Wedding Guidelines

The Cathedral office should be notified at least SIX months prior to the scheduled date of your wedding. This is to allow time for you to gather sacramental documents, participate in an assessment of your relationship, explore the theology of the church regarding marriage, attend a marriage preparation program and plan your wedding.

First Priority will be given to members of Cathedral Parish in scheduling weddings. A member is defined as one who is registered and has been fully active in the parish for at least one year. Activity is measured in one's giving to Cathedral Parish through time, talent and treasure.

Second Priority will be given to those who are former members of Cathedral Parish or graduates of Cathedral School. The date of teh wedding may be tentatively placed on the parish calendar but will not be confirmed until six months prior to the date of the wedding. An active member may be given that date until six months prior.

Third Priority will be given to non-members with no former ties to Cathedral Parish, that have some special pastoral reason for being married at Cathedral. The Cathedral priest will make the judgement as to the acceptability of the pastoral reason. The date of the wedding may be tentatively placed on the parish calendar but not confirmed until six months prior to the date of the wedding. A couple who falls into the first or the second priority may be given the date you have chosen until six months prior to your wedding date.

Only three weddings are scheduled on a given weekend, but there are four different times that are available.
Friday evening weddings may be scheduled any time after 6:30 pm.
Saturday weddings are scheduled at 11:00am, 1:00pm and any time after 6:00pm.
Only those couples given first priority are able to schedule Saturday evening weddings.

The Music
You need to contact Cathedral's Director of Music. The Director of Music will assist you with planning the music used at your wedding and will work with you to ensure that your wedding is both personal and unique. However, because a wedding is a liturgy of the Church, only music that is considered appropriate to a sacred ceremony may be used. The DIrector of Music, using Diocesan guidelines, will have final approval of all music used at weddings.

The priests of Cathedral will also assist you as you plan for flowers and decorations. They will be able to describe the enviroment that is planned for our church during the liturgical season (e.g. Christmas and Easter) in which your marriage is to occur. The priests will approve any changes or additions that you might make in the seasonal decor already in place in the church.

Photographers and videos may be taken during the ceremony but the photographers and videographers must be discreet. Once the procession has begun, the photographer/videographer must limit his or her movement to the side aisles, the rear of the church and the balcony. Under no circumstances are the photographs or videos to be taken from the sanctuary area or the center aisle at any time during the procession and ceremony. Flash photography and extra lights for the video are prohibited. Photographs may be taken for one hour before the ceremony and for thirty minutes afterwards. Photographers, videographers and members of the wedding party should remember that the church is a house of prayer, and should act in due reverence. AT ALL TIMES. It is your responsibility to share the details of this policy with the photographer and/or videographer when you contact them.

The rehearsal is usually scheduled the evening prior to the wedding. Out of respect for all involved, and because there is frequently more than one rehearsal scheduled on the same night, the rehearsal must begin on time. The bride and groom, attendants, ushers, parents and lectors should all be present. The license and all fees should be presented at the rehearsal.

You should plan on arriving at the Cathedral one hour before your wedding. The Cathedral provides a dressing room for the bride and her attendants, however, it may be best for the groom and his attendants to arrive at the Cathedral in their wedding attire.

Other ministers, such as lectors, Eucharistic ministers and servers should gather in the sacristy with the Presider before the wedding.

The consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited before the rehearsal and the wedding. The Presider reserves theright to cancel the wedding if he detects that any member of the wedding party has ignored this party of the policy. It is your responsibility to inform your wedding party members of this policy.

Just as songs, scripture and vows are the "business" of a wedding, the receiving line for your wedding reception should occur at the location of the reception. Couples who would like to personally thank their guests for coming are encouraged to do so by welcoming their guests as they arrive for the wedding.

All fees are due one week prior to the wedding date. There are set fees for every wedding held at the Cathedral. Fees for additional services will be discussed on an individual basis.

Fee for reserving the Cathedral
Active Member $ 100.00
(First Priority)

Former member/school graduate
(Second Priority) $ 200.00

Non-Member
(Third Priority) $ 400.00

Organist Fee $ 100.00

Below are the names of the staff members of the Cathedral who will be helping you with the
plans for your wedding. If you have any questions concerning your wedding, please feel free
to contact them by calling the Cathedral Parish office - 522-3342.

Monsignor John R. Ossola, Rector
Rev. Michael Haag, Parochial Vicar
Nichol DelGiorno, Director of Liturgy and Music