Congratulations!
You are about to embark upon a very important, very emotional,
very exciting process - planning what we hope will be remembered as one
of the happiest days in your life!
Because this can also be a stressful time, we at First
Unitarian Church hope that this booklet will help answer some questions,
aid your planning, and generally remove some of your stress.
Whatever your situation, walk of life, race, religion, sexual
orientation or gender, we are honored to walk beside you in this meaningful
journey and hope to assist you with this joyful celebration of life and
love.
If you need any further guidance or information, please
feel free to give us a call at (412) 621-8008. A list of telephone extensions
is listed below for your convenience. Congratulations again!
- Marlee Keffer, Wedding Coordinator……(412) 621-8008, x 107
- Rev. David Herndon, Minister……….....…(412) 621-8008, x102
- Rita Gates, Business Manager…………..…(412) 621-8008, x101
- William Larson, Organist & Pianist………(412) 661-8985 (home)
Wedding
Registration Form & Online
Payment
The Church Building and Gardens
Sanctuary
Most weddings and unions at the church take place in the Sanctuary,
a Norman Gothic structure with a wood-beamed ceiling and extensive carved
woodwork. The Sanctuary, built in 1904, has a wide center aisle and
holds about three hundred (300) people. Three large stained glass windows
illuminate the Sanctuary. Sanctuary rental fee: $525.
Church Garden
The Church Garden, secluded behind the church building, can accommodate
about eighty (80)people. Church Garden rental fee: $300.
Schweitzer Room
Overlooking the Garden with a panoramic view, the Schweitzer Room accommodates
up to fifty (50) people and offers a stained-glass window and double
wooden doors. Schweitzer Room rental fee: $100.
Rooms are available where both parties can dress and relax privately
before the ceremony.
 The
Schedule
Wedding ceremonies typically last 25-30 minutes. Sometimes, we schedule
more than one ceremony at our church on the same day. Our policy is to
allow three (3) hours for each event. If your ceremony is at 2:00pm, for
example, the Sanctuary would be reserved for you between 12:30 and 3:30pm.
For ceremonies that take place in the Garden or Schweitzer Room, the couple
is responsible for setting up chairs for the guests. The church does not
provide this service.
Event Coordinator
The Event Coordinator's job is to be helpful to the wedding/union couple
and at the same time to represent the church and facilitate the services
which the church offers the couple: securing the reservation for the ceremony;
preparing spaces for the wedding party's needs and comfort; attending
to the details of preparation leading right up to the ceremony; and being
on hand as the wedding procession makes its entrance. The Event Coordinator
acts as a combination midwife and producer!
The Event Coordinator does not book ministers, musicians, florists, photographers,
videographers, caterers, transportation, printers, and so on. These items
are the responsibility of the couple, although the Coordinator may be
able to make recommendations.
Financial Arrangements
BUILDING RENTAL
A deposit of one-half of the rental fee is required to reserve your date
and time. If you cancel your reservation for the Sanctuary or Garden with
at least four weeks’ notice, all but $75 of your deposit will be
refunded. You may pay by check, either in person at the Church Office
or by mail. Full payment is due to the church one week prior to the ceremony.
Checks should be made payable to First Unitarian Church.
Rental fees for the building use are as follows:
Sanctuary; $525.
Garden: $300.
Schweitzer Room: $100.
These rental fees include the services of the Event Coordinator.
Financial arrangements for the minister and musicians should be made directly
with them. Fees for First Unitarian Church staff are as follows:
MINISTER
Rev. David Herndon
First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh endorses the Unitarian Universalist
Ministers’ Association standard fee guidelines for Unitarian Universalist
ministers. Our Minister’s fees for weddings and unions are $450,
which includes the ceremony and the rehearsal, and $400 without a rehearsal.
Please make your check payable to them directly.
ORGANIST/PIANIST
William Larson, First Unitarian Church Organist and Pianist
We prefer that only live music be played for ceremonies in the First Unitarian
Church Sanctuary. William Larson, organist/pianist for First Unitarian
Church must be contacted prior to making any musical arrangements. First
Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh endorses the standard fee guidelines established
by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Guild of Organists for church
musicians. The fee for Mr. Larson is $300, which includes a personal consultation,
the rehearsal and the ceremony. Additional fees are required for rehearsing
with soloists ($25) and/or contracting with additional musicians ($25).
Please make your check payable directly to William Larson. Full payment
is required one week prior to your ceremony.
Religious
Considerations
You need not be a member of First Unitarian
Church to be married here, but we do ask that you attend one of our Sunday
morning services sometime prior to your ceremony. If you live outside
Pittsburgh, attending a Unitarian Universalist church in your area will
satisfy this request.
We prefer that you make arrangements with a Unitarian Universalist minister
or commissioned lay leader to conduct your ceremony. Included in this
booklet is a list of local Unitarian Universalist ministers and commissioned
lay leaders who are available to conduct ceremonies at our church. We
impose no restrictions regarding previous marriages or present living
arrangements.
Occasionally we are asked for permission to use officiants who are not
Unitarian Universalist ministers. We welcome officiants from other faith
traditions so long as they are legally permitted to perform religious
ceremonies in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Rehearsal
We require a rehearsal for all weddings taking place
in the Sanctuary. The rehearsal allows all details to be worked out so
that there is less stress on your wedding day. For Saturday weddings,
we normally schedule rehearsals on Fridays between 4 and 7pm. The rehearsal
may take as long as an hour, depending on how many people are involved
in your wedding party. Please bring your marriage license with you to
the rehearsal.
Flowers and Other Decorations
We have found that guests typically begin to arrive
about half an hour before the ceremony begins. All decorations and other
preparations should be finished by that time. The church will be open
during the hour and a half before your ceremony. Please ask your florist
to be prompt, and be sure your florist will have enough people on hand
to complete their work in the allotted time.
No tape is to be used on the pews or other surfaces to secure flowers
or other decorations. Please inform your florist about this. A loop of
wire works well to hold pew decorations in place.
We request that you remove all decorations and programs including the
aisle runner after your ceremony.
If you are using candle stands, please have the florist or person responsible
for decorations supply clear plastic squares that can be placed under
the candle stands to prevent wax from dripping on the carpet. The church
does not supply unity candles or large candle stands.
If you are using a crash or aisle runner, you will need one at least sixty
(60) feet long. In keeping with the “green philosophy” of
First Unitarian Church, meaning that we try to be environmentally responsible
in all areas, we ask that if an aisle runner is to be used that it be
a recyclable one (please ask your florist about this) or that none be
used at all.
We regret that we do not allow rice, confetti, or bird seed to be used
in or on the church property.
There are seasonal decorations in our Sanctuary at least twice per year
(Christmas and Easter). If your ceremony is during one of these holiday
seasons, our decorations must remain in place. You are, however, encouraged
to add your own flowers and decorations. To avoid an unwelcome surprise,
we advise you to come in and look over our decorations ahead of time if
you are getting married during one of these holiday seasons.
After your ceremony, you may leave your altar flowers to be enjoyed by
people attending church on Sunday morning. If you wish to take your flowers
with you but would find it more convenient to pick up your flowers on
Sunday afternoon or during church office hours on Monday, we would be
happy to look after them.
Photography and Videography
Flash photography is allowed during the service,
but we ask that your photographer stay outside of the action: after all,
your photographer is there to record the event, not to become part of
it. There are several spots suitable for a video camera to be set up.
If your photographer and/or videographer arrive early, we will be happy
to suggest what we have found to be the best vantage points.
Music
We prefer that only live music be played for ceremonies in the First Unitarian
Church Sanctuary. William Larson, organist/pianist for First Unitarian
Church, must be contacted prior to making any musical arrangements. You
may call him at 412/661-8985. Mr. Larson will be responsible for approving
the use of outside musicians, and will gladly recommend a substitute musician
if he is not available for your ceremony. Approved guest musicians may
use the piano or the organ; organ settings must be returned to original
settings. Both instruments are intended primarily for performance, but
we do allow one hour of rehearsal time for guest pianists or organists.
Directory of Officiants
The Rev. Dr. David Herndon
(Rev. Herndon regrets that his schedule does not permit him
to perform ceremonies for those who are not
pledging members of First Unitarian Church.)
First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh
412.621.8008 x102 (church)
The Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker
Affiliated
Community Minister for First Unitarian Church
412.871.5252 - radiantvows@comcast.net
http://www.flowingforce.com
Other Local Unitarian Universalist Officiants
The Rev. Dr. Renee Waun
East Suburban Unitarian Universalist Church, Pittsburgh, Pa.
412.731.2834
The Rev. Lynn Acquafondata
UU Church of the South Hills, Pittsburgh, Pa
412.561.8012
The Rev. Joan Sabatino
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Indiana, Pa
724.349.2776
Joel Gilbertson White
Unitarian Universalist Minister-in-Training
510.457.5214 - amishfreedomrocker@gmail.com
Wedding
Registration Form
Directions
to First Unitarian Church
Hotels
near First Unitarian Church.
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