Your Wedding at OFUMC

Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials!   The covenant of marriage is a holy promise that a couple makes to one another, to the community of family and friends, and to God.

 

Our church house is located on the corner of Joe Orr Road and Western Avenue in Olympia Fields.   Its traditional colonial architecture and prominent location lead to many requests for weddings. We do require that all couples seeking to participate in the marriage sacrament give evidence of their Christian faith and their commitment to preparation for marriage.

Each couple seeking to be married must go through a process of premarital counseling. This process consists of five to six sessions with the pastor. Other marriage preparation processes (e.g. family therapy) may be used as an alternate to the pastoral counseling with the pastor’s consent. 

 

It is prudent to schedule weddings at least six months in advance in order to allow adequate time for preparation.   Marriage is a life-long covenant that is not to be entered into lightly but “reverently and in the fear of God.”

 

I am not a member of Olympia Fields UMC. May I still have my wedding at OFUMC?    A church wedding is a service of Christian worship. At least one member of the couple needs to be active in a Christian congregation to have a wedding at OFUMC.   “Active” means you have been attending worship at least 50% of the time for the past year.

 

I have a minister who is willing to officiate at my wedding. What do I need to do to have the ceremony at OFUMC? The pastor of OFUMC must approve of all weddings in the church sanctuary. Please submit the name, address, telephone number and ecclesiastical standing of the minister you would like to officiate to the church office. The pastor will call your minister to verify ecclesiastical standing. 

 

I am a Christian but my future spouse is not a Christian. Do you perform interfaith and interreligous services?  Yes, interfaith and interreligious weddings are conducted at OFUMC.

 

I am divorced. May I be married at OFUMC? Yes.  However, because the sacrament of marriage is sacred, the permarital counseling will include an exploration of the circumstances leading to the dissolution of a previous marriage.

 

$50      Security Deposit (refunded after wedding)

 

$400     Sanctuary Space Use (includes rehearsal & wedding)

 

$150     Parlor (bride’s party dressing area)

 

$250     Pastor’s Honoraria

 

Organist Fee to be negotiated with the Church Organist.

 

$70     Sexton’s Fee (members only)

 

Members of Olympia Fields UMC pay only the sexton’s fee and the organist fee. 

 

Honoraria to the pastor is optional for members.

 

All wedding fees payable one week ahead of the event.

 

Small weddings (fewer than fifteen people present including wedding party) are not charged for building use.

 

Maximum seating capacity of the sanctuary is 225.

 

If you are using a runner, the sanctuary aisle is 60 feet. 

 

The sanctuary is air-conditioned.

 

Brides may choose to use the church parlor for dressing. 

 

No smoking is permitted in the church building.

 

No use of alcohol is permitted on the church grounds.

 

Photographers may not use a flash during the wedding. Videographers should plan to work either from the church balcony or the choir loft.

 

Wedding coordinators work under the direction of the pastor during the wedding rehearsal and ceremony.