Weddings

First Methodist's sanctuary and ministerial staff are available for weddings of active members of First Methodist Tulsa. Before filling out your wedding application, you will be guided through a reading of the wedding handbook, which is also available as a PDF download below.
PDF DOWNLOAD | Wedding Handbook

Wedding Handbook & Application

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We are delighted that you are interested in celebrating your wedding with us. This handbook is designed to guide you through the planning and preparation of your wedding ceremony, ensuring that it is a faithful, worshipful, and joyous occasion. Our church holds firm to the traditional and historical view of Christian marriage, which we believe is a covenant between one man and one woman, reflecting the relationship between Christ and His Holy Church. In the holy covenant of marriage, two people become one flesh and two families are united as one family. And “what God has joined together, let no man separate” (Mark 10:9).
At First Methodist Church, we believe that a wedding is not just a celebration of love between two people, but also a service of holy worship where sacred vows are exchanged. It is a time to honor God and seek His blessings as you begin your journey together as husband and wife. As you prepare for your wedding, we encourage you to approach this time with earnest prayer and sincere reflection.
Our pastoral team and church staff are here to support you and provide guidance as you prepare for holy matrimony. We hope that your wedding day will be a beautiful and memorable expression of your love for each other and your commitment to Almighty God. May the Holy Spirit of God bless you as you prepare for this special day.
With warm regards,
Rev. Todd Lovell
Executive Pastor

Your Wedding At First Methodist

First Methodist Church Tulsa is pleased that God has brought you to the place where you will be sharing your sacred vows of holy matrimony. We believe that a Christian wedding is a covenant and will reflect your desire to be an obedient disciple of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We believe that a wedding is a union between a biological man and a biological woman, but even more, it is an act of worship. A wedding is not only a time to declare your love for one another, it is also a time to affirm your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of your lives and thus, Lord of your marriage.
Over the past 139 years, First Methodist Church Tulsa has hosted hundreds of weddings. Experience has taught us a great deal. By abiding by the policies listed, we feel Christ will be honored, the marriage ceremony will be done well, and the needs of our facility and staff will be respected. Please read the following material carefully and cooperate fully with First Methodist Church Tulsa in upholding these high standards.
Click here to download a PDF copy of the handbook that follows.

Reserving Your Date

Before reserving your wedding date, you must read and acknowledge the entire handbook on the following pages. You will then be taken to the application which will be reviewed after submission and considered for approval/declination. Please allow up to ten business days for determination. Please note that applications will not be considered more than one year prior to the requested ceremony date.

Active Membership

Either one or both of the bride and groom must be a current *active member, and/or the child of a current active member, and/or the grandchild of a current active member.
*An active member is defined as someone actively participating in the life of FMC-Tulsa who has a recorded attendance record showing active attendance at least 50% of the time for at least 6 months prior to submitting a wedding application.

Ceremony Fees

Fee | $1000
  • 1/2 Due at Booking
  • 1/2 Due 30 Days Prior to Ceremony
Fees include the use of the sanctuary, wedding director, audio specialist, organist, and security guard.
Your deposit is non-refundable if the cancellation takes place within 30 days of the ceremony date. The deposit (less $100) is refundable if the cancellation takes place more than 30 days prior to the ceremony date.
The honorarium for the minister(s) is not included in the wedding fee. (The honorarium for the First Methodist Tulsa minister is $200 and should be paid directly to him or her.) The bride and groom are responsible for the delivery of the honoraria to the minister(s).

Ceremony Dates Available

Weddings are scheduled on Saturdays only. We do not schedule weddings on the following weekends due to seasonal activities of the church:
  • New Year's Eve and Day*
  • Palm Sunday
  • Easter Weekend
  • Memorial Day Weekend
  • Fourth of July**
  • Labor Day Weekend
  • First Weekend of October
  • Thanksgiving Weekend
  • Any Weekend in December
  • Other Weekends as Needed***
*If New Year’s Eve falls on a weekend, this may also include the second weekend of January.
**May also include the weekend prior to July 4 for annual Patriotic service. Dependent upon when July 4 occurs each year.
***Other weekends may be unavailable due to church events

Location of Ceremony

Weddings are held in our Sanctuary or in McBirney Chapel. The Sanctuary can seat several hundred. McBirney Chapel can seat approximately 70 people comfortably. Since the Chapel is attached to the Sanctuary, fees are the same for both locations.

Time of Ceremony

Weddings are scheduled to begin between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and are scheduled on Saturdays only. Arrival of the bridal party (and all vendors) can begin three (3) hours prior to the ceremony. Example: For 1:00 p.m. weddings, earliest arrival time is 10:00 a.m. For 7:00 p.m. weddings, earliest arrival time is 4:00 p.m. An early arrival time may be requested and if available, a fee of $100/hour will apply and must be paid no later than 30 days prior to the ceremony date.

Ministers

One of our First Methodist Tulsa Ministers will be happy to officiate your wedding.  With approval by the First Methodist Tulsa Lead Pastor, a guest Minister might be considered to conduct your wedding, but one of our First Methodist Tulsa Ministers might be required to participate in the wedding ceremony.  A guest minister should only be contacted after consulting with our First Methodist Tulsa wedding coordinator who will submit a request to the First Methodist Tulsa Lead Pastor.

Wedding Coordinator

Your wedding coordinator will handle your scheduling at First Methodist Tulsa. She will also be able to answer any questions you have along the way up to the rehearsal.
Stacy Schuller
First Methodist Church
1115 S. Boulder Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74119
Church 918.592.3862, ext. 1123
Fax 918.584.5228

Bridal Consultation

Shortly after your wedding is booked, the First Methodist Tulsa wedding coordinator, bride, groom, and other family members you may wish to invite, will schedule a Bridal Consultation to discuss details of the wedding. This is to be set up at a mutual time for those involved.

Wedding Director

At the rehearsal, the wedding director will “take the reigns” from the wedding coordinator and will lead and be available to assist you during the rehearsal and your wedding day. The coordinator and wedding director work in close communication to ensure every detail of your wedding is just how you want it. When outside wedding assistants are present, the First Methodist Tulsa director will be the lead and they will work together.

Alcohol/Smoking

Our buildings are smoke-free, including vaping, and alcohol is not allowed anywhere on the property. Violators of this policy may be asked to leave the premises.

Premarital Counseling

First Methodist Tulsa encourages pre-marital counseling and can be provided by First Methodist Tulsa Ministers. A minimum of four hours is required.

Music

Consultation with the Senior Organist

After the Bridal Consultation, the bride and groom are then responsible to contact Dick Taylor, the church senior organist, to set up a convenient time for a consultation and musical selections. You may reach the organist at [email protected] or at 918.592.3862, ext. 1177.

Ceremony Music

The wedding is a service of worship, during which a biological man and a biological woman unite their lives in the presence of God and loved ones. The music should reflect an atmosphere of reverence and joy and should glorify God and honor the sanctity of Holy Matrimony.
First Methodist Church Tulsa has a senior organist on staff that plays for weddings and coordinates all the music. The senior organist will assist you in finding music which reflects personal considerations yet upholds the appropriateness and integrity of the worship service. All musical selections will be discussed with and approved by the senior organist. Any other considerations regarding the organ or other instruments considered for use in the wedding ceremony are at the discretion and approval of the senior organist.
All music for the ceremony is performed live, with the exception being the use of an accompaniment track for a soloist or instrumentalist. Suggestions for soloist/instrumentalists are to be discussed and approved by the organist. If a relative or friend is being considered to sing or play an instrument for your ceremony, the choice of music should follow the same guidelines of appropriateness and integrity of the worship service. An additional fee of $100 for the audio specialist to attend the rehearsal may apply if required/requested. On your wedding day, the senior organist will be available to play 30 minutes prior to your ceremony, any time during your ceremony, and will conclude at the end of the recessional.

Vendors

It's a good idea to take the First Methodist Tulsa Wedding Guideline book with you when meeting with vendors. It contains information your vendors may need.

Florist/Decor/Etc.

  • We ask that no rice, birdseed, confetti, glitter, streamers, sparklers or unsupervised candles, flowers, or anything that litters the sidewalk be used, however, bubbles, glow sticks, ribbon wands, doves, flags, bells, butterflies, or balloons released outside the church may be used.
  • Florist are encouraged to arrive 2 ½ hours before the wedding. Boutonnières are to be left in the Harrington Garden Room for pinning. Bouquets and corsages are to be left in the Bride’s room. (Plumosis, glitter, or maiden hair [shedding greenery], may not be used anywhere in the church).
  • Petals may be tossed by the flower girl(s) during the processional.
  • For the safety of the bridal party and guests, we ask that an aisle cloth not be used.
  • Other than candelabras, we ask that no decorations be added to the chancel area.
  • Pew bows and/or candles may be used. Please discuss this with the First Methodist Tulsa wedding coordinator.
  • We suggest you designate someone in your party to set up your floral decorations and décor inside and outside the sanctuary and remove them immediately after any post-ceremony pictures.
  • We suggest you designate someone in your party to pick up any unity candles or crosses after the ceremony.
  • The church has candelabras for use at an additional a-la-carte fee. If you desire to have candelabras as part of your décor, please let the wedding coordinator know as soon as possible to make your selections. The rental fee is due 30 days prior to the wedding. The First Methodist Tulsa wedding director will be able to light the candles prior to your ceremony for you. 
  • The choir chairs will remain in the chancel area and due to Sunday services cannot be removed.
  • The Altar table, cross, Bible, and altar candles will remain in the chancel and cannot be moved.
  • Any wedding décor should not scar, mar, or permanently affix to anything in/on/around the church. No nails, screws, 3M command strips (or the like), adhesive, etc. can be used in the church, including but not limited to any doors, (interior and exterior) furniture, walls, pews, etc.

Photography & Videography

We want to assist you in capturing this special day in a memorable, reverent, and safe manner; therefore, we kindly ask that you follow our wedding photography guidelines.
  • The Bridal Party and Vendors may arrive at the church as early as 3 hours before the ceremony. For example, if the wedding is at 7:00 p.m., then the Bridal Party and vendors may begin arriving at 4:00 p.m. Additional time may be requested and, if available, a fee of $100/hour will apply and must be paid no later than 30 days before the ceremony date.
  • Please ask family and friends not to use flash cameras at all during the wedding ceremony. This interrupts the professional photographer.
  • In pre-ceremony and post-ceremony pictures, family/friends should provide courtesy to let the professional photographer shoot first.
  • We do allow flash photography by the Professional Photographers for the processional and recessional. Photography with no flash is allowed throughout the ceremony however, in order to maintain the integrity of the wedding ceremony, once the minister has begun speaking (at the beginning of the actual ceremony), we ask for no more flash photography until the kiss between the Bride and the Groom, during which flash photography is allowed and can resume. 
  • Photographers are free to use the balcony area during any part of the ceremony. There are also two back doors at the back of the chancel area (up the stairs where the Bridal party stands), one on each side.  If you are not familiar with this part of the sanctuary, ask the wedding director to show you how to get there. From these doors, it is possible to get a close shot of the Bride and Groom during the ceremony without stepping out onto the chancel area.
  • We ask that photographers not take any photos any closer than the last pew of guests or down the side aisles during the ceremony.
  • We do ask that photographers not stand in the chancel area in any part of the processional, ceremony, or recessional. We also ask that photographers not lie on the aisle floor during the processional, ceremony, or recessional or stand on chairs/pews during any photography throughout the day however, if there are planned shots that need to be captured at a higher level, other than the balcony, the photographer may provide his or her step ladder at his or her own risk.  We suggest bringing an assistant to ensure safety.
  • When planning pre-ceremony pictures with the wedding party, pictures should be finished 45 minutes before the ceremony's start time. This ensures enough time to prevent the bride from being seen before the ceremony, the guests to be seated, and the wedding director to light any candles. (Seating of guests begins 30 minutes prior to the ceremony). For example, if the wedding is at 7:00 p.m., all pictures should conclude at 6:15 p.m.  This is also a great time to shoot mock “getting ready” photos in the Bride’s Room.
  • After the ceremony, pictures taken with the minister should be taken first. Please remember that the church may have another scheduled sanctuary event after the wedding and/or the Bridal Party may need to leave to attend the reception, so the photographer should plan the shots efficiently.
  • We ask that pictures conclude no more than 30 minutes after the ceremony.
  • If you need additional information, please contact the Wedding Coordinator, who will be happy to assist you.  

Your Rehearsal

The Eve of Your Wedding

  • Rehearsals are on Friday evenings promptly at 5:30 p.m. unless two weddings are scheduled, in which case the other rehearsal is promptly at 6:30 p.m. In the case of two weddings, the wedding scheduled first will rehearse at 5:30 p.m. and the wedding scheduled second will rehearse at 6:30 p.m. The wedding coordinator will inform you of your rehearsal time. Please arrive 10-15 minutes early! 
  • Minister(s) will be at the rehearsal along with the wedding director and wedding party.  The Minister will conduct the rehearsal along with the wedding director. If an outside wedding assistant is present at the rehearsal or ceremony, the First Methodist wedding director will be the lead.
  • Please bring your marriage license to the rehearsal and give it to the officiating minister. For more information about acquiring your marriage license visit courtclerk.tulsacounty.org or call 918. 596.5478 or 918.596.5451. M-F 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (A recording is available at 918.596.5452.) 
  • Our audio specialist will not attend the rehearsal unless requested or suggested by the senior organist.  If the audio specialist is needed at the rehearsal, there will be an additional fee of $100 an hour. Soloist or instrumentalist rehearsals will be held 1 hour and 15 minutes before your ceremony.  

Wedding Day Details

  • What to Bring:
Dress, veil, tux and shoes
Rings and other bridal jewelry
Any make-up, hair products, styling tools, etc.
Clothes steamer
Unity candle (3” x 6” white candle)/unity cross
Guest book(s) and Pens
Programs                      
Card box (enclosed box to gather gift cards)
Map to reception
  • Guests will arrive through the large wooden Gothic-style Sanctuary doors with stairs leading up to the Cathedral.
  • The closest parking lot is on Boulder between 11th and 12th Streets.
  • Animals of any kind are not allowed inside the church at any time (except certified Service animals with official documentation).
  • Childcare is not available or provided during wedding rehearsals or ceremonies. This includes the use of the Children’s/Nursery facilities.
  • Snacks and food are allowed in the Bride’s Room and Groom’s Room. (except red, dark blue or purple-dyed drinks) Bottled water is best as it will not stain the attire or carpet. Please leave all food in the outer bride’s room and please be sure to throw away all trash before leaving the Bride’s Room and Groom’s Room.
  • Please plan to have your belongings gathered in the Bride’s Room prior to the beginning of your ceremony. This will help you ‘grab and go’ with your things after the ceremony so as not to leave anything behind. Once the bride leaves for the ceremony, the doors will be locked.
  • Please make sure to secure all your belongings. We ask you not to leave anything of value (sentimental or otherwise) unattended. If you leave the Bride’s or Groom’s room, please lock and shut the doors behind you. The wedding director will be available to let you back into the rooms. First Methodist Tulsa will not be held responsible for lost or stolen items.
Click here to download the entire handbook as a PDF.

Wedding Application

Bride Information

Groom Information

Background Information


Your Wedding



Conclusion


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