Wedding Guidelines

You must contact the parish office or Family Life Ministry staff at least six to nine months prior to the desired wedding date. Couples are accommodated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Dates are not confirmed until the deposit is paid.

WEDDING DOCUMENTS

Documents which you are required to present or complete:

• Witness Affidavit of Freedom to Marry – It is important that the Church confirm that the groom and bride are free to marry each other under the provisions of Canon Law. Four witnesses will be necessary – two witnesses for the groom and two different witnesses for the bride will complete an affidavit attesting to their freedom to marry each other.
• Baptismal Certificate – A current copy of the baptismal certificate that is issued within six months and notated from the Church of Baptism (for Catholics only) must be provided. A certificate, affidavit, or some other form is needed to confirm if the groom or bride, who is not Catholic, has been baptized in another Christian denomination. The baptismal certificate for the Catholic(s) should reflect the dates and locations of when the other sacraments of initiation (First Communion and Confirmation) were received. If not noted, a certificate confirming the Sacrament of Confirmation should be obtained.
• Marriage License – It is important to bring your Marriage License with you to the wedding which will be signed by the Priest or Deacon after the wedding. The Marriage License can be obtained at any courthouse in Texas and is valid in all counties of the state. It should be obtained approximately one to two weeks prior to the ceremony. In Texas, a license is valid for 90 days, and a 72-hour waiting period may apply.
• Previous Marriage – If either the groom or bride has been married previously, copies of the marriage license, divorce decree, nullity decree, or death certificate, as applicable, must be provided as soon as possible. Additional forms and documents may be requested depending on the facts of the previous marriage.  All previous marriages must be disclosed.

WEDDING FLOWERS

The wedding party is responsible for coordinating any purchasing of flowers with your florist and assigned wedding assistant.  Floral arrangements can be delivered one hour prior to the scheduled wedding time.  Arrangements may be placed only in the designated areas of the Church, which are:

• Along the side of the sanctuary steps,
• In front of Mary’s statue
• And on the far side of the Sanctuary. 

Only fresh flowers are to be used.  No plastic, silk, or other artificial flowers can be used, including the bridal bouquet.  The Parish Wedding Assistant will be onsite to direct the florist in the proper placement.  All arrangements must be removed immediately after the wedding except for Mary’s bouquet unless other arrangements have been made ahead of time.

If you are offering a floral bouquet to our Blessed Mother Mary, a vase will be placed in front of her statue for you to place the arrangement.

Floral arrangements are not permitted during Lent.  Florists must provide their own decorative containers and/or pedestals. Couples may opt to gift their floral arrangements to the Church for weekend liturgies.   

Aisle runners, pew flowers/bows, candles/lanterns with live flames, and the scattering of flower petals are not allowed for safety reasons. Throwing rice, birdseed, bubbles, confetti, etc., outdoors after the celebration is also prohibited. Flower girls are not permitted to throw any fresh petals or fabric petals.

 

WEDDING MUSIC

Only musicians and soloists from St. Faustina parish must be used for weddings at St. Faustina unless otherwise arranged in advance WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC and
communicated to the Wedding Assistant. All music selections and songs must be in compliance with the liturgical guidelines of the Catholic Church and St. Faustina parish.

Wedding Music

WEDDING READINGS

For weddings within and without Mass, there are two readings, one Old Testament, one New Testament, a Psalm response, and the Gospel proclamation. These must be taken from the Order of
Celebrating Matrimony. Selection of the readings is to be coordinated with the assigned Wedding Assistant. 

WEdding readings

WEDDING ASSISTANTS

A Parish Wedding Assistant will be assigned approximately two months or so before the wedding to work with the couple in preparation for the wedding day. The Wedding Assistant is the responsible person for coordinating the rehearsal and on the wedding day to ensure the celebrations proceed reverently, promptly, and according to our guidelines. They are the church representative in charge.
Professional Wedding Coordinators are not permitted to engage in the rehearsal, direct any activity of the day of the wedding while at the church, and are to defer any questions or comments to the Wedding Assistant.

CHILDREN

Children are always welcome in Church; however, little ones often find it difficult to sit quietly for long periods of time. If young children become disruptive, you may be asked to take them to the Narthex or outdoors until they have calmed down. This avoids disruption and distraction during the wedding celebration. Flower Girls and Ring Bearers should be above the age of five.

BUILDING USE

Care and respect for the Church, as a place of worship and house of God, is to be exercised at all times. It is the responsibility of the bride and groom to see that the following are observed by the wedding party and their guests:

• Food or drink is not to be brought inside the Church.
• There are to be absolutely no alcoholic beverages or non-prescribed drugs on Church property; this includes the parking lot. Anyone suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs will be asked to leave the premises immediately.  Consuming alcoholic beverages before the ceremony is highly discouraged.
• The Church campus is a non-smoking campus.
• Concealed handguns, knives, and other weapons are prohibited anywhere on the Church campus, inside the Church, and in all Church buildings.
• Guests should be instructed in advance to silence cell phones when inside the Church.
• Before, during, and after the wedding, a reverent decorum should be maintained: no running or playing around by children, no talking on cell phones, and no loud or excessive talking by adults in the Church or Narthex.

ATTIRE AND DECORUM

Proper attire should be worn at all times when in Church; this includes those in attendance for the wedding rehearsal: no shorts, immodest halter tops, tank tops, or midriffs; no baseball caps, torn jeans, sunglasses, flip flops or other inappropriate attire or accessory.

Brides are to bear in mind the necessity for modesty and appropriateness of attire for this sacred occasion and place of worship. When selecting the wedding and bridesmaids’ gowns, low-cut or strapless gowns should be avoided or worn with a shawl or wrap during the Wedding Liturgy.

Under no circumstances should anyone in the wedding party or guests at the church, at the rehearsal, or day of the wedding be under the influence of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs. Those appearing to be under the influence may be asked to leave the church’s premises.

All in attendance should keep in mind that they are in a sacred place and that God is present and reposed in the Tabernacle. Inappropriate, irreverent, or offensive language or behavior will not be tolerated.
 

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY

The photographer and videographer are to be informed of the following parish guidelines by the bride and groom prior to the wedding. They must agree to comply with the parish’s guidelines; their failure to do so will result in asking them to cease photographing and leave the Church immediately. 

• Photography and video may begin in the Church and/or on the grounds 1 hour prior to the commencement of the ceremony.
• The photographer and videographer must check in with the Parish Wedding Assistant upon arrival at the Church.
• The Parish Wedding Assistant will remind the photographers of their designated areas. They are never allowed in the sanctuary or on the sanctuary steps.
• At all times during the liturgy, they should strive to be unobtrusive.
• Once the ceremony has begun, they are not to move about the Church.
• Each couple has use of the Church for 1 hour before the scheduled wedding time and 30 minutes after the ceremony is concluded. This may result in only a brief time for photographs after the actual ceremony. There can be no deviation from this time frame.
• There is to be no artificial lighting or flash photography during the ceremony.
• The bridal procession is not to be interrupted once the ceremony has begun.
• All photos are to be respectful of the sacred celebration and space; no inappropriate poses.

LATE ARRIVAL

Wedding rehearsals and wedding ceremonies are expected to start at the agreed-upon start time.  It is the groom's and bride's responsibility to ensure the wedding party arrives on time. Rehearsals that are 30 minutes or more late will be subject to being canceled. Wedding parties must arrive approximately 1 hour prior to the planned starting time on the day of the wedding ceremony.  

CLERGY HONORARIUM

This honorarium is offered to the priest or deacon who presides at the wedding ceremony as a sign of appreciation. There is no designated amount; the typical range is $150.00 - $250.00. This is in addition to any other of the stated fee and can be presented after the ceremony.

CATHOLIC?

A non-Catholic bride or groom is not required to become a member of the Catholic faith in order to marry a Catholic in the Catholic Church. Non-Catholics are invited to learn more about the Catholic faith by participating in various adult formation programs offered by the parish. For more information, contact Faith Formation at the parish.