Wedding Planning
Yes, our pastor sometimes does weddings for people who are not connected to the church, or who are from out of town. We're also willing to work with you if you want your wedding somewhere else in the Albion area. Here are some things you need to know:
Do I have to Be a United Methodist?
You don't have to be United Methodist, but if we do the service, or if it happens in our building, it will be a Christian service. We will read from the Bible and talk about Jesus. Why? Because it's who we are, and if you didn't want a Christian wedding, you'd call someone else. Besides, we believe that a faith connection will strengthen your marriage.
Pre-marital Meetings and Counseling
The pastor will need to meet with you a couple of times before the wedding, to get to know you and to talk about the ceremony itself. He is not a professional marriage counselor, and we require that you find a person who is, and work with them for some premarital counseling and evaluation. It is helpful and meaningful, and it's only a few hundred dollars. If you're in the area, we will help with recommendations.
Contact the Church Office
If you want to be married here, or if you'd like to talk to the pastor about the possibility, please call the office at 517•629•9425, or use our contact form. It's important to get on the calendar as soon as you can, and to find out more information than is posted here.
Marriage License
We are in Calhoun County, so you need to get your license from the Calhoun County Courthouse in Marshall if you are to be married at the church. If you are being married at a different site in the area, check to make sure you know which county your site is in, before you get your license! The church cannot perform a wedding if you do not have a license.
Can I Use Another Pastor?
If you would like to be married in Wesley Chapel, but would like to use the services of another clergy person, the pastor of First United Methodist Church needs contact information for that clergy person well in advance. If the person is not an ordained United Methodist clergy person, then we are interested in assuring that the message given by the clergy person will be consistent with the values of the United Methodist Church.
About Our Facilities
Seating capacity for Wesley Chapel is 200, including the balcony.
No alcohol is permitted on the premises, and no smoking in or near the building. If you need these to be part of your ceremony, consider another location. If you choose to have your reception or any other social gathering in the church building, the same rule applies.
We have other spaces available for gatherings, including Tennant Hall, the Fellowship Lounge, and Wesley Lounge. If you are interested in using these spaces, you will need to specify that information when you book the Chapel.
For fee information, please contact the church office.
Goodrich Chapel
Goodrich Chapel is the property of Albion College, and is not part of the First United Methodist Church. Please call the college if you are interested in using Goodrich Chapel or any other campus spaces.
Music
You are responsible for booking musicians, including the organist, though we will happily provide you with contact information for the church organist. Be sure to contact the musicians well in advance, so that they can talk with you about your musical needs and preferences. The standard rate for the church organist is $125; you are also responsible for providing sheet music for any pieces you desire that are not part of the standard repertoire.