Making Plans for Your Wedding

First United Methodist Church
1225 Michigan Ave.
La Porte, Indiana 46350
219-362-2443

Congratulations! You are ready to plan a wedding. At First United Methodist Church, we consider a wedding to be a very important and exciting milestone in the life of any couple.  We are people of faith and we know that we all need God to be a part of every moment of our lives. We know that God loves us all, and we believe that it is important to seek God’s guidance as we begin new chapters in our lives. Our hope for you is that your wedding will be a blessed time of prayer, covenant, and public recognition of the love that God has for you and that you have for each other.

Our church building provides a very beautiful and traditional setting for your wedding.  In keeping with that setting, we provide a very traditional wedding service.

What do I need to do to schedule my wedding at FUMC?
NOTE: WE DO NOT SCHEDULE WEDDINGS MORE THAN ONE YEAR IN ADVANCE.
WE ALSO WILL NOT SCHEDULE WEDDINGS DURING HOLY WEEK OR CHRISTMAS WEEK.

STEP ONE
Call the church office to contact the wedding coordinator for a  Wedding Application.
Making Plans for Your Wedding
Return this application along with your deposit to the church office.
Please be as specific as possible on your application. Remember you will need to talk to the Pastor and wedding coordinator before your wedding will be scheduled.

STEP TWO
If you have not heard from someone at the church within 10 days of submitting your application, call the church office. You will need to schedule a time to meet with the Pastor and wedding coordinator.

STEP THREE
Consultations with the Pastor will need to be scheduled directly with the Pastor.

STEP FOUR
Contact the Pastor 6 weeks prior to the wedding to finalize the details of your wedding. Be prepared to know answers to the choices listed.

SELECT READINGS
Ruth 1:16-17
Psalms 33, 100, 117, 127, 128, 136, 150
Song of Solomon 2:10-13 Isaiah 63:7-9
Romans 12:1-2 1 Corinthians 13
Philippians 4:4-7
1 John 4:7-12 Matthew 19:4-6
John 15:9-12
Let the Pastor know your choices, and if someone other than the pastor will be doing the reading/readings. If you have other favorites that you would like to be read, please discuss them with the pastor.

SELECT MUSIC
At least 3 months prior to the wedding, you will need to make music arrangements with the FUMC organist. The organist of FUMC is the expected organist for all weddings. If you have any soloists or special music, you should discuss this with the organist and the Pastor. Please call the church office to request a contact from the church organist. 219-362-2443

COST OF THE WEDDING – NON-MEMBER FEES
Sanctuary – $1000.00
Chapel – $1000.00

This includes the building use fee, the honorariums for the Pastor, wedding coordinator, organist, and the custodial fee.

MEMBER FEES
(To receive a Member discount: The Bride/Groom must be Regular Attending FUMC Members for at least 60+ days prior to the wedding date.)
Sanctuary – $800.00
Chapel – $800.00

This includes the building use fee, the honorariums for the Pastor, wedding coordinator, organist, and the custodial fee.

FEES INCLUDE:
PASTOR: $250.00
WEDDING COORDINATOR: $250.00
ORGANIST: $150.00
SOUND: $75.00
CUSTODIAN: $50.00
LIGHTING/CANDLES: $25.00

Not allowed: Alcohol, Smoking, Confetti, Bird Seed, or Rice,
Also, do not move or remove any items from the facility without
consulting the Pastor. Leave the building as you find it. Any flowers left for the Sunday Service can be noted in our bulletin, please make the church aware of your intent with remaining flowers.

NOTE: A 50% NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT DUE UPON RECEIPT OF APPLICATION. THE REMAINDER IS DUE  ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE REHEARSAL DATE.

PASTOR
The acting Pastors of First United Methodist Church are the expected officiants of all weddings at FUMC. If you want another Pastor to co-officiate, you must discuss this with the Pastor of FUMC prior to making arrangements.
Pastor Bob Vale pastor@laportefumc.org  219-362-2443

THE REHEARSAL
Set your rehearsal time on your application. Be sure it is accurate!
The rehearsal is usually the evening prior to the wedding and will last about one hour. Everyone involved in the wedding will need to be present. Ushers, parents, the wedding party, and all musicians and officiants.
IT IS VITAL THAT EVERYONE BE ON TIME TO THE REHEARSAL!

Wedding Day Rules
Building Use: 4 hour building use limit on the wedding day. Provide church with firm entry/exit times 10 days prior to wedding.
Pictures: Must be taken within the four hour building use limit. If usage exceeds 4 hours there is a $50 fee per hour.
Arrive: The wedding party must arrive at least one hour prior to the ceremony. The organist begins the prelude at 30 minutes prior to the ceremony.

Where to Go:
One person needs to wait at entry doors to greet attendants, family, and guests as they arrive. You should always have someone watching to help direct people from the time you arrive at the church. The Ushers need to be in the Narthex (outside Sanctuary) 35 minutes prior to the ceremony. Ushers light candles, distribute
bulletins and assist guests. The Groom and his Groomsmen will prepare and wait in the Gathering Room on the Lower Level. (Across from the kitchen). The Pastor will escort them to the Sacristy five minutes prior to the ceremony.

The Bride and her Bridesmaids will prepare and wait in the Parlor on the Main Level. The pastor will escort them to the Sanctuary prior to the ceremony. Five minutes prior to the ceremony the ushers, grandparents, and parents need to meet in the Narthex for the processional

The wedding couple will work together with the wedding coordinators and Pastor to determine the best processional order for their event. This is a suggestion.

Processional Order
Grooms Paternal Grandparents
Grooms Maternal Grandparents
Brides Paternal Grandparents
Brides Maternal Grandparents
Father & Mother of the Groom
Mother of the Bride
Option: Aisle Runner Extended by Ushers

Front: The Pastor, Groom and Best Man, Groomsmen
Bridesmaids enter
Maid or Matron of Honor
Ring Bearer and Flower Girl
The Bride and her Escort

QUESTIONS
If you have any questions about your wedding, the church, or your faith, please contact us at: weddings@laportefumc.org
Phone 219-362-2443

FUMC CHURCH
Location: 1225 Michigan Ave., LaPorte, IN
Sanctuary Seats approximately 370 (250 people on the main floor/46 pews and 120 in the balcony.)
Chapel seats approximately 100 people 20/pews
Dressing rooms for all parties
Multiple Restrooms

GUIDELINES FOR FLORISTS
SHARE THIS IMPORTANT INFO WITH YOUR FLORIST!
If you are using a runner, our aisle is 80 feet long.
If you use pew bows, flowers, or other decorations: please use ribbon to hold the bows in place or padded clamps to protect the wood.
The church has candelabra available for wedding use if requested.
Candles with flame may NOT be used in the windows.
Decorations must be in place at least one hour prior to the wedding. Please notify the church at least 10 days prior to the ceremony regarding how many and what decorations will be used.
THE CHURCH IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ITEMS LEFT BEHIND.

WEDDING CONTACTS
Pastor Bob Vale- Cell 574-339-8142
Wedding Coordinators-  219-362-2443
Autumn Reese
Phyllis Hendrickson
Organist Rose Marie Dure 219-363-6431