When two persons enter into holy matrimony,
they not only pledge faith to the other, but they also enter
into covenant with God. Therefore, a wedding ceremony is a
service of worship. It is not primarily a social event, though
it may be supported by certain time honored social customs
that give additional form and beauty to the event.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF FEES 
In a marriage ceremony the blessing of God is
invoked, the sanction of the church is affirmed, and faith
is pledged with reverence and simple dignity.
It is the desire of the church and its ministers
that every wedding ceremony shall be profoundly spiritual
in its atmosphere and that the occasion shall be made memorable
and truly beautiful.
Following the steps listed here will enable
the church to serve you during this time of preparation.
1) Read “Wedding Policies and Guidelines.”
Retain these policies for later reference, and share them
with your photographer, ushers, florist, consultant and any
others who help with the wedding.
2) Complete, sign and return to church office
the “WEDDING CEREMONY APPLICATION.” Your wedding
date cannot be placed on the church calendar until the application
is received and accepted, you have made an appointment to
discuss the ceremony with the presiding minister, and paid
the deposit fee (for non-members). Four to six weeks prior
to your wedding you will meet with the minister to discuss
plans for counseling, rehearsal and ceremony. You are personally
responsible in contacting: the senior pastor, the organist,
and wedding coordinator, and making the appointments to speak
with each one separately.
3) Meet with the church organist at least SIX
weeks prior to the ceremony to arrange for music. Return “WEDDING
MUSIC ARRANGEMENTS” form to the church office. The organist
must sign this form. Our church organist is Dr. Antone Godding.
His office is in the chapel building at OCU, and his office
phone is 521-5013. This meeting IS necessary, even if you
plan to use instrumental accompaniment other than the pipe
organ for your wedding.
4) Pay all fees in one check payable to Nichols
Hills United Methodist Church THREE WEEKS prior to the ceremony.
Return the “Summary of Fees” form with your check
to the church office.
WEDDING POLICIES AND GUIDELINES
Available wedding dates may be checked with
the Administrative Assistant, though it is NECESSARY to submit
your Application Form BEFORE we can place ceremony date on
the calendar.
A Saturday wedding with reception at the church
shall be scheduled no later than 4:00 p.m. A wedding without
reception can be scheduled no later than 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Weddings held in the Parlor are not to exceed 75 persons total.
Standard furnishings are not to be removed.
Wedding ceremonies may not be scheduled on Sundays,
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, during Holy Week, New Year’s
Eve, or on national holidays.
If neither the bride or the groom, or parents
or guardian, are members of Nichols Hills United Methodist
Church at the time of the FIRST INQUIRY about the wedding,
it is regarded as a non-member wedding. Joining the church
after the first inquiry does not make it a member wedding.
Pastors may make exceptions for active constituents.
The church cannot confirm the ceremony date
of a non-member of Nichols Hills United Methodist Church earlier
than six months to the date requested.
Nichols Hills United Methodist Church Clergy
provide services to persons who have church membership within
The United Methodist region only. United Methodist membership
can be outside of Oklahoma, but must be WITHIN the global
connection of The United Methodist Church, in order to have
a wedding ceremony at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church.
Once again, pastors may make exceptions for active constituents.
RITUAL AND ORDER:
The ceremony ritual shall be one of the official
services approved for use in The United Methodist Church.
Slight modifications are permitted in consultation with the
officiating minister.
OFFICIATING PASTOR(S):
One of the pastors of Nichols Hills United Methodist
Church shall be IN CHARGE of the ceremony assuring compliance
of guidelines. A church member’s family may request either
the Sr. Pastor or the Associate Pastor to officiate. The pastors
in consultation with each other will decide officiating for
a non-member.
MUSIC:
You may contact our church organist to discuss
arrangements for both vocal and organ music. The “Music
Arrangements” form is provided for you to complete and
return to the church office. This must be done at least four
weeks prior to the ceremony.
Music is to be sacred in style and Christian
in theology. It is to be appropriate for worship setting.
This means that the focus of church wedding music is God and
God’s love, not “romance.” A great variety
of choices from sacred classical, modern, and Christian folk
music are available. Do not ask us to compromise this policy.
If there is any question about the appropriateness
of music you have selected for the sanctuary, the church organist
will consult with the Music Committee. The decision of this
Committee is final.
Our church organist will play for all weddings
in our sanctuary. If our church organist is not available,
he will secure a substitute.
Instruments used in addition to the pipe organ
and piano may not be electronically amplified if used; instrumentalists
will be on floor level to one side of the nave.
The bride may select a soloist. The church organist
will offer to invite a soloist, if the bride desires. Any
fee for the soloist is to be decided between bride and soloist
and paid directly to the soloist.
All those participating in the wedding are to
be appropriately dressed or wear a vestment provided by the
church.
The use of audio recordings on tape or disc
is not permitted.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO:
Please share this information with your Photographer/Video
person.
The photographer may take pictures before or
after the service, but MUST not delay the wedding. Photographs
taken in the Sanctuary must be concluded 30 minutes before
the service.
During the processional, one picture may be
taken of the bride and father entering the sanctuary. Only
one video camera, stationary, behind the back pew of the sanctuary
is permitted. A telephoto lens is necessary. No cameras in
the Chancel area.
Professional photographers are permitted to
take no more than two non-flash pictures from a position behind
the worshippers during the ceremony. Floodlights are not permitted.
Pictures taken by guests are not permitted during
the ceremony. (Please inform your guests of this.) Ushers
are to request any wedding guests entering the sanctuary with
a camera to wait until the ceremony is concluded to take pictures.
Pictures may be taken during the recessional.
FLOWERS, CANDLES, DECORATIONS:
A beautiful sanctuary requires very simple decorations,
and does not lend itself to elaborate decoration. In keeping
with this conviction, the church has carefully developed this
policy to guide the family and the florist in making plans
for the wedding.
Caution is to be taken to avoid damage to sanctuary
woodwork and/or furnishings. Tacks, nails, pins, glue or tape
shall not be used to fasten any decorations to the furnishings
or building. No furnishings or altarware may be removed or
hidden by any decorations. The church’s brass altar flower
vases may be used. Do not arrange flowers in brass vases without
using liners, for the vases are not watertight.
Flowers and candles should enhance the beauty
of our Sanctuary rather than hide it. The symbols of the Christian
Faith are not to be moved or hidden by any decorations. Decorations
are not to obstruct worshippers’ view of pulpit, lectern
or altar.
Decorating with candles and flowers may be in
moderation and appropriate style. Florist or decorator prior
to setting up should consult the officiating minister. The
minister shall have final say if floral decorations are too
ostentatious or large and may request removal or reduction
of any portion thereof.
Glitter, in any form, (i.e. powder, gel, bottled,
etc.) IS NOT to be used for purposes of decoration in or of
hair, flowers, make-up, etc.
Additional electrical lighting may not be used,
nor may windows be backlighted for an evening wedding. Lighted
candles are not to be carried by participants.
For a Saturday evening wedding, the Sanctuary
will be available for decorating three hours before the wedding.
The church wedding coordinator will be present to answer questions
at that time. For weddings at other times of the week, the
sanctuary will be available for decoration two hours before
the wedding.
The church is decorated with poinsettias during
the Advent and Christmas Season. All decorating items brought
to the sanctuary will be removed from the building immediately
following the ceremony and final photographs.
Any damage to sanctuary paraments, furniture,
or woodwork will be brought to the attention of both the family
scheduling the wedding and the florist. Fair restitution will
be expected. Failure to do so will make it difficult to approve
the florist for future weddings.
MINISTERIAL SERVICES:
The fee to the minister expresses appreciation
for time spent in counseling, planning, rehearsing, and officiating
at the ceremony. A guest minister may ASSIST one of our ministers
if approved by the Nichols Hills United Methodist Church Minister.
REHEARSAL:
The rehearsal will take about 45 minutes to
one hour. The Officiating Minister is in charge of the rehearsal
and will:
1) Welcome the wedding party and offer prayer.
2) Instruct participants when to stand for ceremony,
after bride and groom have placed bridesmaids and groomsmen
in the order that they desire.
3) Direct ceremony from opening words to ritual
through benediction.
The services of a consultant are optional, for
the pastor and Nichols Hills wedding coordinator are able
to do all the coordinating of the rehearsal and ceremony.
However, for an unusually large number of participants or
if a friend is to be honored with a special responsibility,
a wedding consultant (professional or friend) may be invited
to assist in the following ways.
1) Instruct ushers on seating the people.
2) Train candle lighters, if included.
3) Arrange for which usher is to escort each
mother.
4) Monitor the entry sequence and pace of bridesmaids
during processional.
5) Train flower girl and ring bearer, if included.
6) Instruct the wedding book attendants.
7) Other responsibilities requested by the pastor
or bride.
BUILDING USAGE:
No rice, confetti, birdseed or similar material
may be thrown in or around the church, driveways or under
the portico. Damage to furniture, equipment or building is
the responsibility of person(s) scheduling wedding.
No alcoholic beverages are permitted on the
premises.
Neither nurseries nor childcare can be provided
for rehearsals or ceremonies.
FEES FOR BUILDING AND SERVICES:
Weddings are not intended as revenue producing
events for the church. The fees listed here are to cover the
church’s actual expense in hosting the event. Payment
of these fees is required three weeks before the wedding.
One check for all fees, payable to Nichols Hills United Methodist
If you have any questions, please call the church
office, 842-1486. Thank you.
