Weddings

For more information review the general policies and guidelines included here, or contact the church office (781-275-7994, office@uubedford.org) during office hours, weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

General Policies and Guidelines

Reserving a Date

Contact the church office (office@uubedford.org or 781-275-7994) to schedule a visit and ask about the availability of the building on the proposed date of your event. 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 (download at the bottom of this page) and returned to the office along with a nonrefundable deposit of $100.00. Please make your check payable to First Parish in Bedford.

Finding an Officiant

Our Senior Minister, Rev. Jamie Hinson-Rieger, and our Minister of Faith Development, Rev. Annie Gonzalez, are available for officiating at weddings as their schedules permit, for both members and non-members. If they are not available, we can suggest 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. Hinson-Rieger to perform the ceremony. All couples must arrange for a prenuptial conversation with Rev. Hinson-Rieger or Rev. Gonzalez. 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, they must obtain a Certificate of Authorization from the Public Records Division of the 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 them 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 the minister. Please see the “Schedule of User Fees” below.

Marriage Licenses

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 under marriage intentions. 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 be sure to make a copy of the signed license and leave the copy with the church office. The officiant will complete the license and return it to the appropriate officials.

The Sanctuary

The church building and sanctuary are handicapped-accessible. There is an elevator at the Elm Street entrance to the church.

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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.

Music For Your Ceremony

All arrangements for music are made through our organist, Sandra LaBarge-Neumann. The church office can tell you how to be in touch with Sandra. First Parish has a beautiful Hook & Hastings pipe organ and a grand piano. The basic fee includes a music consultation and playing at the ceremony. If the organist is required at a rehearsal for the ceremony, there is an additional fee. 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 $55 courtesy fee paid to First Parish in Bedford.

Photography and Videotaping

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.

Bell Ringing

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.

Receiving Line

If you are going to have a receiving line and want to have it at the church, 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.

Decorations

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.

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 7 pews on each side of the center aisle, and 8 pews on each of the exterior sides for a total of 30 pews.

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:
Map and Directions.

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.

Receptions

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:

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 85 people seated at our 6′ tables). It is located on the first floor adjacent to our new kitchen.

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.

Gallery (Bacon, Blinn and Page Rooms) – chandeliered, carpeted, formal rooms overlooking the Sanctuary. It is a good site for quiet conversation and relaxation, receiving lines, and/or serving hors d’oeuvres or beverages . It is located on the second floor.

There are many other rooms 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,  a “stand-up/finger food” reception is expected to last about 2 hours  and a “sit-down dinner” reception is expected to last about 4 hours.  All receptions require hiring the sexton to care for the historic building. Please refer to the Schedule of User Fees below for more information, or talk to the Administrator about other rooms, arrangements and fees.

Schedule of User Fees

Sanctuary (for 1 hour wedding & rehearsal)* If either rehearsal or wedding goes longer than 1 hour, fees will be adjusted.	$375
Use of building for reception (2 hours)*	$325
Use of building for reception w/meal (4 hours)*	$550
Use of organ or piano (by outside musician)*	$55
Resident Ministers (Rev. Jamie Hinson-Rieger or Rev. Annie Gonzalez)** for ceremony only for ceremony and rehearsal	$550 $600
Organist (Sandra LaBarge-Neumann)** for ceremony only for ceremony and rehearsal	$300 $375
Sexton/Custodian (TBD)* for ceremony and 1-hour rehearsal for ceremony and 2-hour reception for ceremony and 4-hour reception	$150 $250 $350

*Payment must be made directly to the church and prior to the ceremony
**Checks may be given and made payable to the Organist and/or Minister at the rehearsal.

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~If you are interested in taking a tour or learning more about holding a wedding please complete our Initial Wedding Interest form.~

~If you are ready to secure a date, please complete our Wedding Application Form.~