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 attendance is required of non-members to create an understanding of our denomination and our church.
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 the planning process. A contract is sent once the final email from the Wedding Director is sent with the approval and the contract and Premarital Counseling is completed.

Fill out the Wedding Interest Form. A date must be included to proceed.
When the Director of Weddings tentatively confirms your date is available, the contract will need to be turned in to hold the date. The date is not considered held until the final email confirmation has been sent reflecting the reservation. Turning in the contract does not mean the date is held, 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. Complete & send Wedding Contract.
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. Register for Prepare & Enrich here.
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 3 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 the Friday 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.

On-Site Resurrection Location Weddings

On-Site Weddings include all six Resurrection locations including: Leawood, West, Downtown, Blue Springs, Overland Park & Brookside. Resurrection on-site fees cover the cost of the scheduling fee, rehearsal, and coordinating wedding day events, Pastoral services, Resurrection Wedding Coordinator, technology staff, facilities use & cleaning. Please follow steps 1-4 under the Wedding Planning section to begin the process of booking a wedding at a Resurrection location.

Below are the fee details for booking an on-site wedding at one of the Resurrection locations. Additional fees that are the responsibility of the couple are noted below.

Scheduling – All bookings have a scheduling fee at the time the contract is signed, $100.00.
Locations – All on-site location reservations have a location fee applied.
- Resurrection locations: Resurrection Leawood’s Wesley Covenant Chapel, Resurrection Leawood’s Memorial Garden, West, Downtown, Blue Springs, Overland Park, Brookside $1,700.00 plus the scheduling fee. We generally do not perform weddings in the main Sanctuary A of Resurrection Leawood.
- Resurrection Leawood Firestone Chapel Wedding only: $500.00 plus the scheduling fee.
- Resurrection Leawood Firestone Chapel Wedding with a Rehearsal the day before: $700.00 plus the scheduling fee.
Premarital Course –
- All reservations require the Prepare-Enrich premarital course as part of the wedding preparation, $125.00 per couple.
Offerings & Tithes –
- For on-site locations, offerings and tithes of the couple or their parents from a year prior to the receipt of the signed contract can be applied to the wedding fee. This deduction is applied in the following way: For the $1700.00 on-site fee, a tithes deduction of up to $400.00 will be applied; for the $500.00-$700.00 Firestone on-site fee, a tithes deduction of up to $200.00 will be applied. Please notify the Director of Weddings at the time the contract is signed if this pertains to you.

Additional fees that are the responsibility of the couple include:

The couple can work directly with the musician. All requests will need to be discussed, managed, and paid directly to the musician. Please reach out to Megan Strout for a list of Resurrection musicians.
Livestream video $100.00
Additional hours for venue use at Resurrection: $100.00 per hour
Any additional items that aren’t covered in the on-site fees are the responsibility of the couple.

Off-Site Wedding Locations with a Resurrection Pastor

Resurrection pastors would be blessed to officiate your off-site wedding. They can officiate off-site weddings within 30 minutes of the city. A request may be made if the venue is further than 30 minutes, but this will be dependent on the Pastors’ approval and availability. Please follow steps 1-4 under the Wedding Planning section to begin the process of reserving a Pastor to officiate your wedding.

The off-site fees cover the cost of the scheduling fee, rehearsal, and wedding day off-site ceremony time, sessions with the pastor, and the service of the Pastor. The pastor will determine how the rehearsal will be handled in the event your rehearsal is at a different location than the ceremony.

Please note off-site weddings cannot begin the planning process until seven months before the wedding, and a pastor cannot be assigned until six months before the wedding.

Below are the details for booking a wedding off-site. Additional fees that are the responsibility of the couple are also noted below.

Scheduling Fee – All bookings have a scheduling fee at the time the contract is signed, $100.00.
Off-Site Wedding Fee – $350.00 plus the scheduling fee

Premarital Course Fee –
- All reservations require the Prepare-Enrich premarital course as part of the wedding preparation, $125.00 per couple.

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, Downtown, 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 250 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 7 pm
Rehearsal Time: Friday at 5 pm

Weddings at Resurrection Downtown are held at the 1522 McGee building. This urban, loft-style venue in downtown Kansas City has a warm and inviting feel that seats approximately 250 guests. There is a bridal and groom dressing area available for use. Weddings can be scheduled on Friday evening or on a Saturday afternoon with a start time no later than 4 pm.

Friday Weddings

Evening Times Available
Use of the building from two hours before the wedding starts and one hour after.
The rehearsal is Thursday at 5 pm

Saturday Weddings

Weddings can be held Saturday afternoons with a start time no later than 4 pm
Use of the building from two hours before the wedding starts and one hour after.
The rehearsal is Friday at 5 pm

The Resurrection Leawood location has three options for the wedding ceremony. There is a bridal and groom dressing room available for use.

Wesley Covenant Chapel is a warm and inviting facility seating approximately 350 guests and is available year-round.
The Memorial Garden is available, weather permitting, from spring until fall, and can seat up to 50 guests.
Firestone Chapel is a small intimate setting for a smaller wedding no larger than 50 guests. There is a piano for use in this location but no additional technology.
Please note: weddings and photos are not performed in Sanctuary A.

Based on scheduling availability, times may be able to adjust slightly for the booking. Please use the below timeline as a guide.

Friday Weddings

Wedding Time: Friday at 7 pm
Use of building: 5 – 8 pm
Rehearsal: Thursday at 5 pm

Saturday Weddings – Option 1

Wedding Time: Saturday at 1 pm
Use building: 11 am – 2 pm
Rehearsal: Friday at 5 pm

Saturday Weddings – Option 2

Wedding Time: Saturday at 5 pm
Use of building: 3 – 6 pm
Rehearsal: Friday at 6:30 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 for sign-up:

June 3, 2023, in person at Resurrection Leawood, 8:30 am – 4 pm
Zoom: August 29, September 5, 12 & 19, 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.

The Resurrection Wedding Coordinator

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 Music

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.

The Wedding Party

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.

The Photographers/Videographers

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. While weddings are recorded at some venues, this is NOT a professional video. Since it’s a wide shot from the very back of the church, the detail is hard to see. Therefore, if you want a video of your wedding, we strongly recommend the couple hire a professional videographer. The wedding coordinator will provide the appropriate details on camera placement. Livestream is available for an extra cost of $100.

The Decorations

Flowers

Flowers are the responsibility of the bride. Nothing 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 bride and 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. The church will provide white candles for the worship candles. The church will also provide candle-lighting torches. If the couple chooses to rent candelabras, the candles must be placed inside a hurricane glass. Aisle candles are permitted in hurricane lamps only. 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. The lighting 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.

2/9 Weather Alert:

2/12 Reminder:

Weddings

The Christian wedding is a celebration of a couple's love and commitment to each other and God.

A Marriage at Resurrection

Important Requirements

Wedding Planning

Wedding Options

Resurrection Wedding Venues

Ministry & The Pastor

Premarital & Newlywed Classes

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.

Online & TV

Leawood

West

Downtown

Blue Springs

Overland Park

Brookside