Policies and Fees:
POLICIES AND FEES:
Member Full Wedding Ceremonies
Weddings at Mayflower Church are formal, traditional, and elegant in both style and substance. We insist that those who wish to have their wedding ceremony here understand this is a spiritual experience, and that what happens in the sanctuary when two people are joined in sacred covenant is a serious, momentous occasion.
In order to assure that your wedding is the most meaningful, and spiritual experience possible, Mayflower has rules that we ask everyone in the wedding party to follow.
1) The church provides the services of a trained wedding consultant who has supervised hundreds of weddings at Mayflower and looks after all the details involved in a smooth, orderly ceremony. She contacts the organist/pianist, arranges for seating charts, instructs ushers, and lines up the wedding party on time. She is present on both the night of the rehearsal and for a three-hour block of time on the day of the wedding - opening the church two hours before the ceremony begins, and looking after all the details necessary to get the bride down the aisle on time, and for the wedding to go smoothly.
For ALL full wedding ceremonies at Mayflower church performed by Dr. Meyers, the wedding consultant is a requirement. Her fee is $250.
2) Members are not required to pay Dr. Meyers for performing the wedding ceremony, nor any fee for the use of the church facilities.
3) Members are required to pay the organist a minimum of $100, and to pay for any soloists or additional musicians.
4) Taped music is not allowed at Mayflower, as we provide the services of a wonderful pipe organ and a magnificent grand piano played by the talented Minister of Music at Mayflower, Richard Jobe. Richard has first right of refusal to play for all weddings at Mayflower, but is happy to work with soloists or other musicians who may be requested by the family.
5) Dr. Meyers' wedding service is clearly a religious ceremony, but is not heavy-handed, or offensive to non-Christians. It blends both ancient and contemporary language in a service that is brief, personal, and relevant. Brides are not "given away," nor are they asked to "obey" their husbands! And it's "husband and wife," not "man and wife."
6) To book a member wedding that requires a rehearsal, call the church office to check on the availability of Dr. Meyers for the date you have in mind. If he is not available because of travel or other obligations, we will suggest other clergy who can perform the service, or allow the family to provide a minister. If someone other than Dr. Meyers is performing the service, the requirement of the wedding consultant is waived. The family is still responsible, however, to pay the organist.
7) Receptions can be held in Milligan Hall ONLY for church members or their immediate family. All expenses related to the reception are the responsibility of the family, and a $75 clean up fee must be paid to church sexton, Ron Werneke, for all receptions held at the church.
Member Small (Walk-In) Weddings
Occasionally, members will prefer a very simple, informal wedding ceremony officiated by Dr. Meyers. They can be much less stressful, much less expensive, and just as meaningful.
Because no rehearsal is involved, any music must be provided for by the family (someone who plays piano for example, is welcome to play the church grand piano before and after the service, and if a solo or instrumental number can be provided for by the family as part of the service without a rehearsal, that's fine.
Dr. Meyers, if he is available to do the service, will meet with the couple 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled wedding time, and lead them to the chancel for a simple double ring exchange - with music if provided.
There is no charge for Dr. Meyers to perform any wedding service for any active member of Mayflower Church.
Non-Member Weddings
The ONLY wedding ceremony available to nonmembers of the church is the small, no-rehearsal, "walk-in" wedding, and it must be performed by Dr. Meyers, subject to his availability. Other clergy cannot perform non-member weddings at Mayflower.
The rules for non-member "small" weddings are identical to those for members. Since there is no rehearsal, only music that can be provided for by the family is allowed, and the wedding party shall not exceed the bride and groom and a best-man/maid(en) of honor and children if requested). The number of wedding guests shall not exceed 75.
Instead of a formal procession with music, the wedding party "gathers" at the front of the church after walking down the aisle with Dr. Meyers, and he performs the ceremony. Receptions for non-member weddings cannot be held at the church, but the wedding party is welcome to linger for pictures and a receiving line if they wish before going on to a reception elsewhere.
The fee for a non-member wedding is $500.
Call Helen Sullivan at 842-8897 to inquire about available dates.
