Your Wedding at Hmong Community United Methodist Church Guiding You Through the Process We at Hmong Community United Methodist Church are happy to help plan and to officiate at weddings of both members of the church and non-members. Weddings at Hmong Community United Methodist Church are conducted by the pastor. Members of the clergy from other denominations and faiths are welcome to participate with the pastor, and may be so invited by the pastor. Members of other congregations of the United Methodist Church wishing to be married at Hmong Community United Methodist Church by their own pastor may contact the Hmong Community United Methodist church Pastor to set up this special arrangement. The Marital Consultation All Persons who are to be married at Hmong Community United Methodist Church are expected to engage in a minimum of three sessions of pre-marital counseling. The sessions usually last from 45 minutes to an hour and are scheduled at the mutual convenience of both the pastor and the couple. The Process As soon as you have decided on a wedding date, call the church to find out whether that day and time are available. Ask the person answering the telephone to pencil in the date in the church's calendar. As soon as possible thereafter, speak with the pastor to confirm the pastor's availability. The date is not official until it has been entered both on the pastor's calendar and the church's calendar. The Service of Christian Marriage The service of Christian marriage is provided for a man and a woman who wish to solemnize their marriage in a service of Christian worship. The ceremony, therefore, includes Proclamation of the Word, as well as prayer and praise. Christian marriage is proclaimed as a sacred covenant reflecting Christ's covenant with the church. Everything about the service is designed to witness that this is a Christian marriage. Both words andactions consistently reflect the belief that husband and wife are equal partners in Christian marriage and that they are entering into the marriage of their own volition. Those present at the wedding ceremony are understood to be an active congregation, not simply passive witnesses. They give their blessings to the couple and the marriage and they join in prayer and praise. The Ceremony The ceremony can take anywhere from forty five minutes to an hour, depending on how elaborate it is. We welcome special music, prayers or cultural additions to the basic service that make the ceremony more meaningful for the couple. These also add to the length of time the ceremony will take. Rehearsal The pastor is responsible for conducting the rehearsal. Once all members of the wedding party have arrived, the rehearsal should take about 45 minutes to an hour. All members of the wedding party are expected to be present at the rehearsal. Decorations We ask that common sense prevail when decorating the church. All florists, decorators , planners, and consultants must work under the direction of the pastor while they are in the church. None of the furnishings in the sanctuary may be removed or replaced nor additions made without the express permission of the pastor. Should the couple wish to preserve decorations, it is their responsibility to make sure the decorations are removed in a timely fashion. Photos/Videos No flash photography is permitted, nor will there be pauses for photographs during the ceremony. Photographs may be taken before and after the ceremony. Videographers may select a position in the sanctuary to set up their equipment, as long as it does not interfere with the line of sight of the guests or with the ritual. Fee: Wedding service will be free of charge to all members. If you are not a member, please contact the pastor for fee information.