If you are looking to view a live-stream of a couple’s wedding service, see our stream page here.
At the time of the service, we will update the stream page to show their wedding.
We extend warmest congratulations and appreciate your consideration of St. Paul's for your wedding ceremony. Located in Houston's Museum District, St. Paul's has been the site of beautiful weddings for more than 100 years. The church's soaring English Gothic arches, beautiful stained-glass windows, and majestic pipe organ enhance the sacred occasion of the Christian marriage ceremony.
To learn more about weddings at St. Paul's, contact our Wedding Coordinator, Betty Rennell at bettyrennell@gmail.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
May we have a wedding at St. Paul’s if we are not members of the church?
Yes, you may. One does not have to be a member of St. Paul's or have a relative who is a member in order to be married at St. Paul's. All couples married at St. Paul's must agree to the guidelines and contractual arrangements as defined on this website and discussed with the Wedding Coordinator.
How far in advance can we book a wedding at St. Paul’s?
You may book your wedding as far in advance as you wish. Weddings will be confirmed by St. Paul's upon receipt of the wedding deposit.
When are weddings held at St. Paul’s?
Weddings are held on Saturdays at 11 am, 3 pm, or 7 pm. Weddings will not be scheduled on Sundays, certain holidays, or the weekends of these holidays — New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Weddings also will not be scheduled during Holy Week, which is from Palm Sunday through Easter Day.
How many people will St. Paul’s sanctuary seat? The chapel?
The seating capacity for the sanctuary is 600 adults. The chapel seats 65 adults.
May we select our own minister to officiate at our wedding?
St. Paul’s male and female clergy are assigned on a rotating basis to officiate. A minister from another United Methodist Church or other denomination or faith may assist. When the officiating minister for your service has been determined, the Wedding Coordinator will inform you. Please call 713-528-0527 to make an appointment with the designated minister to be held no later than three weeks before the ceremony. During the conference, the minister will discuss with you the details of the service and the meaning of marriage in the context of the Christian faith.
Is marriage counseling required?
Yes, the clergyperson who will officiate your wedding will contact you with details to set up a pre-marital counseling appointment.
May we select our own music and musicians?
Responsibility for all music at St. Paul’s is delegated to the Organist/ Choirmaster, who will assist you in planning the music for your wedding. As soon as you have booked your wedding, please call the Organist/Choirmaster at 713-528-0527. If you want the St. Paul’s Choir to sing at your wedding, it should be booked as soon as possible. However, please understand that the choir may not be available on your requested date.
How old must one be to participate in a St. Paul’s wedding?
Children must be at least six years old to participate in a St. Paul’s wedding. That includes ring bearers and flower girls.
May we write our own service?
All weddings will use “A Service of Christian Marriage” as published in The United Methodist Hymnal or other services approved by The United Methodist Church.
How do we schedule our wedding?
To schedule your wedding, contact the Wedding Coordinator, Betty Rennell at bettyrennell@gmail.com or call 713-582-6611. Weddings will be confirmed by St. Paul’s upon receipt of the wedding deposit. If your wedding date is cancelled by the church prior to the 180 days before your wedding, your deposit will be refunded. However, any cancellation by the wedding party will result in forfeiting all non-refundable payments.
What are the fees?
*Building Use for Sanctuary: $2,000
*Building Use for Chapel: $800
Minister’s Honorarium: $350
Organist: $350
Optional:
Vocalist: $200 each
St. Paul’s Choir: $1,800
Change-ringing Bells: $150 with choir or $250 without choir
*The Building Use Fee includes use of the Bride’s Room, the Groom’s Area, parking lots, safety staff, a wedding assistant, and related services for two hours before through one-and-one-half hours after the wedding begins.
What is the payment schedule?
Deposit. A $200 non-refundable deposit is required to secure the availability of St. Paul’s for your wedding. This deposit is partial payment of the total fees paid to St. Paul’s for the wedding.
Second Payment. A non-refundable payment of $500 for a sanctuary wedding or $250 for a chapel wedding is due toward the total fees owed to St. Paul’s at either six months before the wedding date or upon booking the wedding if the wedding date is fewer than six months from the booking date.
Balance. The non-refundable balance of the fees is due and payable no later than 14 days prior to the wedding date.
Weddings will be removed from the calendar if the fees are not received according to the payment schedule.
What if I must cancel? If you must cancel your wedding for any reason, please notify the Wedding Coordinator as soon as possible so your time can be made available to others.
When may we schedule our rehearsal and who must attend?
The rehearsal time must be set with the Wedding Coordinator when the wedding is scheduled. These are to be at 5, 6, or 7 pm on the evening preceding the wedding.
All members of the wedding party, including parents, grandparents, and ushers, should be present at and prompt to the rehearsal. Please stress promptness to them. Due to the large number of weddings and rehearsals at St. Paul’s, there may be as many as three rehearsals on the same evening. If members of your party are more than 15 minutes late, your rehearsal may be cancelled.
Any other pertinent details?
A Wedding Guild member will be available at the rehearsal and wedding to help make the wedding go smoothly.
A Bride’s Room is available for the bride and her attendants to use beginning no sooner than two hours before the wedding begins. A Groom’s Area is available during this same period.
If the St. Paul’s parking lots are to be used longer than 1.5 hours after the wedding begins, the bride and groom must provide professional security.
No rice, bird seed, flower petals (real or artificial), or other materials of this nature may be thrown on the church premises by anyone, including a flower girl.
Absolutely no alcohol is allowed on the church premises at any time before, during, or after the wedding. Smoking is permitted only outside the buildings.
Responsibility
These FAQs are not intended to provide every answer about weddings at St. Paul’s. For more information, contact the Wedding Coordinator, Betty Rennell.
Wedding Policies
Florists
Policies for Florists (printable pdf)
Please download the pdf above, which includes a diagram of St. Paul’s sanctuary altar to indicate possible locations for candlesticks or candelabra during weddings. These policies for florists apply whether the family chooses to use the services of a professional florist or those of a non-professional friend or relative. It is the responsibility of the family to ensure that anyone ordering or handling floral or other decorations is supplied with a copy of these policies.
It is the responsibility of the florist to keep a current copy of these policies on file and to comply with them. Any florist failing to follow these policies will not be permitted to return to work at St. Paul's. The florist also will be responsible for any damages incurred.
Wedding Music and Musicians
Policies for Wedding Music and Musicians (printable pdf)
Responsibility for all music at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church is delegated to the Director of Music who will assist you in planning the music for your wedding.
Please contact Director of Music, Chris Betts at
cbetts@stpaulshouston.org
The following music policies are in effect for all weddings:
Because a wedding is a service of worship, the liturgical guidelines for music are subject to the same standards as music for any other worship service at St. Paul’s.
Texts of hymns, anthems, or solos are to be taken from Holy Scripture, the United Methodist Hymnal, or the Book of Common Prayer, or shall be texts congruent with them. Only music appropriate for a church service is to be used. Music with commercial associations, whether textual or musical — including, but not limited to, music from Broadway-style shows — is not appropriate.
The Organist/Director of Music will have final say as to the appropriateness of all music to be included in a wedding at St. Paul’s.
St. Paul’s staff organists play at all weddings at which organ music is desired. When vocal solos are desired, they are sung by St. Paul’s staff singers only. The St. Paul’s Choir may also be engaged to sing at a wedding, provided that ample notice is given; a minimum of six months is recommended. In addition to the organ, other instruments — such as strings, trumpet, harp — can be included with the prior approval of the Organist/Choirmaster. Musicians do not attend wedding rehearsals.
Payment for St. Paul’s staff musicians is made through the church; payment for other instrumentalists is made according to arrangements made with them.
Photographers and Videographers
Policies for Photographers and Videographers (printable pdf)
St. Paul’s welcomes photography/videography by professionals or amateurs provided it does not distract attention from worship. These policies are designed to support that goal. The bride and groom are responsible for ensuring that family, friends, and professional photographers/ videographers observe these policies in detail. During the wedding, ushers are responsible for informing guests of these policies. St. Paul's reserves the right to deny access -- present or future -- to anyone who violates any of these policies.
Photography or Videography
Noise and movement must be kept to an absolute minimum. St. Paul’s live acoustic makes any noise distracting.
Photography or videography sessions held inside the sanctuary or chapel before the service must end 30 minutes before the service is set to begin. Similar sessions may follow the wedding. However, all equipment, members of the wedding party, and guests must be out of and away from the sanctuary building 90 minutes after the beginning of the ceremony. (Example: For a 3 pm wedding, vacate the premises by 4:30 pm)
Anything moved during any type of picture session must be returned to its original position.
Before the wedding party enters the sanctuary or chapel, a photographer may take flash pictures from outside the doorway.
Flash pictures also may be taken as they leave the sanctuary or chapel at the end of the ceremony.
During the service, only available light may be used. Also during the service, no cameras may be used in the main seating area of the sanctuary or chapel; they only may be used from the sanctuary balcony or outside the chapel door.
The balcony vantage point provides a beautiful view of the entire sanctuary and all participants in the worship service.
Videography Specific
Videotaping in the sanctuary is permitted only from the balcony and only using available light.
Videotaping in the chapel is permitted only from the back corner opposite the organ or from outside the doors, and only using available light.
TIP: The wedding party has use of the church for two hours prior to the beginning of the wedding and for 90 minutes after it begins. To effectively use this time, it is recommended that as many photographs as possible of the wedding party be taken before the wedding begins.
It is the responsibility of the bride and the groom to ensure that any outside vendors to whom these policies apply be provided a copy of the relevant policies and that these policies are followed.