Congratulations on your engagement! 

We hope the planning for your wedding will be filled with joy and your wedding day will be a happy one.

Many couples inquire about using our church for their wedding ceremony. We are most happy to consider your date as it fits into our calendar.  Since we are a church we will provide a Christian wedding with appropriate scripture, (a list follows for your selection) prayers, vows, and blessings. 

Since you seek to unite with your intended, here, we ask you to come with hearts to the Christian message of belief in Jesus Christ.  Many come to our church for the ceremony, but have never attended church or are infrequent attenders. To help you determine God’s place in your marriage we require your attendance in our worship service three Sunday mornings within two months of your marriage date. (If you live out of town, our pastor will discuss other compliance options with you.)

First Step:  Secure the date. Call our secretary for a possible date. The date is secured by receipt of the security deposit and availability of our pastor.

Second Step:  Arrange for meeting with the pastor for Pre-Marital Counseling, at least Three one hour sessions are required.

The following information is intended to answer many of the questions you may have about a wedding ceremony at Pleasant Hills United Methodist Church. Reading it carefully will help you as you plan. After you have read it, you will want to do two things:

1. If you are not a member of this church, send your $250.00 security deposit to the church payable to “Pleasant Hills Church”.To qualify for membership fees, you must be an active member in good standing for one year. The church is not reserved until the security deposit is received.

2. Call the church office (440-845-1244) to schedule your appointment with the pastor.

BIBLE LESSONS FOR YOUR CEREMONY

Couples are encouraged to choose up to two (2) Bible lessons for use in their ceremony. The following list includes some of the best Bible passages for weddings. Couples wishing a passage not included on this list should consult with the pastor about the appropriateness of another passage.

Genesis 1:26-28, 31a	The creation of man and woman
Genesis 2:7-9, 15-24	The second creation story
Song of Solomon 2:10-14, 16a; 8:6-7	Love is strong as death
Proverbs 3:3	Love & faithfulness
Isaiah 43:1-7	You are precious in God’s eyes
Isaiah 55:10-13	You shall go out in joy
Matthew 5:1-12	The beatitudes
Matthew 7:21, 24-27	A house built upon a rock
Matthew 18:19-20	Where 2 or 3 gather
Mark 2:18-22	Joy in Christ as at a wedding
John 2:1-11	A miracle at a wedding
John 15:9-17	Remain in Christ’s love
Romans 12:1-2, 9-18	The life of a Christian
1 Corinthians 13	The greatest of these is love
2 Corinthians 5:14-17	In Christ we are a new creation
Ephesians 2:4-10	God’s love for us
Ephesians 4:1-6	Called to the one hope
Ephesians 4:25-5:2	Members one of another
Philippians 2:1-2	The Christ-like spirit
Philippians 4:4-9	Rejoice in the Lord
Colossians 3:12-17	Live in love & thanksgiving
1 John 3:18-24	Love one another
1 John 4:7-16	God is love
Revelation 19:1, 5-9a	The wedding feast of the Lamb

THE LITURGY

The service of marriage used in this parish is a Christian ceremony. Therefore the church is the most natural context for the ceremony to take place. Those wishing to be married in a different setting (a park, a private home) must negotiate this with the pastor. Those who are uncomfortable with the Christian nature of this ceremony may wish to consider having a civil authority perform their wedding in a place other than the church.

UNITY CANDLE

Many couples wish to include a unity candle liturgy in their wedding ceremony. For this to occur couples must purchase their own unity candle and two taper candles with which to light the unity candle. These can be as inexpensive as those purchased at a discount store or as ornate as a couple chooses.

AISLE RUNNER

Aisle runners are permitted. 60 feet is the proper length for our sanctuary.

MARRIAGE LICENSE

It is required that the marriage license be given to the pastor at the rehearsal. Your ceremony will not take place unless the pastor possesses the marriage license!

CONDUCT

All persons are expected to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to the wedding occasion and the church, both at rehearsal and the wedding ceremony. If any member of the wedding party acts in a disruptive manner at any time, he or she will be publicly asked to leave.

All weddings at Pleasant Hills United Methodist Church will be scheduled in consultation with the pastor. The pastor is in charge of the service and will conduct the service and the rehearsal.

Other clergy may participate in your wedding service at the discretion of the pastor. Please check with our pastor about the ways that we may include clergy of your choice in your ceremony. 

MUSIC FOR YOUR CEREMONY

Pleasant Hills United Methodist Church can offer couples the services of the church organist, David Powers, depending  on the approved wedding date. If you choose his services he will set up an appointment with you to discuss the music to be used one month prior to the ceremony. Any “new” music must be approved, purchased and given to him at least 3 weeks before the ceremony. When soloists are involved, a rehearsal with the soloists and David Powers will take place one hour before the scheduled wedding rehearsal. Should you want to have a friend or relative play for your wedding, this should be arranged through the pastor. All musical selections, including the processional and recessional music, shall be at the direction of the pastor.

The Pleasant Hills United Methodist Church can also provide soloists for your wedding ceremony. This is arranged through the pastor. Should you desire a friend or relative to provide a solo for your wedding, you may arrange this through the pastor. All solo music shall be appropriate to the Christian worship setting and shall be approved by the pastor. Some contemporary music is appropriate to be used during your wedding, but some lyrics are not suitable for use in the ceremony. Those songs may possibly be used in the pre-ceremony music. If the organist for your ceremony does not already own the sheet music to a particular desired song, you must purchase it for use during your wedding.

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

You are welcome to have your wedding photographed and videotaped. Please inform your still-photographer that only available light pictures are permitted during the ceremony itself. Following the ceremony, any aspect of the ceremony can be re-posed for your photographer to use flash photography. Video cameras are also welcome provided that the cameras are stationary and set in places as directed by the pastor. Again, available light only.

DRESSING AT CHURCH

The bride and her attendants are permitted to use the church choir/meeting room to dress before the wedding. Use of this room is scheduled through the pastor. The bridal party will be permitted into this room to dress 2 hours before the scheduled ceremony time.

FLOWERS AND DECORATIONS

We consider the Bridal party to be the central focal point in the ceremony. No glues, pastes, adhesives, or tapes of any kind are to be used to hold bows, ribbons, flowers, lanterns, or any other decorative accessory that is to be used on the seats. Those items may be hung over the seats or connected with pipe cleaners, strings, ribbon, or other material that will not mar the finish of the seats. Questions shall be directed to the pastor.

RICE, BIRDSEED, CONFETTI

As the Bride and Groom leave the church, the use of rice, confetti and/or artificial flower petals and the releasing of balloons is prohibited. It is suggested that bubbles or bird seed be used. Other preferences must have prior approval by the Chairperson and/or the Board of Trustees.

WEDDING DAY

The Church can be opened 2 hours before the Ceremony. It will stay open 1 hour following the ceremony for pictures.  All area of the church must be cleaned of all items brought to the Church by the Bridal Couple and the Wedding Party.

FEES

	Member	Non-Member
Building Use which includes:   Ceremony and Rehearsal, Sound System, Use of Candelabra, etc.	$150.00	$250.00
Security Deposit to reserve the date	$100.00	$200.00
Pastor	**	$200.00
Organist	$150.00	$150.00

**There is no fixed amount for a clergy fee. Although such gifts are always welcome, nevertheless they are voluntary.

CANCELLATION OF YOUR WEDDING LESS THAN SIX (6) WEEKS FROM THE DATE OF YOUR WEDDING SHALL RESULT IN THE LOSS OF YOUR SECURITY DEPOSIT.

PAYMENT OF ALL WEDDING FEES SHALL BE MADE TWO (2) WEEKS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING DATE. SEPARATE CHECKS ARE ACCEPTABLE, OR A SINGLE CHECK OR MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO “PLEASANT HILLS CHURCH”. NO CEREMONY SHALL TAKE PLACE UNLESS ALL FEES HAVE BEEN PAID IN ADVANCE.

A security deposit  is required for your wedding, if you are not a member here. (Couples who have not been members here will not be permitted to join in order to reduce the costs of the wedding. After your wedding, should you desire to become an active member here, the pastor will be happy to discuss this with you.) The date for your wedding is not confirmed with the church or pastor until this deposit is paid. Your date will be placed upon the church calendar when your deposit is received. Checks should be payable to “Pleasant Hills Church”. In the memo, write the wedding date and the last names of the persons to be married (i.e. Smith-Jones wedding, 3-03-19).

This security deposit will be refunded to you the week after your wedding provided no damage has been done to the church and grounds, or excessive clean-up has been required. Damage or excessive clean-up shall cause you to lose your deposit.

There is an additional cost for Custodial work.

We look forward to making your wedding ceremony a memorable and meaningful occasion. If you have questions that have not been answered by the information above, please call the pastor at the church 440-845-1244 or by clicking here.