Wedding services are available in all four of our beautiful Church buildings.  Church membership is not required.

Outdoor Wedding services at Historic Batsto Village in Wharton State Forest, or another outdoor location are also available.

Weddings are scheduled through the Church office, and your date is firm once a deposit is made. Six months before the wedding is a good time to begin, although the date may be reserved earlier.  No weddings will be scheduled with less than 30 days for preparation.  Click Contact Us and remember to include your phone number for a return call.

Premarital meetings with the pastor are an important preparation for marriage. Three sessions prior to the wedding are required.

A valid New Jersey marriage license is required for those getting married. The United Methodist Church does not allow same sex unions to take place in our Church buildings or be preformed by our pastors.

Photos and/or videos using existing light are permitted during your wedding. Flash pictures and/or video lighting equipment are not permitted to be used in the Church during the ceremony.

The Pastor will conduct the rehearsal. The wedding party and parents are expected to participate in the rehearsal so that they may be at ease in the ceremony.

Throwing rice at the newly married couple is not allowed. The tradition of throwing rice harms the birds that eat the rice left on the ground. While throwing rice is not allowed, throwing birdseed or using bubbles or bells is an allowable substitute.

The Pastor must approve any musical requests and/or guest musicians.  The Pinelands Church has excellent musicians who may be available for your wedding.

The Maid/Matron of Honor and Best Man are normally the legal witnesses required by the State of NJ and therefore should be at least 18 years of age at the time of the ceremony.  An underage person may be used in these roles in the ceremony, but then some other person must be selected to be the legal witness.

Consumption of alcoholic beverages on Church property is Strictly Forbidden! The pastor is obligated by NJ State law to cancel the service if the engaged couple is under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicating substance on the day of the wedding.

If you desire that another minister or priest should be a part of the ceremony, our Pastor must be consulted first. Pinelands UMC will gladly issue a written invitation for a priest, or an ordained, licensed, or retired minister to assist with the service. Only under very unusual circumstances will a guest minister be allowed to perform a wedding without our Pastor leading the service, and this would require prior Church Council (the governing board) approval.