Marriage
“We affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant which is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man and a woman. We believe that God’s blessings rest upon such a marriage, whether or not there are children in the union. We reject social norms that assume different standards for women than for men in marriage.” The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 2016, Paragraph 71, C.

The Marriage Service
The marriage service, whether simple or elaborate, is a worship service. It is not a time for colorful expressions intended to impress guests. Your marriage/worship service is a time to thank God for the blessings of your union and to ask God to strengthen the bond you share. God in Jesus stands at the center of your marriage as friend and Lord.

​Where to Begin
Couples should contact the church office to confirm the wedding date and to begin the six premarital counseling sessions. YOUR WEDDING DATE WILL ONLY BE HELD WHEN THE DAMAGE DEPOSIT OF $100 HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE CHURCH ALONG WITH YOUR SIGNED WEDDING CONTRACT. Dates are filled on a first-come-first-served basis, regardless of church membership. Deposit is non-refundable if the wedding is cancelled less than two weeks prior. Weddings will not be scheduled on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, Easter, or the Sunday on which Christmas is celebrated. The church secretary will know if additional dates are not available. 

Role of the Pastor
The Pastor of Garrett United Methodist Church will conduct the wedding ceremony and will also lead the wedding rehearsal. The pastor has final authority to permit any wedding at Garrett United Methodist Church. If you would like another pastor to officiate or assist with your wedding, you must inform the church office and secure the permission of the Pastor of Garrett United Methodist Church at the time your wedding is booked. Please note that the pastor has final authority on who will be allowed to officiate or assist with your wedding.  Individuals whose "clergy" credentials are limited to an online "ordination" or secular paperwork through the court house to officiate weddings will not be permitted to officiate weddings at Garrett UMC.

Music
All music used at the church during your wedding day will be in keeping with our understanding of God’s love revealed in Jesus and should be sacred, contemporary Christian or classical music appropriate for any service of worship. Questions regarding the appropriateness of any music may be discussed with the pastor. The pastor reserves the right to exclude any music that s/he deems inappropriate. Approved recorded music will be run through the church’s sound system by a church technician. 

Decorating
The church may be decorated for the wedding, rehearsal dinner or reception during regular business hours. If other times are needed, the rate of $15.00 (members) and $25.00 (non-members) per hour will be applied. You must schedule all times (this includes regular business hours) with the church office in advance.

Times are available based on Church programming and may not be available in every circumstance.

Rehearsal Dinner/Wedding Reception
The Fellowship Hall of the church may be rented for a Rehearsal Dinner or Wedding Reception. There is no charge for members. There is an additional church charge for non-members (see fee schedule).

All Rehearsal Dinners must be completed, this includes clean-up, by 9:00 pm and are limited to a three hour 3me limit. A Reception may also be held at the church. There is no charge for members. There is an additional church charge for non-members (see fee schedule). Receptions are limited to four hours and must be completed by 10:00 pm. This includes clean-up.

Please remember smoking/tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, illegal substances, and firearms are not permitted on church property. This includes the church building and parking lot. No live bands or DJ’s are allowed for Rehearsal Dinners or Wedding Receptions. 

Counseling
Six hours of pre-marital counseling will take place with the pastor. These can be completed in one-hour or two-hour sessions and must be arranged with the Pastor of Garrett United Methodist Church.  A letter of documentation will be sent to the pastor at least one month prior to the wedding if pastor-approved counseling is done elsewhere.

IT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUPLE TO CONTACT THE PASTOR TO SCHEDULE COUNSELING SESSIONS.

In addition, the marriage license must be given to the pastor prior to or at the rehearsal.  If the marriage license is not in the pastor's hands by the end of the Wedding Rehearsal with wedding will be cancelled.  

Photographs, Video Taping & Computer
All photography and video taping will be discreet and not detract from the service.
NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY IS ALLOWED DURING THE SERVICE.
The pastor reserves the right to cease any disrespectful photography or video taping.

​The computer and projector are available for use only if a church technician is available. See fee schedule for costs.

Snow Removal
In the unlikely event that the pastor deems it necessary to have the church property cleared of snow on the day of the wedding, the couple will be billed directly for this.

The Pastor’s Jurisdiction
The pastor of Garrett United Methodist Church is empowered to make any decision on any points not specifically covered in this document. 

Filing the Marriage License
Once all financial arrangements are complete and inspection of the building is done by the church staff, the marriage license will then be mailed by the church office to the appropriate county office.

Make Fees Payable To:
• Garrett United Methodist Church
* Rev. Shalimar Holderly, honorarium for counseling, rehearsal, and ceremony.
• Dina Crabill, pianist
• Tom Wilhelm, Computer/Sound Technician
• Custodian (contact church prior for name)

Fees must be paid in full prior to the wedding rehearsal.

Important Info.

• Smoking/tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, illegal substances and firearms are not permiLed on church property. This includes the church building and lot.
• The wedding will be canceled if anyone in the wedding party is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or other drugs or has such products on the church premises. This decision rests solely with the pastor and her/his decision is final.
• Pets are not allowed inside the church.
• No rice or birdseed is permitted inside the church or immediately outside the church building.
• Only approved padded clamps and ribbons are allowed on the pews (no tacks or tape).
​• The church does not provide an aisle runner.
• Damage, in excess of the damage deposit, to the facility will be billed to the couple.
• Any personal/rented items must be removed by 9 pm the day of the wedding. Items left may be obtained during regular business hours. Locked rooms are not available.
• The church is not responsible for damage to your personal property and accidents.
• All fees must be paid by the start of the rehearsal. 
• Wedding Bulletins will be the responsibility of the wedding party

For all functions except weddings, the rental fee schedule is listed below.
​Rental fees are based on duration and location requested.  

 ROOM
Sanctuary
​Fellowship Hall
​Custodian
A/V Tech / trustee

Non Garrett UMC Member
$250
​$100
​$75 per location
​$75 for Ceremony / $25 for reception

Members
 No charge
No charge
​$50 per location
​$75 for Ceremony / $25 for reception