Churches are special and unique places to get married in - the prayers, promises and the whole service of celebration become part of your marriage, on the day itself and beyond.
The ritual of a Christian wedding ceremony in most cases includes this significant statement: "By the authority committed unto me as a minister of the church of Christ, I declare that [names] are now husband and wife, according to the ordinance of God and the law of the state; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
We’ve put together the frequently asked questions about church wedding ceremonies asked by couples wanting to marry in St. Mary's Cathedral Church. We hope it helps you to prepare for your Special Day.
The sacraments make Christ present in our midst. Like the other sacraments, marriage is not just for the good of individuals, or the couple, but for the community as a whole. The Catholic Church teaches that marriage between two baptised persons is a sacrament.
Yes. Marriages between Catholics and non-Christians, while they may still be valid in the eyes of the Church, are non-sacramental. With permission, a priest or deacon may witness such marriages.
Most churches will be able to recommend someone from the parish who can decorate the church for you, but it shouldn’t be a problem to bring in your own floral displays. Just check with the St. Mary's Cathedral parish office where you can have the flowers as you wouldn’t want a large arrangement to get in the way during the ceremony.
Our parish priest officiates all weddings in St. Mary's Cathedral church, using the same basic Christian service as the starting place for designing your unique ceremony. She is ready to assist you in building a wedding ceremony that reflects your personal needs as a couple. Wedding ceremonies held in the Sanctuary need to be from one of the Christian traditions, however there is great latitude to include meaningful elements from other faith traditions in the case of an inter-faith wedding service.
No, you do not. You may use music that is meaningful to you. There are some limitations based on which of our facilities you use and the use of the sanctuary organ. We have a highly qualified music staff (please read about them on the staff page of this website) and can assist you in selecting beautiful music for your ceremony.
Yes. Our parish priest is the primary officiant of all St. Mary's Cathedral weddings, but is always open to co-officiating your ceremony with the pastor of your home church or a clergy member of your family. Please contact our parish office to explain your circumstance and to query options of a shared ceremony.
For a Catholic wedding at least one of you must follow the faith and you’re required to get a dispensation to marry there for the one that isn’t Catholic.
It works the same way as booking a civil wedding ceremony in that places will get booked up months in advance. Talk to your vicar or the church office as soon as possible, particularly if you’re hoping to marry in peak wedding season. Bear in mind when hosting a ceremony during Lent, although this isn’t usually the case for Catholic ceremonies. Parish office will asssit with all St. Mary's Cathedral specifics.
If you’re planning on writing your own wedding vows, please contact he parish office to query is this is allowed and what restricitions apply, if any.
We are committed to Jesus Christ, the Bible, and the Great Commission.
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