Snow Hill United Methodist Church Wedding Policy
Rev. David Peeler, pastor
www.snowhillumc.net
84 Snow Hill Church Road Office: (828) 633-0918
Candler, North Carolina 28715 Fax: (828) 633-1019
Snow Hill Church’s wedding policy is a guide for the church and those wishing to be married here to prepare for a Christian wedding and to explain the use of the facility. We at Snow Hill United Methodist desire that your wedding be one of the most meaningful, joyous, God-honoring celebrations of your lives. God created the marriage covenant for the joining of a man and a woman in a holy, life-long bond of mutual partnership. "For this reason,” Jesus said, “a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate" (Matthew 19: 5-6). We rejoice with you in the gift that God has given you in one another, and pray that your marriage be blessed beyond measure!
Who May Be Married at Snow Hill?
We welcome all professing Christians, both members and non-members, to be married in our Church. If extenuating circumstances make it impossible for a couple to be married in their own church, their marrying pastor may be granted permission to perform the ceremony at Snow Hill Church. It is expected that the marrying pastor contact Rev. Templeton well in advance to confirm. Divorce is not normally an obstacle to remarriage in our church, but is a serious matter to be carefully considered in the process of pre-marital counseling. Those who are not professing believers may also have their weddings here. However, we require that all couples complete a course of pre-marital counseling, whether with Rev. Templeton or your marrying pastor.
Preparing for Marriage
Initial Meeting With Pastor
The first appointment is an informal time for everyone to get acquainted. The three of you will discuss general matters related to marriage and your upcoming wedding. This meeting should take place at least six months before your wedding date and is your responsibility to arrange with the pastor.
Pre-Marital Counseling
All couples desiring to be married at Snow Hill must go through at least six sessions with either Rev. Templeton or their marrying pastor, and are strongly recommended to supplement their sessions with those of a licensed counselor. For names of licensed counselors in your area, please contact Rev. Templeton or your own pastor for recommendations. All such sessions will help you to build a strong foundation for a happy, healthy life together. Each session with Rev. Templeton will last approximately 90 minutes and will include “homework” assignments that both of you will be expected to complete.
Details of the Wedding Day
The Marriage License
You are responsible for acquiring your marriage license from the county courthouse (i.e., Buncombe County, if marrying at Snow Hill Church). Considering how long such processes can take, we recommend that you secure your marriage license well in advance of your wedding and be sure to give it to Snow Hill’s wedding coordinator before or upon the night of the rehearsal.
Photography & Videography
We know how important it is to capture your wedding ceremony in pictures and/or video. We also believe that a wedding ceremony is a worship service unto the Lord and is to be honored as such. Photography and videography should never compete with or distract from the service, itself. Therefore, it is your responsibility to discuss the following guidelines with your photographers:
- Photographers should never block any congregant’s field of view during the ceremony.
- Flash photography by permission of pastor or officiant only.
- Video recording during the ceremony must be done from fixed locations.
- Video lamps are not allowed during the ceremony.
Flowers and Decorations
Your florist will be responsible for decorating and removing all flowers and decorations. Only dripless candles may be used in the sanctuary and the Fellowship Chapel. Oil candles are not permitted. Floral arrangements must not drip water on carpets or on woodwork.
Wedding Fee Schedule (Member/Non-Member)
Use of Church Building
- Sanctuary (No fee/$100 non-refundable reservation fee is to be paid to “Snow Hill UMC” within 7-10 days of reservation)
- Fellowship Chapel (No fee/$50)
- Fellowship Hall/Kitchen (No fee/$100)
- Refundable Security Deposit (No fee/$200 - to be returned within two weeks following wedding provided building and facilities are left in satisfactory condition)
Custodian $50/$50
This fee covers basic cleaning of church and facilities. Fees do not include extensive cleaning needs or set-up or take-down of tables and chairs. Set-up and take-down of tables and chairs is the responsibility of those using the building.
Pianist, Soloist, Musicians - You will need to contact individuals for scheduling and fees.
Pastor **/$200
- Members may choose to give an honorarium to the officiating pastor ($150-200 suggested)
- Non-Members ($200) – If you would like for Snow Hill’s pastor to marry you, please contact Rev. Templeton to make arrangements. $200 will include 4-6 pre-marital counseling sessions with Rev. Templeton. $100 is to be paid to Rev. Templeton upon reservation and is non-refundable. The remaining $100 is to be paid before or upon the wedding day. Checks are to be made payable to “Rev. Molly Tyson Templeton”
- All checks for facility, usage charges, custodial fees, etc. are to be made payable to “Snow Hill United Methodist Church” and given to Snow Hill’s wedding coordinator at the wedding rehearsal.
Securing a Wedding Date – Weddings should be booked at least three months in advance.
Music
You are responsible for selecting the music for your wedding, and for securing a pianist and other musicians as desired. All music and personnel should be selected prior to your final appointment with the pastor.
Wedding Rehearsal
A rehearsal is required for all weddings, and is generally scheduled for the evening before the wedding. All participants should be present and on time, including bride, groom, wedding party, flower girl, ring bearer, ushers, soloists, musicians, the couple’s parents and, if possible, grandparents.
Planning the Wedding Day
General Policies
* It is your responsibility to communicate the following policies to your wedding party and all others who will need to know:
- No alcoholic beverages are permitted in the church building or on the premises.
- Please refrain from smoking on church premises.
- No pets are permitted in the building. Guide animals will be allowed.
- Rose petals may be used only with an aisle cloth.
- Throwing of rice or confetti is not permitted. Birdseed or bubbles may be used outside the building only.
- No food or drink is allowed in the sanctuary at any time. This includes all rehearsals, visits and the wedding itself.
- White paraments are appropriate in the sanctuary.
- The furnishings in the sanctuary are not to be removed or rearranged except by agreement of our pastor and/or church wedding consultant
- Designated classrooms may be used for dressing rooms with the understanding that you are responsible for removing wedding items and returning the room to its original order.
- The church is not responsible for the loss or damage of personal items brought to the church for use in the wedding or wedding reception, or for the loss or damage of gifts brought to the church. The wedding party is expected to remove personal items immediately after the wedding.
- Due to the piano's delicate finish, nothing is to be placed in or on it -- no exceptions.
