Reserving the Church Facilities

To reserve a date on the church calendar, couples must make an appointment with the pastor or another minister to schedule the date and counseling session. 

Non-members or inactive members (members that have attended less than 12 Sundays in the last year) can schedule a date no earlier than four months in advance. 

Active members (persons who have formally joined our congregation and have attended Macedonia at least 12 Sundays in the last year) can secure a wedding date on the church calendar when:  (1) the ceremony/music selections have been approved by the Pastor and Music Minister, and (2) your wedding fee has been paid to the Wedding Representative.

Wedding Representative

Macedonia Baptist Church provides a Wedding Representative for you to assist in planning your wedding using the church facilities.  This service is required and included in the wedding fee.

The following are ways she will be available to you:

• Determining the availability of our church for your wedding, and approving all needed arrangements to schedule your wedding on the church calendar.
• Determining your wedding fee.
• Being availiable to meet with you at the chruch to review the facilities, equipment available for you to use, and make suggestions that make your wedding run smoothly.
• Being available to unlock the church buildings for you and advise you on what rooms are available to use for dressing, storage, etc.
• Being available for you to reach by phone at any time with any question about your wedding, including being at the church during the rehearsal, wedding, and reception.

Wedding Etiquette

• All members of the wedding party are expected at all times to conduct themselves in a manner begitting the atmosphere of a house of worship.
• Smoking and alocholic beverages are prohibited at all times, anywhere on the church property/facilities.
• Any member of the wedding party found to be intoxicated shall not be allowed to participate in the wedding.
• Dancing is not permitted.
• Using birdseed to shower the newlyweds is only acceptable outside of the church buildings.  The use of confetti, rice, wheat or shaving cream is prohibited inside or outside of the church buildings.
• Discretion should be used when decorating/writing on cars in front of the church.
• Child care will not be available in the preschool area or other rooms for rehersals and/or weddings.
• Please remain within the guidelines of these policies and ask your representative if you need to request a change in a policy.

Responsibilities in Using the Church Facilities

• Unless so stated, the bride's family will be responsible for any damages sustained in the use of the church buildings and furnishings.
• All damages/breakage should be reported to the chruch office promptly.  Breakage of any item(s) shall be replaced at the current replacement price.
• It is the responsibility of the bride and groom to make certain all rules are made known to all members of the wedding party.
• Facilities available include: sanctuary, activities building, and kitchen.

Decorating for the Wedding

All wedding decorations must be done so that church property will not be damaged in any way.  Please follow these rules for decorating:

• All altar furniture is to be moved ONLY by the church custodian.  Stage instruments wil be moved to the side of the stage.
• Choir chairs will not be moved unless special permission is granted.
• All candle stands must have plastic sheeting under them to protect the floors from dripping wax.  The chruch will provide the plastic sheeting for this.  No open-flamed candles are allowed on any carpeted areas of the sanctuary.
• All candles must be extinguished immediately following the ceremony.  A candle lighter/snuffer is provided for lighting and extinguishing candles.  Tea light candles should be allowed to set 15 minutes after extinguishing before removing globes or moving candelabras.
• Glue, pins, nails, staples, or tape that will remove varnish or damage surfaces must not be used to attach decorations on pews, furniture or permanent fixtures.
• Only artificial flower petals may be used during the ceremony and must be picked up after the service.
• Seasonal decorations (Christmas or Pageant) may not be altered.  Please talk to your wedding representative if you have any questions.
• Mats should be placed under flower pots to protect furniture and/or carpets from scratching or water-marks.
• Arrangements should be made for the prompt return of borrowed or rented articles after the wedding and reception.  While every effort will be made to insure their safety, but the church cannot be responsible for them.
• Air conditioning and heating will be turned on not more than four hours in advance unless previous arrangements have been made.  Please notify your florist of this policy so that your flowers are not delivered too early.
• Again, discretion should be used when decorating/writing on cars in front of the church.

Rehearsal Dinner/Reception

• The Activities building or Room A-100 may be used for the rehearsal dinner/reception if so desired.
• The families of the wedding party, and/or caterer, are responsible for cleanup after the dinner or reception.
• All food items must be removed and trash put in covered trash barrels.
• All dishes must be cleaned and put away, with the kitchen counters/tables completely wiped/cleaned.

Photography/Video Taping

Taking photographs is permissible before, during, and after the ceremony.  Video taping may be done from the back of the church or the balcony.

Suggestions...

• The wedding party will want to consider how light flashes my effect their ceremony.
• Pre-wedding pictures are helpful in order to limit the time for post-wedding pictures and provide a quicker transition to the reception and visiting guests.

Description of Service Fees

• Required Fee:  for Active members - not to exceed $250; for Non-members or Inactive members - not to exceed $500.  The fee will be set after preliminary arrangements have been made with the Wedding Representative.  This fee provides for your Wedding Representative and the use of the church facilities.   
• Custodial Fees:  This fee covers preparations before and after the wedding.  This does not include disposing of food items/trash, and cleaning dishes after a rehearsal dinner/reception.  Such cleaning is the responsibility of the user.  This fee of $75 is per building. (example: 1-sanctuary for rehearsal/wedding, 2-activities building for reception).  The fee for a small rehearsal dinner (20 or less) in the Activities Building or A-100, or a small reception (20 or less) in A-100 is $35.
• Equipment Fee:  $50.  There are items available for the ceremony and/or reception.  These are listed in the Wedding Policy.  This fee also includes a use of candles in cndelabras, tables, chairs, and other items the church may provide.
• Table Covers:  $12 each (white, cloth, 6 or 8 ft. table size).  This fee covers the cost of cleaning.  The church does not provide round tables.
• Sound Technician:  We require a sound technician fee of $100 for the use of any electronic equipment.  Only our sound system engineers may be used.
• Instumentalists and Soloists:  If provided by the church - $100 per person.  If you secure your own soloists, instruments, or other participants, it is your responsibility to pay them directly.  *All music must be approved by our music minister as soon as possible.
• Checks should be made payable to Macedonia Baptist Church and given to your Wedding Representative.

Items Available to You

• Punch bowl, glassware, mint/nut dishes
• Floral arrangements and greenery
• Brass heart archway
• Arched brass candelabras
• Sloping brass candelabras
• Brass unity candle stand
• Brass candle lighters
• Wrought iron candelabras (2 angel wings style and 2 round)
• Wrought iron unity candle stand
• Sign-in tables for guests
• Pedestal columns (3 sets)
• White tulle (if available)
• Tables and chairs

Please reserve these items no later than 2 weeks prior to the wedding.

Dates, Times, Etc...

Please let you Wedding Representative know what items will be rented.  Delivery dates/times for these items should be known by the church as well as how and when they will be picked up after the ceremony.

Our custodians are here to set-up and put away the church equipment and to do light cleaning.  They are not responsible for cleaning up dishes and large messes.

The date/time of the wedding, rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, and reception (to be held here), must be stated at the time the wedding is scheduled.  This is to ensure there are no conflicts.