Redeemer Church Wedding Rental Information (updated May 4, 2022)

The following guide is designed to give you all of the information you will need to find out about and request the use of the Redeemer Church facilities for weddings & receptions. 

NOTE:  Our church does not market itself as a “wedding venue” per se, but rather, we see our facility as a sacred space to host Christian marriage ceremonies & receptions.  So we are primarily interested in assisting those like-minded Christians who are, for some reason, not able to be married in their own home church by allowing them to rent space here.

SECTION 1:  FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, & FURNITURE
  • We have a Sanctuary for wedding ceremonies which seats up to 200 people in pews.  There is a room for groomsmen & a room for the bride in our Sanctuary--an extra room in our Education Building may be used for a larger bridal party to prepare in
    • Equipment and furniture with rental includes:  
      • A sound system, which includes 1 wireless lapel mic, 1 wired mic on podium, up to 6 vocalist wired microphones, 5 instrument microphones, 2 condenser microphones for instrument or choir, 4 direct boxes for instruments with ¼” output, along with sound board (must be run by Redeemer church technician)
      • Video projection capability, using a Mac computer for video presentation slides (must be run by Redeemer church technician)
      • Other available furniture includes: round table in lobby, kneeling bench, communion table, 2 candelabras with space for 7 candles each (candles to be supplied by wedding party), and grand piano

  • We have a Social Hall for wedding receptions, which can seat up to 150 people (we have chairs & round banquet tables that can seat 125; extra tables & chairs would have to be rented to seat 150).  NOTE ON RENTALS:  a representative of the wedding party must be present at church for any rental deliveries to occur — Redeemer staff will not be able to receive or sign for any deliveries.
    • Furniture with rental of Social Hall includes:  150 folding chairs; sixteen 5 ft. round banquet tables which can seat up to 8 people each for a total of 128 banquet table seats; and five 6 ft. rectangular tables (typically for food service)
      • Table coverings are not included in rental
      • Note that the On-site Facilities Coordinator can direct the setup of tables and chairs but Redeemer Staff is not responsible for setup (you may request this for an additional fee, based on church maintenance staff availability)
    • Rental of the Social Hall also includes access to:
      • Kitchen, which has large commercial sink, food prep area, 2 ovens & stove tops, multiple microwaves, and use of one refrigerator/freezer
      • Outdoor Courtyard which may be used for hors d'oeuvres or dessert 
    • Outdoor Lawns may also be rented for weddings and/or receptions at an nominally additional cost


  • Our Parking lot has approx. 100 parking spots plus ample street parking on Cordova Rd

If you’d like to set up a time to look around the church facilities and ask any questions about items in this document, you may send an email to "weddings@redeemerlm.org" and someone will contact you


SECTION 2:  FACILITIES RENTAL FEES
-Sanctuary:
  • There is a base rental fee of $1,000.00 for the use of the church Sanctuary, which covers both the rehearsal (up to 2 hours total) and the wedding ceremony (up to 5 hours).  Any use beyond those 7 hours will be charged at $100 per any portion of an hour
    • As part of the Sanctuary rental fee, the wedding party may use one room (Agora Lounge, or a classroom in the Education Building for bridal preparation–either rm. 105 or 200A/B), along with the Bridal Room in sanctuary, and Prayer Room (for groomsmen) for up to 5 hours on the day of the wedding. 
    • All equipment & furniture as described in section above are included in rental fee

-Social Hall:
  • Our Social Hall may be rented for receptions for $750 for the first 5 hours (which includes 2 hours for setup, 2 hours for reception, and 1 hour for cleanup).
    • ANY time over 5 hours will be charged at $75 per any portion of an hour. 
    • The use of the kitchen, courtyard, round banquet tables, rectangular serving tables, and folding chairs are included in this fee

-Damages & Overage Security Deposit:
  • A fully refundable deposit of $500 in a separate check is required to cover any damages that may occur during the event, as well as covering any overage use costs for the rental (i.e. if you come in earlier or stay later than the hours listed in your invoice). This check will be due to the Facilities Coordinator at the rehearsal  
    • Damages may include stains to carpet or walls, any damage to walls, tables, doors, windows, or other surfaces beyond normal wear and tear  
    • Overages will be deducted at hourly rental rates for any portion of an hour beyond hours listed in your invoice
    • If no damages or overages occur, we will return this deposit in full


SECTION 3:  PERSONNEL FEES
-SOUND / VIDEO TECHNICIAN (required):
  • Wedding ceremonies that desire to use sound and/or video equipment in the Sanctuary are required to employ one of the church’s technicians.  The technician must be paid a fee of $100, which includes: 
    • 1.5 hours of set up, sound check, and musician’s rehearsal before the wedding
    • 1.5 hours of sound and/or video during ceremony
    • 1 hour of take down and clean-up after ceremony
  • NOTE:  Sound tech will not be present during 2 hours of rehearsal or hours beyond those listed above on the day of ceremony unless they are paid $25 per hour of work 
  • Sound, lighting, and video equipment in the Social Hall does not belong to Redeemer Church.  Any use would have to be cleared with and rented from Saemmool Church (you may email Stephen Hong at youngki.smchurch@gmail.com. Outside PA, lighting, or video systems may be brought on-site at no extra cost)

-ON-SITE FACILITIES COORDINATOR (required):
  • For wedding ceremonies, all couples are required to pay Redeemer's On-site Facilities Coordinator. Coordinators will be present for 2 hours of rehearsal (including opening and closing building), as well as for ceremony setup, ceremony, and take-down up to 5 hours total. 
  • For wedding receptions, the On-site Facilities Coordinator can do basic reception set up or take down in the Social Hall based on set-up request from the wedding party at an additional cost of $25 per hour, but fine-tuning of the set-up will need to be done by the wedding party.   Any hours worked during the reception BEYOND the first 5 hours included with the ceremony cost will be billed at $25 per hour.
  • On-site Facilities Coordinators must be paid a fee of $175 for 2 hours at the rehearsal and 5 hours of the ceremony/reception, plus a fee of $25 per hour for any hours past those 7 hours of ceremony time or for a wedding reception in the Social Hall
    • NOTE:  The Facilities Coordinator is NOT a wedding coordinator (i.e. the person who helps to plan decorations, directing the flow of the wedding ceremony, details of reception, etc.) — you will need to obtain your own wedding coordinator

-CUSTODIAN (required):
  • For wedding ceremonies in church sanctuary, a custodian will be required to clean after the event at a cost of $100 
  • For wedding receptions in our social hall, a custodian will be required to clean after the event as a cost of $100 
    • If additional space on the lawns or courtyard are used for a reception, this will incur an additional cleaning fee or deposit to be determined

-OFFICIANT (optional):
  • If you would like to have Redeemer’s pastor perform your ceremony there is a $200 officiant’s fee. If a Redeemer pastor is unavailable, we can help direct you to another approved officiant to perform the wedding service, though the price for that officiant may differ from our own rate

-OTHER (optional):
  • Our church can also refer you to wedding photographers, musicians, etc. if you would like that information


SECTION 4:  SUMMARY OF ALL FEES (MINIMUM COST)
-CEREMONY IN SANCTUARY
  • $1000 for rental of Sanctuary & included spaces (2 hours for rehearsal, 5 hours on day of ceremony) and $100 for each additional hour
  • $175 for Facilities Coordinator (7 hours minimum–additional hours at $25 per hour)
  • $100 for Sound Technician (required only if sound or video system is used)
  • $100 for Custodian (for ceremony in Sanctuary) + $100 for reception in Social Hall (if needed)
  • $200 for Officiant/pastor (if needed)
    • TOTAL COST = a minimum of $1,375

-RECEPTION IN SOCIAL HALL
  • $750 for first 5 hours (minimum usage) and $75 for each additional hour
  • $100 for Custodian
  • Price to be determined for Facilities Coordinator for reception based on hours of usage
    • TOTAL COST = a minimum of $850 

-OVERAGES & DAMAGES SECURITY DEPOSIT (which may be refunded in full if use does not exceed lease hours on invoice and if no damage has been found to the facilities):  $500


SECTION 5:  RULES & REGULATIONS
-All couples who wish to use the church’s facilities must abide by all of the rules and regulations set out below
  • All weddings and rehearsal dates must be reserved through Redeemer Church Executive Pastor or Director of Administration & Property
  • No weddings may be scheduled on Sundays
  • For any couple seeking to be married at Redeemer, either the bride or the groom must be a member of a church whose constitution and statement of faith is compatible to Redeemer Church's. This evaluation will be determined by the elders of Redeemer Church

PAYMENTS
  • A 50% deposit of total facilities rental fees is required to hold the reservation
  • For ceremonies only, all remaining payments and fees (officiant, facilities coordinator, sound technician, etc.) should be given to the Redeemer Facilities Coordinator at the time of the wedding rehearsal
  • For reception ONLY events, final payment is due 1 week prior to the event

EVIDENCE OF INSURANCE
  • For those who are not members of Redeemer Church, we also require proof of a “one-day” insurance policy liability ride of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$1,000,000 General Aggregate that covers all hours of use for ceremony and/or reception. You may obtain this “one-day” policy by speaking with your insurance agent or researching on the internet (you may find a sample policy here)
  • A copy of the policy must be sent to the to church one month before the date of the ceremony and/or reception — failure to provide insurance as described above may result in the cancellation of the event

DECORATIONS 
  • Couples may use the church’s candelabras, but they will need to provide their own candles (we have space for seven 6” pillar candles — 14 total).  Candelabras must have plastic mats underneath to catch excess wax (which the church will provide)
  • Candles may not be placed on floor or pews of the Sanctuary (electric candles are fine)
  • Decorations may only be hung by blue painter’s tape or “3M Command strips/hooks”  
  • No nails, eye bolts, thumb tacks, staples, Scotch/packing tape, etc. may be used (decorator may work with Redeemer staff if they would like to use eye bolts or nails that already exist in walls).  Church staff can recommend alternative hanging methods to nails, tacks, etc.
  • Real flower petals are not allowed in the Sanctuary unless approved in writing by church staff (extra cleaning deposit will be required)
  • Confetti and rice are prohibited for exit from church; birdseed and bubbles are acceptable alternatives

FOOD
  • Redeemer Church does not provide catering services. Couples are responsible to arrange food service with the help of their own wedding coordinator
  • Catering services should bring in all of their own cooking and serving utensils, dinnerware, or glassware.  No utensils, pots or pans from Redeemer kitchen should be used by caterers
  • Catering services must take trash they create out to the church dumpster.  Any trash that does not fit in the dumpster must be taken away off campus by caterers or an extra fee of $150 will be taken from Overages & Damages Security Deposit
  • No alcohol may be served or consumed on church premises at any time (members of the church may request from the elders an exception to this rule for wine, champagne, etc.). A wedding reception may be shut down by church staff if this expectation is violated

PREMARITAL COUNSELING
  • All couples are strongly encouraged to attend premarital counseling, though they will only be required to have counseling if they are being married by a pastor from Redeemer. One of our pastors may be available to provide premarital counseling at an additional charge (contact a pastor from Redeemer at 562-943-2100)
  • The Biola Counseling Center (562-903-4800, counseling.center@biola.edu) and The Center for Individual and Family Therapy (714-558-9266, info@ciftcounseling.com) also provide high quality premarital counseling

REHEARSAL
  • Attendance at the wedding rehearsal is expected for all members of the wedding party — we will not be able to set up alternate rehearsal times. Our Facilities Coordinator will arrive 15 minutes before the rehearsal to open up the church; the wedding party will have 2 hours for the rehearsal
    • (Note: unless they are paid for extra hours at rate of $25 per hour, the Sound Technician will NOT be at the rehearsal)

CANCELLATIONS
  • Cancellations made 30 days or more prior to the wedding will receive a full refund, minus 10% of the deposit.  No personnel fees will be required
  • Cancellations made 30 days or less (up to one week before) prior to the wedding will receive a refund, minus 25% of the deposit.  No personnel fees will be required
  • Cancellations made within one week of the wedding will receive a refund, minus 40% of the deposit.  No personnel fees will be required


SECTION 6:  STEPS FOR WEDDING AND/OR RECEPTION RENTAL
If you decide that you would like to have your wedding and/or reception at Redeemer, here are the steps you will need to follow in order to move forward with this process:

STEP #1:  AVAILABILITY

STEP #2:  WEDDING RENTAL REQUEST FORM
  • Request an electronic copy of the Wedding Rental Request form (Google doc) by emailing admin@redeemerlm.org
  • Fill out ALL required sections of Wedding Rental Request form and reply to email sent with the form to indicate you’ve completed it

STEP #3:  INVOICE & DEPOSIT
  • You will receive an invoice with the total of all rental hours and fees, as well as required personnel fees. After confirming that all information is correct, you will need to send in a check or money order for 50% of all rental fees as a deposit (we can send you a link to pay online, though you will be expected to cover online payment fees)
  • You should contact a wedding coordinator and set up a time for them to see the church with you (email admin@redeemerlm.org to set up a time)

STEP #4:  EVIDENCE OF INSURANCE
  • Those who are not members of Redeemer Church are required to mail or email the proof of insurance ONE MONTH before the event date

STEP #5:  FINAL PAYMENTS
  • At the time of the wedding rehearsal, please make sure to bring in a check or money order for completion of payment for all rental fees, plus individual checks for Damages & Overage Deposit as well as individual checks for all personnel fees
    • For Reception-only events, this will be due a week before the event