and lecterns must remain in place.

You may begin decorating the evening of the rehearsal.

Flowers must arrive two hours before the wedding.

The church will provide two candelabras that hold seven candles each. The length of the aisle from the inner narthex doors to the steps is 45 feet; the distance from the steps to the altar is 21 feet. Runners must be securely held to the floor.

Rice, birdseed, or confetti may not be thrown in the church or near the church premises.

Legal Details

The Marriage License

The pastor cannot officiate at your wedding without a marriage license. Please bring it to the church office or to the rehearsal.

In California, a marriage license may be issued by any County Clerk and is valid in any county of the state. The bride and groom must appear together in the clerk's office. A marriage license, once secured, is immediately applicable and remains in effect for 90 days.

Following your wedding, the pastor will give you an unofficial certificate, signed by the pastor and witnesses. The official license will be sent by the pastor to the County Clerk from which you first obtained it. For a certified copy of your marriage certificate, you must contact the County Clerk.

After the Ceremony

Reception at the Church

If you wish to have your reception in Pioneer Hall, the fee is $250.00 for four hours of use or $450.00 for a full day including decorating the night before. Please note: No alcohol or smoking is permitted on church grounds.

Couples holding their wedding reception in Pioneer Hall must make arrangements for decorations, wedding cake, food and beverages (coffee, tea, non-alcoholic punch), unless Church catering services are contracted.

Pioneer Hall will seat up to 200 guests and is equipped with ceiling fans, and central heating and air conditioning. No tacks, nails, hooks or cellophane tape may be used to hang decorations in the hall. Masking tape is permitted. No rice, birdseed or confetti may be thrown in or near the hall.

The reception must be over by 6:00 PM so that the hall can be cleaned for Sunday morning Church use.

Important Information

Miscellaneous Church Policies

No alcoholic beverages are allowed on the premises. If either the bride or groom appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the wedding will be cancelled. Members of the wedding party who appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be asked to leave.

No smoking is permitted anywhere on church premises or grounds.

It is the responsibility of the wedding couple for any damages to the Church as well as the hall and church grounds. The pastor and wedding coordinator reserve the right to cancel the wedding in the case of abusive behavior that makes the sacred and legal aspects of the wedding impossible.

In case of cancellation, the wedding fees will be pro-rated based on the time given by the pastor, wedding coordinator and organist.