Wedding policy for building

rev rick · Postby **rev rick** » December 7th, 2007, 6:53 pm

I am working on a building policy, and I would like imput. Would you post or pm me your input.

TW · Postby TW » December 7th, 2007, 7:01 pm

Rev. Rick titled this thread:

Wedding policy for building

Only marry two buildings that are of the same denomination. :lol:

TW

Postby **Pastor Gary** » December 7th, 2007, 9:38 pm

Be sure you have clearly defined policies regarding...

• Who is eligible to use the facility. (Scout group? 12-step program? HIV Awareness group?)

• What is prohibited. (Smoking, outside the building? Alcohol on the premises? Use of candles? Would you allow a dance in the fellowship hall?)

• Fees. (Do you have a published fee schedule for use of the building? Do members get free or reduced fee prices? Are cleaning/damage deposits required? Cancellation fees?)

• Clean-up procedures. (Have you written a step-by-step check list of the clean-up procedure? Do you furnish the necessary cleaning supplies -- broom(s), mop(s), chemicals, vacuum cleaner or must they bring their own?)

• Days and hours of availability? (Are any days or times off-limits?)

Just some things to get you started...

Postby **Shellie** » December 8th, 2007, 3:23 am

Pastor Gary has made a good list.

If you charge deposit fees, you are less apt to be left with a mess. We have had more than one wedding where we have learned the hard way. We tried to be gracious and offer our church for a "love offering." Don't DO IT! Take it from the voice of experience.

After I spent the entire evening cleaning the church up after a Saturday wedding of someone I didn't know, that got real old, real quick. They left the aisle runner in the floor, the bows on the pews, the melted candles in the candleabras (sp?) and used tissues in the pews. Then the next day, they called to pick up their rented candleabras so that they could get them back in time to get their deposit fee from the rental place. :evil:

One other thing I would consider is will they be using your sound board and equipment for music.

Will they be using your "supplies" in your kitchen if they use your fellowship hall.

We are finding that most churches around here don't even let non-members use their facilities anymore because of abuse. The ones that DO rent out or loan out their facilites also have a trusted church member that attends the functions and watches out over the building. If the sound equipment is needed then this person runs it for them and is paid a fee from wedding party.

stevenson · Postby **stevenson** » December 8th, 2007, 3:38 am

One other thing I would consider is will they be using your sound board and equipment for music.

Yes, yes, yes! I hate a last minute call from the Senior Pastor telling me that I'm needed to run the soundboard cuz the couple brought some music or a powerpoint slide show to the rehersal and want to know if anybody could run it for them. It takes away from family time. So if they need a sound guy.......make sure to charge a small fee and give that money to your sound guy. It makes a world of difference to him, trust me!

Mike Vande · Postby **Mike Vande** » December 8th, 2007, 4:41 am

Yes, what he said. :!:

Also, don't marry any building unless it is born again and has a testimony of regular tithing. :wink:

blessedmom · Postby **blessedmom** » December 9th, 2007, 4:18 pm

And don't listen to them when they say they want to use the church cause that is where they plan to attend. Their plans tend to change the week after the honeymoon.

Terri

PastorDaniel · Postby **PastorDaniel** » December 10th, 2007, 5:41 am

And if all of this sounds overwhelming....just don't fool with it....because it is. People tend to think that since it's a church that it owes them something.

We won't and don't rent to non-members for weddings or private use.

We do rent to other churches and allow other church/non-profit groups to use. But everthing's in writing and the check is up front. (if charging)

RaceRunner · Postby **RaceRunner** » December 10th, 2007, 5:48 am

If you rent the church to non-members for marriages and private events, you also run the risk of being sued for not renting to same-sex marriages and events.

Sherry · Postby **Sherry** » December 10th, 2007, 6:01 am

When I was office manager for a large Methodist church we had it in the policy that the only candles allowed were the dripless candles. This was after a very large wedding that had hundreds of candles and melted wax was left all over the place!! :roll:

It was never a problem after that.

Pastor Bill · Postby **Pastor Bill** » December 10th, 2007, 7:18 am

On the sound board, you may also want to stipulate WHO can or should be using it.

Uncle Jim Bob who volunteers may not leave things in good shape for your next service, and your sound people may really appreciate him NOT running the sound.

Remember you can always make exceptions to a rule easier than stopping something after they have planned on it.

RamboPreacher · Postby **RamboPreacher** » December 10th, 2007, 7:37 am

Pastor Bill wrote:On the sound board, you may also want to stipulate WHO can or should be using it.

Uncle Jim Bob who volunteers may not leave things in good shape for your next service, and your sound people may really appreciate him NOT running the sound.

Remember you can always make exceptions to a rule easier than stopping something after they have planned on it.

or better yet, require that they use the church sound tech/engineers. I personally don't want strangers touching, fondling and otherwise playing with my buttons and knobs!

Pastor Bill · Postby **Pastor Bill** » December 10th, 2007, 8:24 am

RamboPreacher wrote:
Pastor Bill wrote:On the sound board, you may also want to stipulate WHO can or should be using it.

Uncle Jim Bob who volunteers may not leave things in good shape for your next service, and your sound people may really appreciate him NOT running the sound.

Remember you can always make exceptions to a rule easier than stopping something after they have planned on it.
or better yet, require that they use the church sound tech/engineers. I personally don't want strangers touching, fondling and otherwise playing with my buttons and knobs!

Yes, that was my point, it needs to be someone OK'd by the church sound crew.

If not much is needed, this can be someone just back hitting the play button on the CD, but even for that, you want to know someone isn't going to be playing with things.

MacUser · Postby **MacUser** » December 10th, 2007, 9:01 am

We had a recent group use part of our facility briefly and we DIDN'T set a price.. and they came back in about a month and paid a very shock sized amount. Double what our typical fund raisers do. They even gave a public testimony before the entire church of extreme thanks and most of families associated attended that service with them! Praise God! Focus on above all being effective outreach in anyway possible.

Ask a set amount and that might be all you get. :wink:

Postby **Pastor Gary** » December 10th, 2007, 9:16 am

MacUser wrote:We had a recent group use part of our facility briefly and we DIDN'T set a price.. and they came back in about a month and paid a very shock sized amount. Double what our typical fund raisers do. They even gave a public testimony before the entire church of extreme thanks and most of families associated attended that service with them! Praise God! Focus on above all being effective outreach in anyway possible.

Ask a set amount and that might be all you get.

It's a double-edged sword: we, also, have allowed people to ue our building with no expectation of payment. One church held a work day at our church the following week and poured us a new set of steps out front. A family gave a sizable offering for allowing a post-funeral lunch.

We have also been left with broken chairs, wax on the carpet, rubbish all over the parking lot, garbage cans filled with rotting food not emptied into the outside trash bins... you name it.

Good fences make good neighbors, and I still say a general agreement that spells out your expectations is wise.

Jude 2