Marriage is a sacred and holy union. It begins with the desire of two people to form a lasting, lifelong partnership grounded in God’s love and continues throughout their lives as a journey of intentional living and growing together. In marriage, each person—individually and together as a couple—is continually shaped and transformed in God’s presence, growing more fully into the image of Christ.
A wedding is a sacred act of worship in which this covenant is publicly affirmed and celebrated. It marks the beginning of a shared life together, acknowledging the commitment to leave behind former ways of living and to embrace a new future. Through their vows, the couple promises to walk this path together in love, faithfulness, and mutual care.
When a marriage is celebrated within the context of the faith community, the couple affirms that God is active in their love and entrusts their relationship to God’s care. Vows are made before God and the gathered community of family, friends, and the Church, and the couple receives God’s blessing and grace to support them in keeping these promises. In this way, marriage becomes an outward and visible sign of God’s grace—uniting two lives and nurturing love that reflects God’s steadfast faithfulness.
Who May Be Married at First UMC
At First United Methodist Church of Conway, we are honored to celebrate the sacred covenant of marriage with our members. Priority for scheduling weddings is given to members of the church; however, non-members may also be married here under certain circumstances, as outlined in our Wedding Guide. We invite you to explore the Wedding Guide to learn more about our approach to the wedding process and to find additional details.
Scheduling Weddings
Weddings may be scheduled throughout the Church year, with the exception of the first week of Christmas, Holy Week, the first week of Easter, and major secular holiday weekends.
Weddings are generally scheduled with a minimum of six months’ notice and no more than eighteen months in advance. Premarital counseling is required for all couples as part of our commitment to supporting strong, faithful marriages.
Getting Started
Please download this helpful guide to Weddings at First UMC and contact our office to begin your marriage journey with us.