CONGRATULATIONS! We are glad that you are planning your wedding at Ridgewood Park United Methodist Church. The wedding ceremony is one of the most sacred rites of the church.  Christian marriage is understood to be the inseparable joining together of a man and a woman who believe that they have been brought together by God and that it is God’s will that they continue their journey of faith as husband and wife until death separates them. The ceremony declares not only their love for one another, but also their love for God.  it is a statement of their Christian faith to all in attendance.

Ridgewood Park desires to make every wedding a memorable, beautiful, and meaningful event. We also wish to extend every possible courtesy to the wedding parties.

The following steps have been instituted in order to establish a standard procedure for all weddings, and to make Ridgewood Park’s acceptable policies available to wedding parties:

First Steps for All Weddings

Read through these policies

Schedule a meeting with Ridgewood Park’s Pastor. The meeting will acquaint you with our Pastor and will involve your taking a Premarital Inventory. You will need to submit a processing fee check.for $30 payable to Life Innovations, Inc. at the time of the meeting.

Make reservations with the Church Secretary. A reservation will be confirmed only after the couple has met with the Pastor.  Non-member weddings will not be scheduled more than six months in advance. The groom, the bride, parent(s), or guardian must be an attending Ridgewood Park member at least six months prior to scheduling or the wedding will be regarded as a non-member wedding. Exact times of the rehearsal and wedding must be fixed when scheduling.

Submit a refundable deposit plus 50% of total fees.  Wedding and rehearsal dates can only go on the church calendar after this deposit has been received.  All fees will be refunded if cancellation occurs at least 30 days prior to the wedding date. All fees must be paid in full thirty days prior to the wedding.

Complete three additional premarital counseling sessions with the Pastor.  Premarital counseling is required for all weddings performed at Ridgewood Park. Scheduling these sessions is the responsibility of the groom or the bride.

Ridgewood Park’s Pastor must approve all visiting ministers. It is also appropriate for Ridgewood Park’s Pastor to invite the visiting minister to officiate at the wedding. If a visiting minister is used, premarital counseling is still required, but may be completed with the visiting minister.

Saturday weddings must be scheduled to start between the hours of 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM.  The building will be unavailable after 9:00 PM. Weddings scheduled Monday through Friday must be scheduled to begin no earlier than 7:00 PM.  Weddings held on Sunday must be scheduled between 2:00 and 4:00 PM.  Weddings with receptions are expected to last no longer than 3 hours.

Wedding and Rehearsal Policies

The minister representing the church is always in charge of the ceremony.  Wedding services, bridal secretaries, and other persons of similar position must confer with the minister performing the wedding.

The bride and groom should insist that all members of the wedding party be as prompt for the rehearsal as for the wedding.  Delay in starting the rehearsal is unfair to everyone involved. Pre-planning with the officiating minister will be required to avoid unnecessary confusion and to minimize the length of the rehearsal.

The use of Ridgewood Park’s facilities may not violate the religious or social tenets of the United Methodist Church as defined by the Book of Discipline as interpreted by the Pastor or Church Trustees.

Selection of music is important for personalizing a wedding ceremony, but should be appropriate in both content and style to the sacred nature of the ceremony. Music selections must be discussed with the Pastor and Music Director at least 30 days prior to the wedding.

Guest musicians must be approved by Ridgewood Park’s Music Director.

No furniture may be moved in the Sanctuary.  This includes the altar, cross, candlesticks, Bible, and baptismal font.  No flowers or decorations may be attached to them.  Paraments will be white for weddings.  Holiday decorations will not be moved from their locations.

Do NOT use tacks, pins, nails, or glue to fasten ANYTHING to the furniture.  Please use only “professional pew holders” for attaching decorations.  The Church Wedding Coordinator must approve candles and candelabras used during the service. Only dripless candles will be used inside the Sanctuary.  Candles and candelabras must be designed to capture the melted wax from the burning candles and prevent wax from dripping on the floor or furniture. Plastic sheeting or dropcloths must be located under the candles.  Only silk or paper flower petals may be distributed in the aisle.

Use of any audio equipment belonging to Ridgewood Park must be handled by a Ridgewood park Sound Technician.

Photography and videos may be taken in accordance with the direction of the officiating minister.

Use of duct tape, masking tape, or strapping tape on stained furniture is not allowed.

No alcoholic beverages may be served or used in any part of the facility.

No food or beverages are allowed in the Sanctuary.

No smoking is allowed in any part of the facility.

Do not throw rice or confetti at the bride and groom after the wedding.  BIRDSEED or bubbles may be used. birdseed is to be opened and thrown only OUTSIDE of the building.

No nursery facilities may be used.

All decorations, equipment, and personal items must be removed immediately following the ceremony.

Ridgewood Park shall not be liable for personal items such as wedding dresses, purses, silver, and glassware brought to the church for use in the wedding or reception that are lost, stolen, or damaged. However, every reasonable effort will be made to assist the wedding party in protecting such property.

Ridgewood Park’s facilities must be left in the condition in which they were found.  Any property damage will be charged to the wedding party.