marriage preparation guide

For All Holy Cross Family of Parishes

General Policies

  1. Do NOT throw bird seed, rice, confetti, flower petals or other items following the ceremony.
  2. NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES are permitted on the Church premises prior to, during, and after the rehearsal or wedding.  Such beverages ARE permitted if the rehearsal dinner takes place in the church
    basement.
  3. SIGNS on all wedding vehicles must be in good taste – not vulgar or sexually explicit.   The parish staff reserves the right to ask for any inappropriate signs to be removed. Any such public display must keep in mind the sanctity and dignity of the Sacrament of Marriage.
  4. No wagons, strollers, pets, remote control cars etc. may be used in the procession.
  5. No aisle runner.
  6. Bride’s & bridesmaids' dresses must be appropriate.
  7. Only traditional couples may walk in the processional.

Church Decorations

Live or cut flowers are to be used in the sanctuary. Please leave live flowers/plants in the sanctuary after your ceremony.
Seasonal decorations in the Church, especially during Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter should be incorporated into your decorations, and are not changed for weddings. No flowers during lent.

Music

The understanding of the sacramental celebration is that we are not mere observers, but, rather, active participants. We are gathered together as a visible sign of the Body of Christ, the church, united in prayer and praise to the Father. The participation of the gathered assembly in both sung and spoken prayer is essentially the nature of Christian worship.

The primary purpose of music in any liturgy is to support the communal, liturgical prayer of the Church.

The wedding ceremony is a liturgical rite and bears great similarity to the Sunday celebration. It must reflect standard liturgical practices and encourage the community to join the couple in entering the spirit of this occasion as a communal event. Music that does not do this contradicts and damages liturgical prayer.

Prelude music serves as a call to worship for the gathered community and invites the people to prayer. It is, therefore, not appropriate to use “popular” or secular music. Pre-recorded music of any type is not permitted.

The music selected for the wedding must be approved by the music coordinator who is in conjunction with priest/deacon one month prior to the wedding.


Photography

  1. The ceremony may be videotaped, but only from designated stationary positions in the front and rear of the church. Photographers and videographers should check with the priest/deacon before the ceremony.
  2. Professional photographers may take flash pictures as the bridal party processes up the aisle, but NOT from the front of the Church.
      Other pictures taken during the ceremony must be non-flash and be taken from the rear of the Church. ONE photographer may take a LIMITED amount of pictures from the choir loft, as long as he/she does not distract the musicians or detract from the sacredness of the liturgy. Motorized camera rewinders are not allowed.
  3. Photographs may be taken in the Church up to but not after 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony.
  4. After the ceremony, the photographer is responsible for remembering that he/she and the wedding party are in church and should conduct themselves accordingly. (Keep in mind that confessions will begin 30 minutes prior to the Saturday Vigil Mass and we ask that all pictures be completed by this time).
  5. Sanctuary is off-limits at all times for photographers.

Programs

The program printed for your wedding liturgy is to be designed as a worship aid, allowing the gathered assembly to more fully understand and participate in the liturgy. Programs must be readable with careful consideration given to font size and style.

Fees

The fee for a wedding is $100.00. The organist fee will range from $110 to $150 depending on the organist.  Cash or check for $100 to parish should be made payable to the parish and must be paid before the rehearsal. Give the Marriage License to the priest at the rehearsal. (At Holy Trinity one check for $210 will include the organist fee). The organist fee will include:
a) Meeting with the couple and planning the wedding liturgy,
b) One private rehearsal with the vocalist,
c) Playing the wedding. (If additional rehearsals are needed for the vocalist or other musicians, an additional fee may be charged and is to be paid directly to the organist.)
The fee for your vocalist is between you and your vocalist. The average fee is $50. If using parish servers, It is suggested the couple pay them $20-25 each following the ceremony.