First United Methodist Church

           801 Main Street, Cañon City, CO. 81212

• A deposit of $100 is required to confirm you wedding date on our calendar.  The balance of all wedding fees is due no later than two weeks before the wedding.
• All wedding forms within this packet must be turned in with the $100 deposit to insure proper filing and preparation for your wedding day.
• Wedding ceremonies must start between the hours of 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM to insure proper clean-up time for Sunday morning worship services.
• No Sunday weddings
• The church will be open for a total of 3 1/2 hours.  This will be ample time for pictures (before and after) and the ceremony itself.  If guests or the wedding party remain in the church after the allotted time, $25 will be charged for the use of the church (non-members only) and another $25 for the custodian (for members) and $50 for the custodian (for non-members) for each additional 1/2 hour of extended stay.

Church Facilities

• The use of illegal drugs and alcoholic beverages are not permitted on church property and the use of tobacco is not permitted in the church facilities at any time.  FUMC reserves the right to ask individuals to leave the church property, postpone the wedding, or cancel the wedding if the wedding party and its guests do not adhere to this policy.
• We ask that only silk flower petals be thrown in the aisles.  Please no real flower petals.  Thank you.
• We ask that during the couple's send off, the wedding party and guests use bubbles or balloons outside the church.  Due to the difficulty of clean-up and the risk of accidents on our walkways, we ask that you do not use rice or birdseed.
• FUMC has candelabras that meet fire code requirements that you can use.  Unity Candle or dingle tapers are to be on a plate or holder so melted was does not spill and damage the Communion table.
• FUMC is not responsible for lost or stolen items.  If you need something locked in a secure place during the wedding ceremony, please make arrangements with the custodian on duty.
• Two rooms will be assigned to the wedding party with access to restrooms.  You may remain in these rooms until the wedding starts or pictures are taken.
• If food is brought in for the wedding party it must remain in a designated area that will be determined by the event planner.

Minister

• One of our ministers must participate in the wedding ceremony, unless other arrangements have been made with the Lead Pastor's approval.  For other clergy officiating the wedding, FUMC must have the pastor's clergy credentials on file.  It is up to the couple to get in touch with their pator and get a copy of the credentials to FUMC.  The Lead Pastor reserves the right to have the final say over the wedding ceremony and may ask to be involved in said ceremony.
• Three counseling sessions with the pastor in charge are required.  If another pastor is officiating the wedding.  FUMC asks for a letter from the guest pastor stating that wedding counseling was provided for the couple, how long the sessions(s) lasted, and what general topics were covered.  Confidential information will not be requested and should not be revealed.

Accompanist/Music

• If you are in need of an accompanist, FUMC has an accompanist that will be happy to provide the music for your wedding.  If the couple has an accompanist they would like to play, arrangements can be made for the accompanist to practice.
• If you are using CD music or tape music, the music must be approved by the pastor in charge.  Please have the CDs marked with song number needed and have the tapes properly cued.  Please have the CDs ready at the rehearsal to insure proper setup and sound check of the microphone and mix of the music.
• Due to the complexity of our sound system, a trained sound person from FUMC must be at the sound board at all times during the wedding ceremony.

Photographers and Pictures

• Photographers are welcome to be at the church during the allotted hours that the wedding party and guests are here.
• Photographers are allowed to use flash photography during the processional and the recessional, but are asked to refrain from flash photography during the wedding ceremony.
• Photographers must not move around during the wedding ceremony.  We ask that they remain in one place or limit their movement to the back of the sanctuary so as not to be a distraction for wedding guests and the wedding party.
• The bride and groom are responsible for communicating these policies to their photographer and also communicating to the wedding guests to refrain from flash photography during the wedding ceremony.

Powerpoint Presentations

• Must be approved by the event planner and minister.
• Must be prepared one week in advance to make sure they will work with our equipment.

Rehearsal Dinner

• No Sundays or holidays.
• No alcohol or tobacco is allowed.
• Please leave the kitchen cleaner than you found it.
• All individuals responsible for planning the dinner must meet with the event planner.

Receptions

• If you will be having your wedding reception in our Fellowship Hall the kitchen clean up is your responsibility or you will be charged $25 per hour for extra clean-up in addition to the normal charges.
• Receptions cannot go longer than 9:00 PM.  An additional $25 for each additional 1/2 hour will be charged.

Time

A 3 1/2 hour time block has been set aside for your wedding.