Weddings at Highlands United Methodist Church
1045 20th  Street South
Birmingham, AL 35205
205-933-8751

We, at Highlands United Methodist Church, look forward to your wedding day with eager anticipation, desire to work with you and pray God’s blessings on the preparation and the service of Christian Marriage.  God instituted marriage and you have the assurance God will be with you throughout your preparations for your marriage and all the years of it.

OUR GOAL

Highlands United Methodist Church desires to provide the best possible services to it's members and friends in all their religious needs.  To accomplish this purpose the church and staff have established the following policies, guidelines and fees relating to your rehearsal and wedding.

SEATING CAPACITY

Sanctuary (including the balcony) 650
Chapel (a separate worship space from the sanctuary) 65

BEGINNING YOUR PREPARATIONS

Any couple desiring to be married in the sanctuary or chapel of Highlands should first contact Highland's pastor, complete this form, and return it to the church office. 

DATES AND TIMES EXCLUDED

Because of the increased number of church services and activities during certain times of the year, a few dates do not allow us to host weddings.  Weddings may be scheduled throughout the year except during Holy Week (the week before and including Easter), on Sundays and on staff holiday weekends (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.)  Non-member weddings are not scheduled during the Advent Season – the four weeks before Christmas day or in December.

SCHEDULING YOUR WEDDING

Highlands United Methodist Church does it’s best to accommodate every party wishing to use its facilities for weddings.   All weddings conducted at Highlands are done on a first come first serve basis.

RELATIVES OF MEMBERS

The fee for non-member use of the sanctuary will be waived for children and grandchildren of members of Highlands United Methodist Church.

CLERGY

A pastor of Highlands will officiate the wedding ceremony. Counseling and planning sessions will be scheduled between one of the pastors of Highlands and the couple to be married. These sessions will serve to enable our clergy to become acquainted with the couple, to discuss the nature of Christian marriage, to explore the marriage expectations of the couple, and to examine the wedding service.
Other officiating clergy may be invited to assist in your wedding service.  One of the pastors of Highlands will work with you in inviting the guest clergy and designing the service for both clergy to take part.  The United Methodist Book of Worship contains two liturgies for the service of Christian Marriage.  The couple may select their service from these.

MUSIC

The Director of Music/Organist plays for all weddings and will play for 20 minutes prior to the wedding ceremony, will accompany any vocal solos, and will play all music that is a part of the service. He will schedule a consultation with the bride and groom for the purpose of selecting organ and vocal music. All wedding music (organ and vocal) needs to be selected from the approved list and/or approved by the Director of Music/Organist. Recorded music is not allowed.

Soloist:  If a soloist is desired a member from Highlands’ choir may be scheduled to sing upon the request of the bride and groom. Please do not engage guest soloist or instrumentalists for your wedding until you have had a consultation with the Director of Music/Organist.   Highlands’ Tower Bells are thirteen historic bells that you may elect to be played at your service. The bells are played approximately 20 minutes prior to the wedding, chime the hour before the service begins, chime before the bride processes, and play for 10-15 minutes following the service.

WEDDING DIRECTORS

A Highlands’ wedding director is required and will be chosen based on availability. Once the wedding is confirmed and the date is set the director will assist in the details concerning the wedding. We do not allow wedding directors other than those trained by the Highlands United Methodist Church.

BRIDE’S ROOM AND BRIDESMAIDS’ ROOM

A Bride’s Room and a Bridesmaids’ Room are available for the bride and her attendants to use. The groom and his attendants may also dress at the church and a suitable room will be selected for them.  It is advised that someone is assigned to monitor, collect and remove your personal possessions because the church cannot accept responsibility for clothing, jewelry or other valuables left at the church.

PHOTOGRAPHY

No flash pictures shall be taken in the sanctuary from the time the guests begin to arrive through the conclusion of the ceremony.  During the wedding service photography without flash may be taken from the narthex and balcony of the sanctuary. Flash pictures may be taken only as the couple leaves the church. It is recommended that pictures be taken before the wedding. All videotaping must be done from the balcony only.
Because a wedding ceremony is a time of worship and sacred Highlands does not allow photography to be taken by guests.  We suggest that in the worship program or bulletin a request be made that no photography should be taken and all cell phones turned off.

DECORATIONS

We request that no more than four arrangements of flowers or greenery be used behind the altar rail. The flowers on the ledge behind the altar will be placed in 5" papier maché containers and placed in the two urns furnished by the church. The arrangements should not exceed 25” from the top of the urns or containers not used on the altar. These flowers should not hang over the altar where they are a fire hazard and may not soil the Fair Linen altar cloth. Artificial flowers may not be used.
The paraments will be changed to white for weddings. Candles, other than those on the altar, must be equipped with spring loaded cylinders and be made with wax that does not drip.  Highlands does not provide unity candles.
Family pews may be decorated with small arrangements of flowers, greenery, and/or ribbons. No arrangements or draping is allowed on the chancel or choir rails.
All decorations must be removed from the building after the wedding unless special arrangements have been made with the Wedding Director prior to the wedding.  Frequently, the altar flowers are left from the wedding for use at our Sunday worship service following your wedding.  The church secretary will be happy to place a notice in the Sunday bulletin noting that the flowers are from and in celebration of your wedding or are in honor or memory of someone you hold dear.

GENERAL

· The use of alcohol, drugs and tobacco products on church property is strictly prohibited.
· Highlands is unable to provide a nursery for rehearsals and weddings.
· Our facility is not available for receptions.

WEDDING FEES

SANCTUARY
(Items marked with * are optional, all others are required)
Sanctuary: rehearsal and wedding (non-member fee) $1500.00

• Minister $300.00

• Wedding Director 200.00

• Director of Music/Organist $250.00

• Custodian: rehearsal and wedding $150.00

• Security Person $30.00 per hour/2 hour minimum

• Bell Chimer* $100.00

• Acolytes, crucifers, banner and torch bearers* $25.00 each

CHAPEL

• Chapel Wedding (non-member fee) $200.00

• Minister  $300.00

• Custodian $100.00

• Pianist $200.00

Piano accompaniment may be done by someone other than the Director of Music
 

Before your wedding can be placed on our church calendar you will need to meet with a pastor of Highlands.
Due to the demand for the use of our sanctuary a $250.00 non-refundable deposit is required for couples who are not members.
The balance of the sanctuary fee must be received by the church office at least one month before the wedding.  The Monday before the wedding the fees for minister, director, custodian, etc. must be received by the church office, either by check or cash.  Checks can be made out to Highlands United Methodist Church and fees will be distributed by the Financial Secretary.