Hamline Church - A New Christian Community

Church Tour/Weddings

About our church and its facilities...
We try to extend the hospitality and love of Christ to all people.

Take an online tour of Hamline Church.

For further information about our church, Contact the Church Office.

Weddings at Hamline United Methodist Church

*

Click to download: the complete wedding policy document. .

*Wedding photo, ©09-27-03 228.jpg, by "Happily Ever After Contemporary Photography"

The Christian Service of Marriage
At Hamline United Methodist Church, weddings are occasions of both joy and reverence÷joy because of the gifts of love and happiness that the bride and groom have found in each other, and reverence because of the deep commitment they have made to live out their vows under the grace of God. The staff of Hamline United Methodist Church is eager to help make your wedding a lovely and meaningful event and asks your careful attention to the following guidelines. Because the church receives many wedding requests, these guidelines are necessary to facilitate planning and to provide clarity both for you and for the church.

Wedding Date
Weddings are scheduled for both members and non-members. Reservations are made on a first come first served basis. They are normally held on Friday nights and Saturdays, there are some exceptions to these times. To select the time and date for the wedding, please contact the church office at: weddings@hamlinechurch.org

Wedding Coordinator
Hamline United Methodist Church provides a wedding coordinator to oversee the arrangements and details of the wedding service. Once the wedding date is confirmed, an appointment with the coordinator is required to discuss Hamline Churchâs wedding guidelines. Questions about arrangements, minister, music, fees, and use of the facilities will be discussed at this conference. The wedding coordinator is a member of the church staff.

If an outside wedding consultant has been employed, we request that his or her involvement be limited to the reception and other non-church activities. The rehearsal and wedding service are the responsibility of the wedding coordinator of Hamline United Methodist Church.

Fees and Honorariums
The wedding coordinator will discuss current fees with the bride and groom. A nonrefundable deposit is required at the time a wedding date is reserved. Final payment and all additional fees÷for such things as; the minister, soloist(s) and organist÷must be paid two weeks prior to the wedding day.

Presiding Minister
The Senior minister at Hamline United Methodist Church is available to perform the wedding service. He or she may also be available to attend the reception. He or she will meet with the couple and assist in planning the wedding service. Guest Clergy are also invited to perform weddings at Hamline. Credentials must be filed in a county in Minnesota.

The Service
A wedding at Hamline Church is an act of worship. It is appropriate for the service to include special music, hymns, Scripture readings and other sacred readings, and a brief message by the minister. The officiating clergy will review the order of service and appropriate options with the couple.

Clergy, other than from Hamline United Methodist Church, may participate in or preside over the marriage service. This must be cleared with the wedding coordinator. If the clergy is from out of state, that clergy must register in Minnesota with one of the counties.

Music
Your wedding at Hamline Church is a worship experience as well as a celebration of your love and vows. The Music Director will coordinate organists and other musicians for all weddings. All decisions regarding music are to be approved by the Music Director.

Photography and Videotaping
Wedding photographs may be taken in the Church Sanctuary and on the church grounds, before and/or after the wedding service. Once the wedding date and time is set, the wedding coordinator will provide a timeline for the period of time you will be at the church on your wedding day. Remember the time allotted for your wedding is four hours. The photographer must be done with pre-wedding pictures, ¸ hour before the start of the wedding. The Sanctuary aisles must be clear of all equipment at that time.

Photos courtesy of the bride, Liza Stoltz Hanson

Decorations
The Sanctuary is a place of great beauty and does not need excessive decoration for wedding ceremonies. At certain times of the year the sanctuary may be adorned with temporary art (usually banners or hangings) which complement the architecture. These remain in place during weddings. Paraments (an ecclesiastical hanging) are represented according to the church season.

The church will provide a kneeler, 2 candelabras, 2 altar candles and votive candles for each of the ten pillars. Because of fire hazards, hurricane lamps with candles or other candle decorations along the aisle are not permitted.

Unity candles are the responsibility of the bridal couple.

Aisle runners can be obtained from florists.
Sanctuary: The center aisle is 85 feet long

Times and Space Available
Up to four hours is allotted for each wedding. In order to accommodate the demand for wedding time and space, please use your allotted time wisely. Please be prompt, if the rehearsal or the wedding runs past the allotted time, there will be an additional charge of $50 per hour.

There are 25 rows of pews and the main sanctuary seats about 450 people, not including the balconies.

Dressing Facilities for the Bride
A dressing room is available for the bride and her bridesmaidâs use on the day of the wedding. The groom and all other members of the wedding party are encouraged to arrive dressed. Facilities are provided for final grooming.

License
It is important that you verify all information with your local marriage license office or county clerk before making any wedding plans. A wedding at Hamline United Methodist Church cannot take place without a valid marriage license. Please bring the license with you at the time of the rehearsal.

Other Facility Information
Hamline United Methodist Church is handicap accessible.

There is a parking lot adjacent to the church with approximately 80 spots. On street parking is also available.

Hamline church is NOT air conditioned.

We ask your courtesy in helping to keep the church complex clean and litter-free. Please refrain from throwing rice, birdseed, confetti, flower petals, potpourri, or any other substance either inside or outside the buildings. The release of balloons and live animals is prohibited. Bubbles (provided by the wedding party) are acceptable.

Sometimes the bride and groom choose to greet people at the church after the service. The narthex (entry space between the front door and the sanctuary), the Commons area and outside the front doors are appropriate places for greeting.

There are no checkrooms or secure package storage areas in the sanctuary. Please discourage guests from bringing gift packages to the church.

No child care services or nursery facilities are available during weddings. Parents should make private, off-site babysitting arrangements for children whom they feel are too young to attend the wedding service.

Hamline United Methodist Church is a smoke-free environment, and alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the church or on the church grounds at any time.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Hamline United Methodist Church at 651.645.0667 or send an e-mail to the: Weddings Coordinators.

And remember that Hamline Church is your continuing "church home" after your marriage - a place where we "Share Christ's love with all people". We wish you every joy and blessing.

Hamline Church, United Methodist
1514 Englewood Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
Phone: 651-645-0667
Fax: 651-643-0816
weddings@hamlinechurch.org