Our air-conditioned Sanctuary comfortably seats 200, plus another 40 guests can be seated in the balcony.  There are 10 long pews on either side of the main aisle.

Aisle Runners - The center aisle is 40 feet from the chancel to the rear of the sanctuary and 16 feet across the narthex.  "Carpet Boards" are available to cover the center aisle heat ducts.  Aisle runners may be used when properly secured.  We recommend linen aisle runners when possible.  A 50-foot aisle runner will suffice.

Flowers - There are two flower vases on stands.  The pulpit posts and stairway posts may also be used for flowers.  An altar centerpiece may be used, but should not exceed 27 inches in height.  Decorations may also be used in the eight sanctuary windows.  Pew bows may be used with clips or ties but not tape, nails, or tacks.  Please remember that a large part of the beauty of the sanctuary is its simplicity. Wedding flowers may be delivered directly to the church; however, delivery times and days must be carefully coordinated with the church to ensure someone is available to unlock the church.

Candles - The two single altar candles may be used.  We also have two 3-fold candelabra, which may be used on request.  We can furnish a candle base for a Unity Candle, but you are responsible for providing the candles.  All candles must be dripless and smokeless.

Parking - Ten temporary parking permits for church parking will be issued to the immediate wedding party, to cover the rehearsal and the wedding. The wedding party may park in the six-car lot on Conway Street (in front of parsonage), the alley on the side of the parsonage, or the lot between the church grounds and the Convention Center.  Permits must be visible on the dashboard to prevent towing. There is both on-street and off-street paid parking nearby for your wedding guests.  Many of the local hotels are within walking distance and some even offer trolley service. Limousines are welcome on the curb at the Sharp Street entrance.

TO HELP GET IT TOGETHER

You must have a Baltimore City wedding license.  Apply to the Clerk, Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Room 140-142 at the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. Courthouse, Calvert and Fayette Streets.  The phone number is 410-333-3780.  A license is good for 6 months. There is a waiting period. Blood tests are not necessary.
The invitation address can be either 112 West Conway Street, or Conway and Sharp Streets.  The pastor may be referred to in invitations and or programs as Pastor Hayden or the Rev. Jessica Hayden.
Receiving lines can be arranged following the ceremony either in the narthex, the entrance to Conway Street or outside the church.  If you prefer to not have a receiving line at the church, we recommend that the entire wedding party move to the balcony to facilitate prompt exit of wedding guests.

SOME RESTRICTIONS TO REMEMBER 

Old Otterbein Church is an active United Methodist Congregation with outreach and other ministry opportunities going on all week.  These needs and the other demands on our facility and out of consideration to our personnel, have lead to the placement of some restrictions on wedding activities.

When you covenant with Old Otterbein Church to host your wedding, the church will be reserved for 1 hour for your rehearsal and 3 1/2 hours on your wedding day.  This includes one hour of preparation time, prior to the ceremony.

During holy and festal seasons of the church year; Advent (Christmas) and Lent (Easter) for example, the church's basic decorations MUST remain in place and become the center of any other decorations.

Flash photographs may be taken during the Processional and Recessional, but not during the solemn wedding ceremony. We will work with your photographer and videographer on unobtrusive ways to cover the wedding adequately.

As a United Methodist congregation, it is contrary to our church life to permit alcoholic beverages on the grounds. All buildings are smoke free. Candles may be used only on the altar area.

We encourage and support the use of birdseed or bubbles to shower the wedding party as they leave the church. Rice can be harmful to birds. Please ensure that if you choose to exercise this wedding tradition, that it is done outside the building.

We reserve the right to schedule other weddings on the same days as yours, with a respectful interval of time between weddings.