Wedding Guidelines and Costs

Revised July 1st, 2011

 

Located in Historic Old Hillsboro/ Leiper’s Fork Community

5313 Old Hwy 96 - Franklin, TN 37064

615-595-0155

Seating capacity 140

 

This wedding policy is subject to review every six months by the Hillsboro United Methodist Church.

 

God designed marriage for human friendship, for the procreation and upbringing of children, for human sexuality as the highest expression of intimacy and self-giving love, and for vital family life. It is a sacred act whereby God enters into a new relationship of love, companionship, and devotion with you and your mate.  In marriage, promises are given, commitments are made, blessings are pronounced, and a new family unit if formed.  We believe that only by God’s mercy and love, and the

Lordship of Jesus Christ, will it succeed. We trust that you will seek as husband and wife to live in the spirit and the love of Jesus Christ.

 

We, therefore, believe that the wedding ceremony is first and foremost a service of worship. What more appropriate way to begin your life together than in God’s

presence and with prayers for his blessing upon you, upon your families and your friends. Scriptures will be read that speak about the meaning of Christian marriage.

Music will be selected generally because of its religious themes and appropriateness for worship. Your lives and relationship will be strengthened as you open yourselves

to God’s presence and blessing.

 

Second, the wedding ceremony is uniquely yours. The service may include traditional elements that have been used for hundreds of years, like the

charges, the presenting of the bride, the exchange of vows and rings, and the pronouncement. But we encourage you to “personalize” your ceremony as you consider all its elements.  For example, you might consider writing your own vows or involving family members in a variety of ways. These must be given to the minister for approval.

 

No formal wedding will be considered on short notice and must be cleared with the presiding pastor. No civil marriage ceremony will be officiated or allowed within or upon the property of the church.

 

We take the position that a man and woman who wish to be joined together before God in marriage should not be ostracized and should be offered the opportunity, provided they have a full understanding that the marriage ceremony presided over is a Christian ceremony and as stated above, not a civil marriage ceremony.

 

Tennessee State Requirement - 36-3-103.

License required - County of issuance.

Before being joined in marriage, the parties

shall present to the minister or officer a license

under the hand of a county clerk in this state,

directed to such minister or officer, authorizing

the solemnization of a marriage between the

parties. Such license shall be valid for thirty

(30) days from its issuance by the clerk.

If divorced or widowed – you must bring your

divorce decree or a death certificate when

applying for your license.

 

You will need a Tennessee certificate of Marriage Counseling signed and notarized, proving marriage counseling has been completed.  The marriage counseling certificate will need the approval by the appointed pastor of the Hillsboro United Methodist Church. The counselor/or minister may obtain this certificate.  Anyone under the age of 18 years old must have parental/guardian consent and must be in conversation with the appointed pastor.

 

A certificate (a copy will be appropriate) from the State of Tennessee must be completed and presented to the pastor of the Hillsboro United Methodist Church, Franklin, Tennessee before the wedding will take place in the Hillsboro church. In the event such copy is not presented, will not allow the wedding until such certificate is presented or proof of completion is given.

 

The role of the minister in your wedding is two-fold. First, the minister will guide you through a series of counseling sessions to a greater awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of your relationship. Involvement in pre-marital counseling is expected of all couples. The nature, number and the time commitment of these sessions will be discussed at the initial conference between you and the minister.

 

Usually a minimum of six hours of counseling is the norm. These sessions will focus on important areas of marriage and family life, such as: communication, role expectations, finances and other practical aspects of married life, child-rearing, in-law relations, sexuality, religion, and issues unique to your relationship with each other. We encourage your openness, your honesty, your questions, and your willingness to grow. We value this opportunity to get to know you better and to assist you in laying a firm foundation for life-long commitment to each other.

 

Second, the minister will assist you with the planning of the wedding. From the initial conference to wedding day, the  inister is available to provide ideas, resources, and support in order to fulfill your expectations and wishes for the service. Sometime of each premarital session, if provided by the  appointed pastor, will be spent discussing every phase and detail of preparation. Other personnel of our church, such as our organist and pianist will be available for musical advice

if needed.

 

Thirdly, the appointed pastor of the Hillsboro United Methodist Church has the sole and full authority to require further counseling if he/she deems the marriage counseling taken by the marrying couple is not proved, certified or provided by a recognized Christian ministry. The appointed pastor may deny another individual from officiating or allow a marriage to take place at the Hillsboro United Methodist Church. In addition, any pastor, minister, or officiate other than the appointed pastor of Hillsboro United Methodist church must be approved and invited by the appointed pastor. If a pastor or officiate from another state is asked to officiate he/she may only assist with the pastor of the Hillsboro United Methodist Church. The sharing of the wedding service is worked out between the presiding pastor and guest officiate/s.

It is recommended that you receive your pre-marriage counseling from our presently appointed pastor, yet, in the event the Hillsboro United Methodist church may be appointed another pastor in the following years, we encourage you to seek counseling from him/her. Our United Methodist pastors are required to take pastoral counseling during their ministry studies and required to seek continuing education in various fields of study and counseling. We are confident of their ability to provide sound counsel and instruction.

 

You are responsible for contacting any musicians/soloist as soon as possible after the initial conference with the minister. You are responsible for their charges or fees. The sound equipment may only be operated by the Hillsboro United Methodist church’s designated sound engineer. The appointed pastor will give a list of those names after the initial visit. Your wedding will be recorded on audio CD at no charge. All music and activities must be cleared through the pastor of the church.

 

Other music notes: we generally require that music be appropriate for service of worship and consistent with Christian values and themes; possible exceptions are to be discussed with the minister.

 

Hillsboro United Methodist Church does not have a wedding coordinator, however, the pastor is very familiar with how a wedding is done and as stated before will help in any way he/she can. The pastor may suggest someone that can help you if you wish. In the event you wish to have a wedding coordinator he/she must be in contact with the pastor and all planning must be approved by him/her as they relate to the decorations, placement of flowers, positioning, etc.

 

It is the wedding party's responsibility to contact and pay for a coordinator’s services, if there is a charge.

 

The professional code of ethics for church weddings prepared by the Professional Photographers of America recognizes that a wedding is a service of divine worship and should not be interrupted by picture taking. The only exceptions might be shots of the processional and the recessional. We suggest that your photographer visit

the church in advance of the wedding in order to familiarize himself/herself with the facilities and to speak with the pastor

about special arrangements. We allow videotaping of the ceremony, provided the camera is set up on a tripod and placed in the rear or side of the sanctuary area of the church. We wish to avoid any movement which would distract the flow of the ceremony or take away from you as the center of attention. Please do not use any video cameras with bright lights.

 

Floral arrangements are your responsibility. We recommend that you handle your flower arrangements with the florist of your choice as soon as possible. The placements of floral arrangements within the sanctuary are subject to the pastor's approval. No furniture, ministry cloth, etc. can be moved without the knowledge and consent of the appointed pastor of the church.

 

No rice, confetti, or birdseed is permitted on the premises, and you should notify your guests accordingly.

 

We recommend that a rehearsal be scheduled in order to prepare you and the members of the wedding party for the ceremony. If it’s a weekend wedding, we normally have the rehearsal on Friday evening. All members of the wedding party (best man, maid/matron of honor, ushers, bridesmaids, flower girl, ring bearer, father of the bride, soloists/musicians, etc.,) are expected to be present at the rehearsal, which starts promptly at the appointed hour. The appointed pastor will handle the details and organization of the ceremony, assisted by the wedding coordinator. On the wedding day, no changes in the wedding itself can take place without the full approval of the appointed pastor of the Hillsboro United Methodist Church.

 

Customarily there is no fee expected from the appointed pastor if one of the marrying couple is a member or attending  regularly the worship services of the Hillsboro United Methodist Church.

 

It is the discretion of the marrying couple as to their wishes concerning a monetary gift to the pastor or officiates. However, it is suggested. 

 

Pre-marriage counseling is mandatory. Proof of counseling is required by presenting a State of Tennessee approved form with the counselor’s notarized signature.

A non-refundable $600.00 donation is suggested (No date is final until this is received by the church treasurer. This includes general cleaning before and after the wedding ceremony and usage of the church for the wedding rehearsal time and all day the day of the wedding until the wedding is officially over. Check should be written to Hillsboro UMC in order to secure the wedding date on the calendar. Sound engineer /Tech are separate from the initial donation. You must use our approved sound engineers/techs. The cost for this is usually $75.00 and includes a CD of the wedding. It is your responsibility to inform the engineer/Tech of all vocals, musicians at least four weeks in advance of the wedding date. Though the Hillsboro church is well equipped in the area of sound engineering, any additional equipment needed to provide music for the wedding that is beyond the equipment owned by the Hillsboro church, will be the responsibility of the wedding party to provide such equipment at the wedding party's expense. All fees are paid directly to the engineer/Tech unless directed by engineer/Tech to be paid elsewhere.

 

We, the church realize that due to extenuating circumstances wedding is cancelled or postponed. After conversation with the appointed pastor of the Hillsboro United Methodist Church, he/she may refund all or a portion of the received donation. Also the pastor in the event of extenuating circumstances may decide to not require a deposit.

 

Other Fees: *If you chose for the church to print: you provide covers. All content of bulletins are to be discussed with the pastor regardless of who prints the bulletins.

Preparation of Wedding Bulletin $100.00

 

NOTE: All suggested donations not already paid are to be paid in full on the night of the rehearsal. We request separate checks, written directly to other paid participates.

 

The Hillsboro United Methodist members and staff will make sure the sanctuary will be clean and ready for your wonderful day of celebration on the day of rehearsal and wedding day. A building usage fee is included for minor janitorial cleaning (vacuum, general clean up trash, etc.).

 

In the event the church is left in disarray it will be the responsibility and sole discretion of the pastor and/or wedding committee of the Hillsboro United Methodist Church to assess an additional fee of $150.00 for the additional cleaning of the church to the wedding couple.

 

In light of all these instructions and guidelines it is our most fervent prayer and hope that as you live your life together you will find yourselves blessed by God’s grace and mercy and you will be happy and joyful in our Savior and Lord Jesus, the Christ. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your life and celebration.

 

We agree to the above terms of the wedding agreement.

We ask to reserve the following

date for our wedding. _________________, _____

We wish to use the following parts of the building

for the wedding. Please circle: Sanctuary

Fellowship Hall - Kitchen

We further understand that failure to satisfy

the requirements of the contract will result in

a cancellation of the wedding at the church

and deposit is non-refundable.

 

Signed _______________________

Date: ___________, ______, 20____

 

Signed _____________________

Date: ___________, ______, 20____

Deposit ($600.00)

Date paid: __________, ____, 20___

Name(s) of officiating clergy __________

_____________________

Bride’s Full Name: __________________

Age_____ Marital Status __ (D-divorced W-widow/er )

Bride’s Address: _____________________

State- Zip Code: _____________,________

Bride’s Home Phone: (_______) ________ - ________

Brides Mobile Phone (_______) _________-_______

Work Phone: (_______) ________ - ________

Groom’s Full Name: ________________________________

Age_____ Marital Status ___ (D-divorced W-widow/er )

Groom’s Address: ___________________________

 

Groom’s

Home Phone(_______) ________ - ________

Mobilr Phone (_______) ________ - ________

Work Phone: (_______) ________ - ________

State/Zip Code: ____________________

Address after marriage, if known: ________________

Date of Wedding: ________________,______, 20____

Single Ring or Double Ring ( please circle)

Reception at Church Yes_____ No_____

Date(s) and time(s) of Counseling Conferences

1. _________,_____,_______ a.m. ;

2.__________,________;

3. __________,________

4.__________,________ ;

5. __________,________ ;

6.__________,________

Number of Guests ____________

Time: ______:_______ a.m /p.m. (please circle)

Date of Rehearsal: ____________,_________

Unity Candle Ceremony YES______ No_______

PERSONS IN WEDDING PARTY: ___________

**Communion Yes ____ No _____

Full Name/Best Man ____________________

Full Name/Maid or Matron of Honor __________

Name & relationship of person giving bride away __________

Name/Ring Bearer _______________

Name/Flower Girl ________________

Number of Bridesmaids ________

Number of Ushers ________

In the event the church prints the bulletin

please put the names of Bridesmaids and

Ushers the way you want them to appear

on the bulletin on the below or on the back

of this sheet.

Names of Bridesmaids and Ushers:

Please list below or on back.

Please be advised that if **communion

is served to the bride and groom it will be

offered to all that attend the wedding

celebration (young or older).

We feel, and it is the belief of the

United Methodist Church, that communion

is a Means of Grace offered by God. It is not

our offering but God’s, founded in Jesus Christ,

and shared at his banquet table.

Therefore we offer communion to all who

wish to receive it. No one is forced to do

so nor turned away. All are cordially

invited to receive and may choose to or not.

It has been our experience that the

communion wedding service is an awe

inspiring time of remembrance and great celebration.

** Communion must be presented by