Midland Evangelical Church

When can we start?

Start as early as possible. You do not have to be engaged. If you would like help in the decision to be married, feel free to contact the Care Ministries office. We would be glad to assist you! The prospective bride or groom must be a regular attender of Midland Free for at least three months prior to starting the Preparing for Marriage process.

When should we book a reception hall?

Please do not reserve an outside reception hall until your wedding and date have been scheduled and confirmed at the church.

What happens after the wedding has been approved?

An Approval Letter will be sent to the couple verifying that a date has been reserved on the church calendar for the rehearsal and wedding ceremony. The Preparing for Marriage process will be outlined. A Facility Request Form must be completed listing specific needs and set up for the facility. (Best done in conjunction with Wedding Coordinator). Rooms can be reserved for receptions when available. All weddings and receptions must end no later than 8 p.m. on Saturdays. We do not perform weddings on Sundays. A wedding date will not be guaranteed until 12 months prior to the wedding.

What if we want a Pastor that is not on the Midland Free staff to marry us, but we want to be married at Midland Free?

Some couples have a Pastor that they identify with from their hometown before transitioning to the Midland area and request him to officiate their wedding. We acknowledge the fact that this is important for the couple, and will accommodate this request only if the Pastor is of like faith and belief. A Midland Free Pastor must be part of the ceremony if the church campus is used. He can be available for the welcome, a reading or prayer and will be present for the entire ceremony.

Couples will still be required to adhere to the Preparing for Marriage course to be married at Midland Free.

Can a Midland Free Pastor marry us off-site?

Yes.  All Preparing for Marriage requirements are still in effect. Compensation for travel expenses, gas, food and other expenses need to be addressed and provided for the Pastor and his wife/family. Note: If you are getting married out-of-state make sure the pastor has authorization or a license to officiate a wedding ceremony in that location.

Who will help us in planning for the wedding ceremony?

The officiating Pastor can assist you in planning for your wedding ceremony. The order of worship for the ceremony needs to be discussed and approved by the officiating Pastor no later than two weeks prior to the wedding date. We reserve the right to approve music, reading and other content for all ceremonies. The Wedding Coordinator will be contacted by a staff person when a wedding has been approved. The couple is responsible for contacting all musicians, readers and other participants in the wedding.

What does the Wedding Coordinator do?

Couples wishing to use Midland Free for their wedding service must coordinate their wedding plans through our Wedding Coordinator. She will work with you and discuss details specific to your wedding day and rehearsal time.  Her objective is to be sure that your wedding service is well orchestrated and memorable. You will find her services and experience to be invaluable during your planning.  She will contact you after your wedding has been approved.

Can we have our wedding reception at Midland Free?

There are specific locations in the facility that can accommodate receptions.  These spaces can be considered when reserving the wedding date on the church calendar. All receptions must catered by a licensed, insured caterer and be assisted by a Midland Free PIC (person in charge of kitchen) before, during and after the reception.  General clean-up after the wedding is expected to be done by the couple getting married or whomever they designate for that duty.  This includes removal of decorations, flowers, trash, etc., and all activities must end no later than 8:00 pm if on Saturday. All receptions held on the church campus should reflect a nature that is consistent with a Christian event and should not bring into question the character of our Christian testimony. There will be no alcoholic beverages served on the church grounds.  The wedding service, rehearsal and reception should honor and bring glory to our Lord. All music that is chosen for either the wedding ceremony or the reception should be of Christian nature. There is no smoking allowed inside the facility on the Midland Free campus. No throwing of rice, confetti, birdseed, or glitter inside or outside the facility. No liquids with red or colored dyes are allowed in the facility.

Does Midland Free offer childcare?

Neither childcare nor our nursery area is available during the wedding rehearsal, the wedding or the reception. There are two comfort rooms that can be used for restless children during the wedding ceremony. Children must be supervised at all times.

Once we complete the wedding application and take the PREPARE inventory, can we go ahead and secure a reception off campus?

No, completing the Wedding Application and taking the PREPARE inventory does not guarantee approval of your wedding and the date you’re requesting. We recommend couples wait and complete the Preparing for Marriage process. This assures that your wedding is approved, and the rehearsal and ceremony have been secured on the church calendar. We highly recommend that couples start the Preparing for Marriage process with us as early as possible.

How and when should we secure a marriage license?

A marriage license can be secured in the county in which you reside. Each county has certain requirements; a valid driver’s license, birth certificate, and a small fee. In most counties the marriage needs to be solemnized within 30-33 days of application with a waiting period of 3-5 days. If couples reside in Michigan they do not have to be married in the same county they secured their marriage license but out-of-state residents must.

My fiancée (or both of us) lives a long distance from Midland Free, how are we to participate in the Preparing for Marriage process?

Some couples are faced with this issue. Since the Wedding Application and the PREPARE inventory are online, we can receive vital information that will aid in determining the status of your relationship for marriage without a fiancée being present. We do require that premarital counseling, comparable to that at Midland Free, be completed with a Pastor at another church in your local area prior to the wedding.

Are there any circumstances where Midland Free would refuse to marry us?

There are some cases in which indicators denote areas of concern to proceed with a wedding. The Pastor will review these “major” concerns with the couple during a consultation and request a postponement of marriage while offering an extended preparation plan. If the couple is willing to work on specific areas of their lives and relationship, we are willing to walk with them in their journey to prepare for a lifetime of marriage. We will marry a couple after they successfully work through the extended preparation plan designed for them.

What are the Fees for Weddings?

Required Fees

• Wedding Coordinator $150.00
• Sound Technician  $100.00
• Facility Staff  $90.00 (additional fees if more than six hours)
• Pastor Honorarium  $150.00 (suggested)

Optional Fees

• Reception – rooms (fee per room) , kitchen and PIC-Person In-Charge
• Big Screen - Technician  $100.00
• Lighting Technician  $100.00 (if there are lighting changes during ceremony)