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First Parish in Bedford provides a lovely setting for a wedding in a beautiful old New England church. It is not necessary to be a member of First Parish to have a wedding here. The church administrator can help you make decisions as you plan your wedding. In addition, you will find some information in this booklet that will help guide you smoothly through the process . |
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General Policies and Guidelines
Call the church office (781/275-7994) or come by on a weekday between 9:00
a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and speak with the office staff to seeif the building is available on the date that you are interested in. If the office is closed, please leave a message and we will return your
call promptly. If one of our ministers will be officiating, it will be necessary to check their availability for the desired date. After
settling on a date, an application must be completed and returned to the office along with a nonrefundable deposit of $50.00 (make check payable to First Parish in Bedford).
Our senior minister, Rev. John Gibbons, and our assistant minister, Rev. Sylvia Stocker, are available for officiating at weddings as their schedules permit, for both members and non-members. If they are not available, we can suggest some names of other officiants who have previously performed weddings at First Parish in Bedford. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee an available officiant—although we will make every effort to assist you. If you are using our church, but have an officiant other than one of our ministers, that officiant must receive permission from Rev. Gibbons to perform the ceremony. All couples must arrange for a prenuptial conversation with Rev. Gibbons or Rev. Stocker. You may call the Church Office to schedule this (at least one month in advance of the wedding day).
Please note that if the officiant is an out-of-state member of the clergy, he or she must obtain a Certificate of Authorization from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth prior to the ceremony. It is recommended that such an application be made well in advance of the wedding date. For more information, contact the Division of Public Records at (617) 727-2836.
It is possible for a non-minister or non-justice of the peace (such as a relative or family friend) to obtain special one-time permission to perform a marriage. For more information, contact the Governor’s Appointment Office at (617) 725-4055.
Fees paid to the officiant are paid directly to that person. If you are using the services of one of our ministers, the check should be made payable to Rev. John Gibbons or Rev. Sylvia Stocker. The usual fee for non-members is $350; there is no fee for members.
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Obtaining a marriage license is the responsibility of the wedding couple. You may apply for a license at any Town/City Hall in the state. In Bedford, applications are made at the Town Clerk’s Office in the Town Hall. Information is available on the Bedford Town Clerk’s website at www.town.bedford.ma.us/town_clerk/marriage_licenses.html. There is a 3-day waiting period between making the application and the time you can pick up your license. You must bring your license with you at the time of the wedding rehearsal or make other acceptable arrangements with the officiant. Please make sure he or she makes a copy of the signed license and leaves the copy with the church office. The officiant will complete the license and return it to the appropriate officials.
The church building and sanctuary are handicapped-accessible. There is an elevator at the Elm Street entrance to the church.
The seating capacity in the sanctuary is about 200 people. If you expect more guests, chairs may be set up at the back of the sanctuary. The windows on the second floor may also be opened and more guests may be seated there. See a panoramic view of the entire sanctuary here.
All arrangements for music are made through our organist, Carol Hamilton. Please contact Carol directly to make arrangements prior to completing the wedding application. First Parish has a beautiful Hook & Hastings pipe organ and a
grand piano. The basic fee is $275, which includes a music consultation and playing at the ceremony. If the organist is required at a rehearsal for the ceremony, the additional fee is $50. Payment for these services should be made directly to the organist. When a soloist is involved, rehearsal arrangements and fees are negotiated with the organist. Should you be using an outside organist or pianist, there is a $50 courtesy fee paid to First Parish in Bedford.Arrangements for recording the ceremony are the responsibility of the wedding couple. It is up to the officiating minister to set policy as to what restrictions he/she may want to put on the photographer. It is possible to take photographs of and/or videotape the ceremony from the windows of the second floor. This vantage point provides an inconspicuous site, yet a full view of the ceremony.
It is possible to arrange to have the church bell rung during or after the ceremony. Please make arrangements with the sexton at the time of the rehearsal if you would like this done.
| If you are going to have a receiving line and want to have it here, in good weather it works out nicely to have the receiving line out on the Common. In the event of bad weather, you can make arrangements with the sexton to have the receiving line inside the building. |  |
It is important that any decorations used are appropriate for the interior of our lovely sanctuary and that no damage is incurred. Please do not move or remove
anything without consulting with the sexton. If special arrangements for decorating the church must be made, check with the Administrator a week in advance of the wedding date.
Flowers
It is the responsibility of the wedding couple to make arrangements for flowers either with a florist or some other party or individual. Large arrangements may be placed wherever you choose on the chancel—keep in mind the placement and number of wedding attendants when determining a good site for these. Flowers may also be put in the windows—there are 10 windows in our Sanctuary. It is important to consult with the Administrator when deciding on a delivery time for your flowers. If you are planning on leaving your flowers behind after the service and are willing to have them used in our Sunday morning worship service, please let the Administrator know.
Candles
There are ten lanterns available for use in the windows. Please provide your own 4-inch
dripless candles. The sexton will put them in place in the windows. The chimneys must be used at all times.
There are four standing-candelabra available for use. It is essential that these are placed only at the front of the church where they are out of the flow of the congregants. Each candelabra has a capacity of 5 candles (not provided)—15-inch dripless candles work best.
There is a long Shaker table available for use for items such as unity candles. Make arrangements with the sexton at the time of the rehearsal.
Pew Decorations
Decorations may be put on the end of the pews. It is essential that they be attached with clips that florists can provide that will
not lift the paint when the decorations are removed. Please do not use tacks or tape at any time or in any place. You will be billed for any damage incurred. There are 8 pews on each side of the center aisle, 2 front recessed pews on each side in the center, and 10 pews on each of the exterior sides.
Aisle Runners
The church has a beautiful red carpet, so an aisle runner is not needed. However, should you wish to have one, the center aisle is 35 feet from the bottom step at the front of the sanctuary to the entrance of the sanctuary, and 46 feet from the step to the front door of the building. The church does not provide the aisle runners. The sexton will provide a cover for the heating grate in the center aisle.
Other Information and Guidelines
Sexton
– It is required that a sexton be present for the rehearsal and the ceremony. A check for these services should be made out to the sexton and given to him at the time of the rehearsal. See the user fee schedule.
Invitations
– When planning your wedding invitations, a suggested wording for the address is: First Parish in Bedford, On the Common, 75 The Great Road, Bedford, Massachusetts. A map and directions for you to copy for the convenience of your guests can be found here.
Parking
– The church has no off-street parking area of its own, so parking is all on-street. Parking may be available at the nearby Town Hall complex, which can be accessed by turning right off of Elm Street and following the road into the town parking areas.
Pre-ceremony waiting site
– Prior to the start of the wedding, the wedding party can retreat to the second floor lounge and rest rooms to get dressed or to await the start of the ceremony. If additional rooms are needed, there will be an extra fee and arrangements must be made in advance with the Administrator.
General Policies
• There is no smoking allowed
anywhere in the building.• Food and drink are not allowed in the sanctuary.
• No rice, confetti, or birdseed may be thrown in the building;
birdseed may be used outside the building.• Activity is restricted to areas which have been reserved in advance.
The formal rooms of the church provide a lovely, convenient, and inexpensive setting for a reception. There are a variety of different types of rooms available:
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Common Room – a formal, elegant, high-ceilinged large hall with beautiful lighting and windows on three sides and a beautiful hardwood floor. It is suitable for a reception or sit-down dinner (capacity is about 110 people). It is located on the first floor adjacent to our new kitchen. |
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| Bacon Room – a formal, carpeted, high-ceilinged, and chandeliered room overlooking the Common. It is a good site for Receiving Lines, Formal Receptions, serving hors d’oeuvres, and/or a wedding cake. It is located on the second floor. |  |
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Blinn Room
– a chandeliered, carpeted, formal lounge with comfortable chairs and a sofa. It is a good place to sit for quiet conversation and relaxation. It is located on the second floor.
Page Room
– a chandeliered room with wood floors and an area oriental rug. It can be used for serving food and/or beverages, dancing (with the rug removed) or for conversation. It is located on the second floor.
Full Kitchen
– equipped with 3 ovens, a six-burner range, refrigerator, and 3 sinks; meets the needs of most caterers. The church is not responsible for making arrangements with the caterer, but the Administrator will work out logistics with the firm of your choice. There is a dishwasher available. You must provide your own silverware, dishes and glassware.
Second Floor Kitchen
– equipped with 2 ovens, a four-burner range, refrigerator, and 1 sink.There are many other classrooms available in the building, including a nursery on the bottom floor that could be used if you would like to provide childcare for your guests. In general, the user fee for a "stand-up/finger food" reception (about 2 hours) is $300 plus sexton’s fees. A "sit-down dinner" reception lasting about 4 hours would be $500 plus the sexton’s fee. Please refer to the Schedule of User Fees below for more information, or talk to the Administrator about other arrangements and fees.
| Sanctuary (for wedding & 1 hour rehearsal)* | $300 |
| Use of building for reception (2 hours)* | $300 |
| Use of building for reception w/meal (4 hours)* | $500 |
| Use of organ or piano (by outside musician)* | $50 |
| Resident Minister (Rev. John E. Gibbons)** | $350 |
| Organist (Carol Hamilton)** | $275 |
| Wedding rehearsal | $50 |
| Sexton (Joseph Periello)** |
| Ceremony and 1-hour rehearsal | $100 |
| Ceremony and 2-hour reception | $200 |
| Ceremony and 4-hour reception with meal | $300 |
Payment should be made prior to the ceremony. Checks may be given to the Sexton or Minister at the rehearsal.
PLEASE NOTE
: These prices include one hour for the wedding ceremony and one hour for the rehearsal. If either takes longer than one hour, the Sanctuary and Sexton fees will be adjusted.______________________
* Make check payable to First Parish in Bedford
** Make check payable to individual as named
Map to First Parish in Bedford
75 The Great Road, Bedford, MA
* Parking—The church has no off-street parking area of its own, so parking is all on-street. Parking may be available at the nearby Town Hall complex, which can be accessed by turning right off of Elm Street and following the road into the town parking areas.
Directions to First Parish in Bedford
From the South
Take Route 95 North. Get off at Exit 31B (Routes 4 & 225). Go through six sets of signal lights. You will then see the church set back on the common on your left. You can take a left onto Elm St. (Fire station is on the corner). The church is set back on the common on your left.
From the North
Take Route 495 South to Route 3 South. Get off at Concord Road exit. Turn left off exit ramp. Follow to STOP sign (by Renzo Salon). Turn left onto Route 4 South. Stay on Route 4 (later joined by 225 & 62). You will go past one right church on your right. Take your next right onto Elm St. (Fire station is on the corner). The church is set back on the common on your left.
From the West
Take Route 62 East to the Route 62 East exit. Follow Route 62 through Concord Center and in to Bedford. After joining with Routes 4 & 225, go past one right church on your right. Take your next right onto Elm St. (Fire station is on the corner). The church is set back on the common on your left.
Please print and complete the application at this link as soon as possible and mail it along with a deposit check for $50 to:
First Parish in Bedford
75 The Great Road
Bedford, MA 01730
Contact Information (Resident staff members):
| Minister (Rev. John Gibbons) | 781/275-7994 | minister@uubedford.org |
| Administrator (Joan Petros) | 781/275-7994 | office@uubedford.org |
| Organist (Carol Hamilton) | 781/275-2718 | chamilton3@verizon.net |
| Sexton (Joseph Periello) | 781/275-7994 | |
