RIVERSIDE UMC WEDDING INFORMATION 

We hope this list of Frequently-Asked-Questions will be helpful as you are making plans for your special day! 

Do I have to be a member to be married at Riverside?

Our policy is that we will do weddings for 3 groups of people:

1. Members of Riverside UMC & their immediate family

2. Regularly attending non-members

3. Couples who are seeking a faith community, have attended worship at the church, and think Riverside might be a good fit for them.

How do I schedule my wedding?

If you fit into one of the above categories, simply call the church office at 486-5201 and speak with our church secretary, Carol Cadwell. If the church is available on the date that you are interested in, Carol will connect you with one of our pastors so you can set up an initial meeting to talk about details and confirm the date. 

Who will officiate in my wedding?

We currently have 3 pastors who can officiate at a wedding ceremony: David Griebner, April Blaine, and Pete Snook. We will try to match you with a pastor based on their availability. If you have a preference for a specific pastor, indicate this when you call to schedule your wedding.

What about pre-marital counseling and preparation?

We ask all couples who have scheduled their wedding to schedule their first meeting with the pastor right away. This is especially important for those couples who are new to the church. At the first meeting, you will confirm basic wedding details and outline the wedding process.  

All couples are expected to participate in pre-marital counseling with the pastor who is officiating their wedding. This process will include 3-5 sessions with the pastor and/or other relevant classes or experiences as agreed upon with the pastor.

Pre-marital counseling will include conversations about compatibility, communication, family dynamics, faith, the meaning of a Christian wedding ceremony, and much more.

What about costs?

Members - $450

Nonmembers - $800

This includes: organist, custodian, wedding coordinator & use of church.

Additional expenses - $25 for candelabra and candles

Honorarium for pastor (not included for members, but would be appropriate)

What kind of service can I expect?

The wedding service is a service of worship. When you ask to be married in the church you are asking for God to do something, to be present in your service and in your marriage. 

The wedding service celebrates the commitment you have already made to each other. It celebrates the fact that you have come to the place where you have decided you want to spend the rest of your life with each other.

In the wedding service you bring the commitment you already have for each other into the presence of God and ask God to take your human commitment and love for each other and make it holy. You ask God to make you one flesh by making a covenant between you. A covenant is an agreement by which two are made one.