CHURCH bells ring
With sunlight filtering through stained glass windows high above the altar and throughout the sanctuary, plus the lofty vaulted wood ceilings, the bride’s walk up the plush red-carpeted aisle couldn’t be more grand.
Stacy Gilbert, event coordinator at Crown Heights United Methodist Church, has seen this scenario play out many times over, and she gets a thrill each time.
“We feel like this is a gorgeous place to have a wedding,” she said.
Metro-area couples have tended to agree, so much so that five years ago, Gilbert had to bring on another person to help coordinate a bevy of nuptials at the church, 1021
NW 37.
“We had back-to-back weddings — every weekend was booked,” she said.
An extensive renovation project, which included a new roof, half a dozen new air conditioning units and new gas lines, put a halt to much of that for a time.
Now that the church is newly refurbished, church leaders are hoping to host more weddings in the sacred space.
They are hoping it stands out among wedding venues, which run the gamut these days as couples look for unique locales for their special day.
Fortunately for them, houses of worship continue to be popular sites to say “I do.”
This isn’t surprising since many couples often chose to say their wedding vows in houses of worship in days gone by. Church bells traditionally rang each time a couple wed — initially to ward off evil spirits and to grant wishes, according to historyofbells.com. The website said nowadays, the ringing of bells is viewed as a symbol of happiness and the celebration of a couple’s new life together.
Metro-area houses of worship like Crown Heights United Methodist have been in high gear since wedding season has begun this spring.
Gilbert said couples who choose Crown Heights have said they wanted an intimate church setting for a crowd of 250 or less. There is a parlor with numerous mirrors for the bride and her bridesmaids to dress, as well as another area for the groom and his groomsmen to prepare for the ceremony. Potential brides and grooms do not have to be members of the church.
The Rev. Trina Bose North, the church pastor, said the 1930s era church also has provided an even more intimate setting than the sanctuary for couples seeking one. She said the serene garden courtyard area featuring a fountain and colorful tulips in season has been a favorite site for
small wedding gatherings.
“That’s one of my favorite spots in the whole church,” North said of the courtyard.
BEAUTY BECKONS
Like Gilbert, coordinators at other metro-area churches said their church’s beautiful decor, which includes vivid stained glass windows, often attracts couples seeking a faithfilled wedding site.
At First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City, couples are drawn to the traditional, ornate sanctuary or a similarly fashioned chapel, said Sarah Stewart, the church’s minister for young adults and event coordinator.
“It’s a beautiful place. My phone will ring nonstop after Christmas,” she said of the church at 1201 N Robinson.
Stewart said the church hosts weddings throughout the year, but May and June and October and November tend to be the busiest for such ceremonies. December, too, is popular because people like having Christmas weddings.
She said the church’s sanctuary seats about 900, and the chapel holds about 275. The church has three ministers on staff who perform weddings, and they also offer premarital counseling. Nonmembers also are welcome.
“One of the things we work really hard on is we want to make sure the weekend is everything the bride and groom want,” Stewart said, adding that the church does have a dining hall where receptions may be held.
Meanwhile, Michelle Ramsdell, wedding coordinator at First Presbyterian Church of Edmond, said she had received 10 calls since the first of the year from couples inquiring about hosting their wedding at the church, 1001 S Rankin.
She said a large stained glass window featuring a cross is prominently featured in the church’s sanctuary, and this focal point — as well as the stone interior — seem to attract couples.
However, Ramsdell said couples also have chosen the church as their wedding site because it can accommodate a fairly large crowd. She said the sanctuary can seat up to 1,100 people if you include the balcony.
Ramsdell said the church’s current policy is that weddings may only be held at the church if the bride or groom is a member of the church or if they have a connection to the church ,like a relative who is a member.
She said the church has an area for receptions, but very few couples over the last two years have requested it.
Another requirement for couples to consider is premarital counseling. Ramsdell said couples who wed at First Presbyterian-Edmond must take part in the church’s premarital counseling program, which pairs them with a mentor couple.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing for the couple and for us to do because they cover a lot of things that they (engaged couple) might not have thought about,” she said.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Getting married? Tell us your love story to be considered for a future edition of the ongoing series “With This Ring.” Send your name, city, wedding date and other pertinent information to Carla Hinton, c/o The Oklahoman, PO Box 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125 or email chinton@oklahoman.com.