RUMC Weddings::Guidelines & Planning

Guidelines for Planning a Wedding at Ridgewood

In order to assist you in planning your wedding, we have provided you with the following guidelines on things you should consider in your planning efforts:

Wedding Coordinator

Our wedding coordinator, Andrea Shaffer, is the very first person you should contact regarding the availability of the date, time and pastor for your wedding. This should be done as early as possible, even before you book your reception hall. You can reserve either the sanctuary or the chapel (depending on the size of the wedding) through the wedding coordinator. Reservations include both the marriage service, as well as the rehearsal.

PLEASE NOTE:

Scheduled church functions take priority over wedding dates and times.
If neither the bride nor the groom are members of RUMC, reservations for a wedding can be made no earlier than 18 months in advance.
If you request another pastor to be part of the service, he/she will participate as a guest pastor and will only assist the Ridgewood pastor.
If more than one wedding is scheduled for the same day, there will be a minimum of three hours between services with a limit of two weddings per day.

Pre-Marital Counseling:

All couples to be married shall participate in pre-marital classes with the pastor. An appointment should be made for the first class as soon as possible, or at least six months before the wedding date. Subsequent sessions will be scheduled after the first session, with a minimum of three sessions required.

The Marriage Service

During a pre-marital counseling session your marriage service will be discussed. Any changes to the order of the service will be by agreement between the pastor and the couple. Additional acts of worship will also be decided at this time, such as the singing of hymns, scripture or other readings, and/or the serving of Holy Communion. Music selections must be consistent with a service of worship and "church appropriate", as determined by the pastor.

Decorations:

The beauty of simplicity is recommended - you know, Less is More. If you have a florist, you can arrange plans for floral arrangements, candles, aisle cloth, etc. through them. To help you in planning your decorations, it will be helpful to know that the sanctuary aisle is 75 feet long, and the sanctuary will seat 325 people. The church supplies six large altar candles. A candelabrum is extra.

Photography:

Pictures may be taken during the processional and the recessional, and (as long as it is inconspicuous) during the service of marriage. NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY is permitted during the actual wedding ceremony to preserve the sanctity of the moment.

PLEASE NOTE:

All wedding contracts include a forty-five minute period following the ceremony for photography.
If your photographer goes over this 45-minute period, there will be a fee of $25.00 for every 15 minutes over the 45-minute time limit. A bill will be sent by mail.

Organist & Music:

Our church organist is Mr. Ira Cooper. It is your responsibility to contact him regarding the scheduling of the organ music as soon as the wedding is booked. We welcome your ideas in the selection of the prelude, processional and recessional music as determined by the organist. Mr. Cooper will offer suggestions upon request.

Mr. Cooper will be glad to work with the soloist or instrumentalist of your choice. For special or additional music needing extra rehearsals, there will be an additional fee charged. This can be discussed at the time you meet with the organist to choose your music.

Custodian:

The church custodian, Mr. Randall Rominger, will be present during both the rehearsal and the actual wedding. He will assist the members of the bridal party in various aspects.

Dressing Rooms:

The bridal party dressing room is the Church Living Room on the second floor (located adjacent to the sanctuary). It is accessed through the first room on the right on the parking lot side of the building (Room 216). The groom's dressing room is the senior pastor's office located on the second floor on the opposite side of the building from the Living Room. Mr. Rominger will assist members of the bridal party in finding their way around.

Ushers:

Ushers should be on duty at least 30 minutes before the stated beginning time of the wedding. All members of the wedding party should be in the church building at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony to ensure that everything takes place on time.

Special Requests:

If you have special requests or other deviations from these guidelines, they may be permitted on a case-by-case basis as determined by the pastor, so feel free to voice them if you have them.



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You can reserve either the sanctuary or the chapel (depending on the size of the wedding) through the wedding coordinator. Reservations include both the marriage service, as well as the rehearsal. *PLEASE NOTE:* Scheduled church functions take priority over wedding dates and times. If neither the bride nor the groom are members of RUMC, reservations for a wedding can be made no earlier than 18 months in advance. If you request another pastor to be part of the service, he/she will participate as a guest pastor and will only assist the Ridgewood pastor. If more than one wedding is scheduled for the same day, there will be a minimum of three hours between services with a limit of two weddings per day. Pre-Marital Counseling: All couples to be married shall participate in pre-marital classes with the pastor. An appointment should be made for the first class as soon as possible, or at least six months before the wedding date. Subsequent sessions will be scheduled after the first session, with a minimum of three sessions required. The Marriage Service During a pre-marital counseling session your marriage service will be discussed. Any changes to the order of the service will be by agreement between the pastor and the couple. Additional acts of worship will also be decided at this time, such as the singing of hymns, scripture or other readings, and/or the serving of Holy Communion. Music selections must be consistent with a service of worship and "church appropriate", as determined by the pastor. Decorations: The beauty of simplicity is recommended - you know, Less is More. If you have a florist, you can arrange plans for floral arrangements, candles, aisle cloth, etc. through them. To help you in planning your decorations, it will be helpful to know that the sanctuary aisle is 75 feet long, and the sanctuary will seat 325 people. The church supplies six large altar candles. A candelabrum is extra. Photography: Pictures may be taken during the processional and the recessional, and (as long as it is inconspicuous) during the service of marriage. NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY is permitted during the actual wedding ceremony to preserve the sanctity of the moment. *PLEASE NOTE:* All wedding contracts include a forty-five minute period following the ceremony for photography. If your photographer goes over this 45-minute period, there will be a fee of $25.00 for every 15 minutes over the 45-minute time limit. A bill will be sent by mail. Organist & Music: Our church organist is Mr. Ira Cooper. It is your responsibility to contact him regarding the scheduling of the organ music as soon as the wedding is booked. We welcome your ideas in the selection of the prelude, processional and recessional music as determined by the organist. Mr. Cooper will offer suggestions upon request. Mr. Cooper will be glad to work with the soloist or instrumentalist of your choice. For special or additional music needing extra rehearsals, there will be an additional fee charged. This can be discussed at the time you meet with the organist to choose your music. Custodian: The church custodian, Mr. Randall Rominger, will be present during both the rehearsal and the actual wedding. He will assist the members of the bridal party in various aspects. Dressing Rooms: The bridal party dressing room is the Church Living Room on the second floor (located adjacent to the sanctuary). It is accessed through the first room on the right on the parking lot side of the building (Room 216). The groom's dressing room is the senior pastor's office located on the second floor on the opposite side of the building from the Living Room. Mr. Rominger will assist members of the bridal party in finding their way around. Ushers: Ushers should be on duty at least 30 minutes before the stated beginning time of the wedding. All members of the wedding party should be in the church building at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony to ensure that everything takes place on time. Special Requests: If you have special requests or other deviations from these guidelines, they may be permitted on a case-by-case basis as determined by the pastor, so feel free to voice them if you have them.
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