Weddings
The Christian wedding is a celebration of a couple's love and commitment to each other and God.
This sacred ceremony, in which you enter into a covenant with God and one another, creates the foundation for your marriage. By choosing to be married by a representative of God’s Church, you are inviting God’s presence into your wedding and purposely asking for God’s blessing upon the marriage.
Resurrection, A United Methodist Church, is honored to offer the Wedding Ministry for the very special occasion of holy marriage. Weddings are available for both our members and non-members of the congregation. The wedding ceremony is a worship service where the couple pledges themselves to one another in the presence of God and begins their marriage with Christ as the foundation. The following policies and procedures have been established to help your wedding go as smoothly as possible.
A Marriage at Resurrection
Your wedding will bring family and friends together to celebrate your marriage through worship. We encourage you to include responsive readings, prayers, and congregational singing in your ceremony. In order to prepare for this special occasion, please note the requirements for marriage at Resurrection.
Important Requirements
- Worship at Resurrection is highly encouraged, not required.
- Presentation of a properly executed marriage license at the rehearsal is required as the wedding cannot take place without the marriage license. If you are marrying in Kansas, the license must be issued in Kansas. Likewise, if your venue is in Missouri, the license must be issued in Missouri. The pastor can only perform weddings in full accordance with the law. Please do not overlook the necessity for careful compliance.
- Completion of the Premarital and Newlywed Class Prepare-Enrich is required before the wedding day, and meeting(s) with the assigned pastor before the ceremony.
- A waiting period of at least six months following a divorce or death of a spouse shall be observed to allow for healing following the end of a previous marriage.
- Weddings are performed on Fridays or Saturdays based on the location, availability, and holiday calendar.
Wedding Planning
Your big day is here! Follow these steps to start planning your walk down the aisle. Please note for your planning: a reservation is not secured by the forms alone; the Director of Weddings will send a confirmation email of the reservation after the following are properly completed.
- The first step to see if your wedding date is available is to fill out the Wedding Request Form completely. This begins the process of determining location availability. Complete the Wedding Request Form Here. *NOTE: See location details as on-site locations have various scheduling availability from 12-18 months based on location.
- Once the Wedding Request Form is received and the Director of Weddings tentatively confirms your date is available, the Wedding Final Details Agreement will be sent via email for completion. The form will need to be completed and returned within 48 hours of receipt. Turning in the Wedding Final Details Document does not mean the date is reserved, but it is an important step in the process. Wedding date reservations vary by location and availability. See the Resurrection Wedding Venue section below for the correct reservation options.
- After the Wedding Request Form and Wedding Final Details Agreement are received and approved by the Director of Weddings, a confirmation email will be sent that your date and location are reserved. The date and location are not reserved until the confirmation email has been received.
- Resurrection requires the Prepare-Enrich course, a premarital preparation class, before being married by a Resurrection pastor. This faith-based course helps build the couples’ foundation before the vows. The couple will need to register for the course in order to have a wedding with Resurrection. Register here for Prepare & Enrich here.
- Once your date is confirmed and you know your details, the wedding information page will help guide the Resurrection Wedding Coordinator with the final details for the wedding ceremony. This will need to be filled out three months prior to the wedding. Complete the Wedding Info Form here.
- Note: you must answer YES on the first question
For further questions, please contact:
Megan Strout
Coordination Director of Weddings
weddings@cor.org or 913-232-4162
Wedding Options
There are two options for organizing your wedding through Resurrection.
- On-site wedding at one of our 6 locations noted under Venues.
- Off-site wedding utilizing a Resurrection Pastor.
A $100.00 non-refundable scheduling fee is required when the wedding is scheduled. All final fees are due one week before the wedding day. The on-site wedding Resurrection venue, date, time, and the reservation of a Pastor for an off-site wedding date and time are not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email from the Director of Weddings.
For further questions on fees, please contact the Director of Weddings: Megan Strout, at weddings@cor.org.
Resurrection Wedding Venues
Resurrection now has six locations where weddings can be held: Blue Springs, Brookside, Downtown, Leawood, Overland Park, and West. While weddings can be held at each location, detailed information is provided for Brookside and Leawood.
Each location is unique in its own way as a wedding venue. The following information below details each location. Resurrection locations do not offer a space for wedding receptions.
Opening in December of 2022, Resurrection Brookside is the newest resurrection location, and they are ready to host weddings! The wedding ceremony can be booked 12 months in advance of the wedding, and availability is based on the church’s calendar of events. Attend a worship service or schedule a tour today to see this traditional-style church in Kansas City’s historic Brookside neighborhood. Seats approximately 230 guests. There is a bridal and groom dressing room available for use.
Based on scheduling availability, times may be able to adjust slightly for the booking. Please use the below timeline as a guide.
Saturday Weddings
- Wedding Time: 5 pm
- Use of Building: 3 pm to 7 pm
- Rehearsal Time: Friday at 5 pm
Ministry & The Pastor
The pastor(s) at Resurrection officiate at weddings at his or her campus venue. Guest clergy may assist with the approval of the Officiating Pastor or his/her designee. A pastor will be assigned depending on the date of the wedding. A particular pastor may be requested but is not guaranteed due to scheduling and other commitments.
The pastors will spend one or more sessions in conference with a couple planning to be married. It is their responsibility as a pastor to function in this capacity as a counselor. This will include discussions of both the service and the marriage itself. After the pastor is scheduled for the wedding, the couple is responsible for contacting the pastor’s administrative assistant to schedule these session(s). At the discretion of the pastor, additional outside counseling may be required. Communion is not offered at a Resurrection wedding, but the couple may share the marriage cup. These ceremony details will be discussed at the meetings with the pastor.
Premarital & Newlywed Classes
We want you and your partner to “live happily ever after!” Our Premarital and Newlywed Class is designed to help couples take the next steps of their journey on the right path. Trained instructors lead each session, covering topics to strengthen your connection with your partner and help you gain important lifelong skills. Topics include communication, conflict and resolution, financial management, and experiencing God, among others.
Resurrection requires the Prepare-Enrich course as the premarital preparation class before being married by a Resurrection pastor. The Premarital and Newlywed course is open to all dating couples and is a requirement for any couple desiring to be married by a Resurrection pastor. There are several opportunities to complete this course throughout the year.
The course is also available to those who haven’t set a wedding date. This course, like all of Resurrection’s ministries, is open and welcoming of all couples, regardless of sexual orientation. Although denominational policy currently restricts our ability to host and officiate same-gender marriages, there are other ways we can support your special day. Please email weddings@cor.org for additional information.
Next Prepare-Enrich sessions available:
2024 Schedule
- In-Person at Resurrection Leawood: CLASS IS FULL, January 20, 2024, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
- Zoom: Tuesdays, April 2, 9, 16, 2024, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm; must attend all sessions
- In-Person at Resurrection Leawood: June 22, 2024, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
- Zoom: Tuesdays, October 8, 15, 22, 2024, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm; must attend all sessions
The Walk Down The Aisle
Your big day is almost here, and all your details and planning are coming together. To be sure you have everything exactly how you want it and follow along with the church requirements, the following details will help you plan for your wedding weekend.
Each on-site wedding will have a Resurrection Wedding Coordinator. This coordinator represents the church in managing the many details of the wedding and rehearsal within the church building. Their responsibilities include ensuring the wedding venue is ready for the rehearsal and wedding, unlocking rooms for the wedding party, coordinating audio set-up with technology, arranging guest book podium and gift table, assisting the pastor with the rehearsal, orchestrating processional and recessional, monitoring time schedules related to the ceremony, setting guidelines for the photographer, ensuring the church is cleaned after the wedding, and overseeing any other facilitation needs within the church. A coordinator will be assigned to the contracted wedding approximately three months before the wedding date. All inquiries after this point can be made directly to the assigned coordinator. Outside wedding coordinators are welcome to participate and help with your personal needs. The Resurrection Wedding Coordinator will still manage all the church-related rehearsal and wedding day items.
The wedding is a service of worship. All music played or sung during the wedding should express a heartfelt message appropriate to the occasion. The couple is responsible for setting up their wedding music. Please contact musicians as soon as possible to plan for your wedding.
To have your wedding run smoothly, the wedding party must arrive at the times indicated by the wedding coordinator. It is the responsibility of the couple to arrange for the care of the property of the wedding party before, during, and after the wedding, as well as the removal of their items immediately following the service. The church will not be responsible for any articles belonging to any person in the bridal party, a guest at the wedding, or a vendor serving the wedding. Wagons or other transportation are not permitted down the aisle. Please remind all the wedding parties, friends, and family that smoking is not permitted inside the church and that no alcoholic beverages are permitted in the church or on the church grounds. If alcohol is present on the premises, the officiating pastor reserves the authority to cancel the service.
Resurrection encourages the couple to employ a professional photographer for the wedding. To keep the reverence of the occasion there are a few requirements for the photographer/videographer. Please share this with the professional if you decide to utilize one of these.
- The photographer can arrive at the times listed by the Resurrection Wedding Coordinator
- No flash photos are permitted following the processional but may be taken during the couple’s recessional.
- The photographer will need to remain at the rear of the sanctuary.
- The church does not offer a professional video of the wedding. The couple is responsible for providing personnel for this service. The wedding coordinator will provide the appropriate details on camera placement. Livestream is available for an extra cost of $100.
Flowers
Flowers are the responsibility of the couple. Venues vary on what can be placed on the altar. Decorations of any kind may not be attached to the pews/chairs, or any other furniture by gluing, nailing, pinning, or taping. The couple and the florist should consult with the Resurrection Wedding Coordinator about the way decorations may be placed on the ends of the pews/chairs. All decorations, flowers, candles, etc. must be removed from the building immediately following the service. No decorations belonging to the church may be moved. The wedding coordinator will provide times for the florist to arrive for set up.
Candles
The venues vary in the use of candles and placement. Candles are not permitted down the aisle or fixed to the pews. Some types of candelabras are allowed but must have a glass hurricane covering them. For details on how candles can be used in the ceremony, contact the Director of Weddings.
The church will provide white candles for the worship candles on the altar. The church will also provide candle-lighting torches. If the bride and groom desire a unity candle, it will be their responsibility to provide the pillar candle. The church will provide three crystal candlesticks and two side tapers for use. The lighting of the candles will be officiated by the pastor.
Bubbles
Because of city ordinances and other restrictions, confetti, rice, and birdseed are not to be distributed and/or thrown inside or outside of the church. Only bubbles outside the church may be used for this tradition. Bubbles cannot be used in the Memorial Garden.
