Wedding Services

• Wedding Guidelines •

These guidelines apply to the Chapel in the Woods. Your wedding coordinator will provide any alternate guidelines that apply for weddings at the baptismal pool.

Wedding Coordinator

Woodlands Church will assign a wedding coordinator to work with you during your wedding. You will meet with the coordinator approximately one month before your wedding date. Your coordinator will confirm the time and date of your wedding rehearsal. She will also review the details of your wedding with you, including the order of service. She will ensure that the rehearsal and ceremony preparations are in place and will be present to assist during these activities. Outside wedding coordinators are welcome and will work under the direction of the coordinator provided by Woodlands Church.

Wedding Music

As you consider music for your wedding, please make selections that are suitable for a worship service. All music that will be used in the wedding, including song lyrics, must be submitted to the wedding coordinator and approved at least four weeks prior to your wedding. You are responsible for contacting, engaging and paying for any vocalists and instrumentalists you choose to perform. Due to copyright restrictions, no taped vocal tracks are allowed.

Flowers and Decorations

Your florist will have access to the chapel two hours prior to the scheduled time of your wedding. All flowers and decorations must be removed immediately following the wedding ceremony and pictures. The church does not store any wedding decorations. Woodlands Church does not provide candelabras, unity candles or candle lighters. Candles must be spring-loaded or Paradise brand. Votive or dripless candles may be used in hurricane lamps. In order to protect chapel finishings, plastic materials must be placed under all floral arrangements and candles. Please be careful not to mar woodwork or flooring. Nails, staples, adhesives, etc., are not permitted. Pew markers must be secured with padded or plastic hooks. Chapel facilities and furniture may not be altered or moved.

Photography and Videotaping

Photographs and videotape should be taken in a way that does not disrupt the worship service. No flash photography should be used during the ceremony. All photos taken after the wedding ceremony must be completed within 30 minutes following the conclusion of the ceremony. The chapel is only available for photographers on the day of your wedding, immediately before and after the ceremony. The facilities are not available for bridal portraits or engagement photographs. The people involved in videotaping and photographing your wedding should be dressed appropriately for the wedding.

Rehearsal

If applicable, your wedding rehearsal will be scheduled for one hour on the afternoon or evening before your wedding date. You must adhere to the scheduled start and end times since rehearsals are sometimes scheduled back-to-back. Your rehearsal day and time will be confirmed by your wedding coordinator. Your wedding coordinator will conduct your rehearsal and act on behalf of the pastor who is marrying you if he is unable to attend. Please give your marriage license to your wedding coordinator at your rehearsal. It is important that all members of your wedding party attend the rehearsal and arrive on time. If you have ushers in addition to groomsmen, please ask them to attend the rehearsal. Parents of the bride and groom are also encouraged to attend. Because time for the rehearsal is limited, vocalists and instrumentalists should contact the wedding coordinator to find an alternate rehearsal day and time. A sound engineer will be available for a sound check one hour before the ceremony begins.

Wedding Party

It is expected that members of the wedding party will understand that the church is a house of God and will conduct themselves in a manner befitting a place of worship. Dressing rooms will be provided for the bride and groom in the chapel. These rooms will be available to the wedding party two hours before the ceremony begins. The church will not be responsible or liable for personal items such as clothing, purses, etc., brought to the church if such items are lost, stolen or damaged. Prior to both the rehearsal and wedding, it is expected that members of the wedding party will refrain from using alcoholic beverages. No alcoholic beverages may be brought onto or consumed on church premises at any time, including parking lots. In addition, smoking is only allowed in designated areas. Any violation of these rules will result in automatic loss of your deposit and may result in cancellation of the wedding. Rose petals may not be dropped on the floor. Confetti, birdseed, rice and/or glitter are not to be thrown in church buildings or on church grounds. Bubbles may be used outside the chapel to celebrate the exit processional. It is the obligation of the bride and groom to ensure that all members of the wedding party and all outside service providers understand these rules and abide by them.