McFARLIN WEDDINGS
GENERAL INFORMATION
We are delighted you have chosen McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church for the location of your wedding, and wish to join you in making it a very special and sacred occasion. The wedding ceremony is one of the most sacred rites of the church. As conducted by the church, the marriage ceremony is a worship service of a distinctive kind that is reserved for those who have made Christian commitments and who have an appreciation for the church that sees their vow-making as a sacred covenant. It is the wish of the minister of the church, as well as the church family, to make every such ceremony a beautiful and worshipful event. To that end, McFarlin Methodist Church tries to extend every possible courtesy to each wedding party. In order to establish a uniform and regular practice with regard to weddings at McFarlin and to make available to all persons the accepted customs of the church, the procedures outlined in this booklet have been instituted. It is our hope that this will be a useful tool for those planning to be married and for those assisting in planning the wedding.
SCHEDULING
Application for the use of the Sanctuary, George Martin Chapel, or Fenn Hall for a wedding, (or the use of any other part of the building) should be made as far in advance as possible, to insure that your wedding takes place on the date you desire. There is a “Wedding Application Form” inserted in this booklet. This application should be filled out and returned to the church office, along with the required deposit ($100) as the “first step” in scheduling your wedding. Please note that no wedding is considered “scheduled” on the church calendar until the application and deposit is received in the church office. Weddings cannot be scheduled on Sunday, in the month of December, on holidays or holiday weekends, or during an Oklahoma University home football game. To schedule: Contact Church Secretary Daphne Fix, dfix@mcfarlinumc.org.
WHO WILL OFFICIATE THE WEDDING?
In most weddings at McFarlin, McFarlin pastors will officiate. All marriage ceremonies at McFarlin will be conducted in accordance with the theology of the United Methodist Church. Clergy from other churches or denominations may officiate, however if there is a question as to what may be done, the Senior Pastor is to be consulted.
PRE-MARITAL COUNSELING
Once a wedding is officially scheduled, the bride and groom should contact the pastor in order to arrange pre-marital counseling. Pre-marital counseling should be scheduled with one of the pastors as far in advance of the ceremony as possible, preferably around six months prior to the wedding. That pastor will provide marital counseling as needed.
WHERE CAN THE WEDDING TAKE PLACE?
The Sanctuary, George Martin Chapel and Fenn Hall are available for weddings. The chapel will seat about 50 people and the sanctuary will seat approximately 1000 people, and Fenn Hall can seat up to 700 people. Please note that the musical accommodations for each space vary and may be limited.
MUSIC
The music should reflect and intensify the mood and meaning of the happy and holy nature of marriage. If at all possible, vocal music should be scripturally based or of a sufficiently high quality of poeticism so that it is suitable to the dignity and reverence of the occasion, with clear reference to God or Christ. Music for a vocal soloist must be selected in consultation with the organist at least 4 weeks prior to the wedding and rehearsals with a soloist should occur no less than one week prior to the wedding, unless arranged otherwise. The soloist is responsible for learning the musical piece in advance and contacting the church organist to set up a rehearsal time. The soloist should bring a copy of the music for the organist in the proper key. The fee for the organist includes music for processional, recessional, any hymns used during the service, a fifteen minute musical prelude, and one consultation with the wedding party or a designated family representative. Prior to the rehearsal and wedding, arrangements should be made to meet directly with the church organist for the purpose of discussing selections. All music used in the service will be chosen in consultation with the organist at least one month in advance to assure it meets criteria set by the Worship Commission. The Senior Minister may be contacted to determine what music is appropriate.All arrangements and scheduling for the use of the organ will be handled by the McFarlin organist, including practice time or any other special rehearsals. If another organist is desired, authorization must be given by the McFarlin church organist. The use of additional instruments, choirs, ensembles, and/or congregational singing may be included in the service. The piano or string and brass ensembles may be used in place of the organ. The wedding party is responsible for providing music unless the selected music is already a part of the McFarlin music library. No taped accompaniments are permitted. Nothing may be placed on the piano or organ in the sanctuary. A cancellation fee of $50 should be paid directly to the organist if your wedding is cancelled two weeks or less prior to the original date.
RECEPTIONS
The atrium is available for receptions. An appointment with the wedding coordinator can be made for the purpose of looking at the Atrium. In the event a reception is scheduled for the Atrium, it will be necessary for the caterer to prepare and set up the reception and clean up as necessary afterwards. Also, additional fees for the use of this area and for the wedding coordinator will be required. Receptions should be scheduled so that clean-up is completed three hours after the wedding. In the case of Fenn Hall, because this space must be arranged for Sunday morning worship, Saturday receptions must be concluded by 5 p.m. in order to have adequate time to setup worship the following morning.
STANDARDS FOR FACILITY USE
1. Smoking and alcohol are not permitted on the premises. Please convey this to your wedding party. No food or drink is allowed in the sanctuary, including the balcony. Water only is allowed in the George Martin Chapel.
2. Birdseed or bubbles are acceptable for use during the exiting of the bride and groom after the ceremony orreception. Please distribute birdseed outside the church. Any confetti must be of the paper type, not metallic.
3. Pew decorations should be affixed with tie ribbons. Glue, tape, tacks, and staples cannot be used.
4. Any flower petals dropped inside the church during the ceremony must be silk. Flower petal used outside must be real (no real red petals anywhere on church premises).
5. Candles for the candelabra will be of the dripless mechanical kind. Regular wax candles in containers are permitted, but the wedding assistant must approve them. Votive candles with tea lights only may be used. No aisle candles are permitted.
6. No furniture in the Sanctuary or Chapel is to be moved. This includes, but is not limited to Bibles, hymnals, the altar, chairs (including choir loft chairs), bell tables, cross, baptismal font, etc. Decorations for special seasons will not be removed or changed.
7. Please do not stand on our kneeling pads.
8. Nothing (candles, flowers, etc.) may be placed on the piano or organ in the sanctuary.
9. The responsible party (bride, groom or wedding service) shall pay for damages and breakage that might occur to the Sanctuary or any part of the building or furnishings caused while making preparations, or during rehearsal, wedding ceremony, afterward, or during the reception, etc.
10. The photographer is invited to take pictures of the wedding party entering and exiting by standing in the aisles in the back of the sanctuary. No photographs may be taken during the ceremony which requires the photographer to be conspicuously in front of the congregation. No flash photography is allowed during the ceremony. This includes guests.
11. Video cameras should remain stationary during the ceremony, and should be placed in the balcony of the Sanctuary. They shall not be placed around the altar or in the choir area behind the altar. Please let the wedding coordinator know in advance if you will be using video.
12. No nursery care or space for nursery care is available during weddings or receptions.
13. If you are not personally responsible for decorating, please give the name and contact information of your decorator to your wedding coordinator so they can meet with the decorator and go over McFarlin’s policies.
14. Please be sure to remove all personal decorations and belongings from the churc h after your wedding and before leaving church premises.
Click here to download the wedding application.
E-mail Daphne Fix dfix@mcfarlinumc.org or call the church office to make an appointment or for more information regarding weddings.