Weddings at the Church of St. Augustine
Greetings to the prospective Bride and Groom!
We congratulate you on your decision to enter into a Catholic marriage. We at Saint Augustine Church will endeavor to help you in preparation for marriage and to make this step a holy and happy one.
Your engagement period will involve much preparation and planning regarding the practical details necessary for a wedding to be celebrated in the Church. In keeping with the seriousness of the occasion and with reverence for the Sacrament of Marriage, the Church follows a certain procedure in preparation for your union in Christ. Some of these procedures and details are listed below as a help for both the priest and the couple in the planning of their wedding and their marriage.
Spiritual preparation for your marriage must be included as well. Frequent participation and celebration of the Sacraments especially during this time is important, particularly weekly attendance at Mass. We strongly suggest that you avail yourselves of the Sacrament of
Reconciliation through frequent Confession. The engagement period can be a particularly trying time, and this Sacrament as well as weekly Mass attendance will be a great source of God’s strength in addition to offering some good solid spiritual direction for both partners during a period of much growth and maturity.
ADVANCE PREPARATION
PARISH MEMBERSHIP: The bride or groom must be a registered member in good standing of Saint Augustine Parish. Prior to any wedding arrangements, a bride or groom must be registered in the parish for a minimum of one year and have contributed to the support of the parish.
Brides or grooms who register at the parish for the sole purpose of being married at Saint Augustine Church will not be accepted. A bride or groom who has moved away and whose parents are registered members of the parish in good standing and who regularly contribute to the support of Saint Augustine will receive due consideration.
CONTACT PRIEST: The day and time of the wedding must be arranged with a priest in person by the prospective bride and groom themselves as soon as they decide to marry. No arrangements can be made via the telephone or mail or by parents or other family members. All arrangements should be made at least nine months prior to the expected wedding date.
PRIEST CELEBRANT OF YOUR WEDDING: Occasionally, either the bride or groom will have a relative who is a Catholic priest. If so, your priest relative is most welcome to officiate at your wedding ceremony. More frequently, the bride or groom will have a close friend who is a priest. Likewise, a priest friend is most welcome to officiate at your wedding ceremony. We do ask, however, that the visiting priest be present at the wedding rehearsal to facilitate a well-coordinated wedding ceremony. Either the visiting priest or one of your parish priests can do the required paperwork involved in the marriage.
DATE AND TIME OF WEDDING: We try to give a time that will be convenient for your reception, but you must keep in mind the time of Saturday and Sunday Masses. Weddings can be scheduled on Fridays at either 3:30 p.m. or 4:00 p.m., Saturdays no later than 2:30 p.m., and Sundays no earlier than 2:00 p.m. and no later than 3:00 p.m.
MARRIAGE PREPARATION: The Preparation of Marriage Course (also called Pre-Cana Classes) is given by well-qualified people and married couples. Its purpose is of extreme importance for those entering marriage today. It deals with some fundamental aspects of faith, the implications of the Sacrament of Matrimony, and the civil and ecclesiastical legalities involved in each marriage. The couple must attend one sexuality seminar after completion of the preparation program.
Registration for these courses must be made at least six (6) months prior to the wedding date. There is a registration fee for these programs. For couples who feel that they may need additional preparation, pre-marriage counseling is available and can be arranged through the parish priest.
SACRAMENTAL RECORDS: Catholics must obtain a recent copy (no older than six months) of their baptismal certificate as well as certificates for First Communion and Confirmation. These records must be obtained from the Church where these Sacraments were celebrated. For non-Catholics, a copy of a birth certificate should be provided if the party is not baptized. If baptized, the party should attempt to obtain a certificate of the baptism. Along with all sacramental records, a certificate of completion of the Marriage Preparation Course (Pre-Cana Classes) should also be given to the priest.
MARRIAGE FORMS: The priest will fill out the required marriage forms. These prenuptial forms concern each person’s freedom to marry according to civil and church law, as well as seek any of the necessary permissions for the marriage to take place in the case of Catholic/Non-
Catholic marriages. These prenuptial forms must be completed and signed with the priest handling your marriage after the Marriage Preparation Course is completed and at least six weeks before the marriage. You must contact the priest and make an appointment for this important procedure prior to the wedding.
WITNESSES FOR THE WEDDING: Witnesses to a marriage should be Roman Catholics in good standing. However a non-Catholic may serve as a witness to a marriage for a valid reason. Because witnesses are testifying to a sacramental event, it is inappropriate for anyone divorced and remarried outside the Church to serve as a witness.
LITURGICAL PREPARATION
MARRIAGE RITE WITHIN A MASS: This is the norm for two Roman Catholics. For a serious reason, a marriage without a Mass may be permitted. The norm for the marriage of a Catholic and non-Catholic does not include the celebration of Mass. This may be done with special permission of the Bishop of Providence.
PLANNING THE CEREMONY: The priest handling your marriage will work with you regarding the ceremony. This planning should include readings, readers, involvement of parents, presentation of gifts, etc. This should be done a few weeks prior to the wedding. The groom, the best man, and ushers should arrive at least 1/2 hour before the start of the wedding ceremony. The bride and bridal party must arrive at least 15 minutes before the wedding ceremony is scheduled to begin. If there is a problem, please call the parish rectory immediately at 272-7430.
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS: Music is an important part of the wedding ceremony. Our parish is blessed with an excellent and professional music ministry. Additionally, we have a 42-rank, two thousand pipe Peragallo Organ. Our Directress of Music is Mrs. Paula Fontes. Please contact her as soon as you have obtained a date from the priest for your wedding. Mrs. Fontes will meet you in the choir loft after a Sunday morning Mass and discuss your musical options. Please be aware that guest organists are never allowed. Similarly, guest musicians or soloists are never permitted to replace our own musicians. We have available instrumentalists (trumpet, harp, flute, French horn, etc.) and soloists. These talented professionals are accustomed to our church, pipe organ and organist and are knowledgeable as to appropriate liturgical and sacred music. No exceptions will be made to this policy. The organist, soloist, and instrumentalists of the parish must be used.
Please remember that this is a religious ceremony and appropriate music must be chosen. The text of the sung pieces must respect and serve the worship and prayer that is being celebrated. Catholic marriage ceremonies should not be secularized or sentimentalized. Popular music from Broadway plays, musicals or Hollywood movies do not have a place in the wedding ceremony.
READINGS: The bride and groom should select readings and notify the priest of these selections. There are three readings. The first is taken from the Old Testament. Then a sung psalm followed by the second reading. This second reading is taken from the New Testament epistles. After the sung gospel acclamation, the third reading is proclaimed from one of the four gospels in the New Testament. Your chosen readings must follow this order: (1) Old Testament reading, (2) New Testament epistle, (3) Gospel.
READERS: The choice of readers is limited to practicing Roman Catholics in good standing. The Word of God should not be proclaimed by someone whose lifestyle does not reflect what is being read. Anyone asked to do a reading must attend the wedding rehearsal.
USHERS: Ushers have an important task to perform before the ceremony begins. First and most importantly, by their own dignified manner and decorum, ushers are to foster an atmosphere of reverence and respect for the sacred space of the Church. Secondly, ushers should maintain a quiet atmosphere in the Church as guests enter. Guests should only be escorted into the Church when they are genuinely ready to observe quiet and prayerfulness appropriate to the sacred space of the Church. Visiting and socializing belongs in the vestibule, not in the Church itself. Ushers should ensure that all guests are properly seated so that the ceremony can begin at the appointed time.
RECEPTION LINES: The proper place for the reception line is quite naturally at the wedding reception. Due to regularly scheduled parish Masses and Confessions, a reception line at the Church is not permitted.
DECORATING THE CHURCH
FLORISTS: Floral arrangements for the church are customarily sent by the bride or groom as a symbol of gratitude to God. As such, you are asked to leave them in church after the ceremony. Please instruct your florist that this is your gift to God and therefore should not be taken to
the reception. If your florist will use pew bows, they must be attached with elastic bands or plastic clips. Please instruct your florist that the use of any kind of tape or metal clip is not permitted at Saint Augustine Church. Inform your florist that the use of a “runner” in the center aisle at Saint Augustine Church is not permitted. “Runners” present a safety hazard and an insurance liability. Therefore “runners” of any kind cannot be used in the Church.
RICE OR ROSE PETALS: The throwing of rice or rose petals is not permitted at Saint Augustine Church because it creates an unsafe environment for anyone entering or exiting the church. Please inform your guests about this policy.
UNITY CANDLE: The use of a unity candle during the wedding ceremony is not permitted at Saint Augustine Church. In the Roman Catholic Church, light is a symbol of Christ and the life of grace, not a sign of married unity. The unity candle has no proper role in the Rite of Marriage of the Roman Catholic Church. More appropriately, you might want to use a unity candle at your reception.
WEDDING PROGRAMS: If you choose to have a printed wedding program, please consult the priest handling your wedding prior to any printing. The program must be approved before it can be distributed in church. Additionally, please appoint someone to collect any programs left in the church following the wedding ceremony.
LIMOUSINE SERVICE: Please instruct your limousine service to have the groom and best man arrive at least one half hour prior to the scheduled time of the wedding ceremony. The bride and bridal party must arrive at least fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled time of the wedding ceremony. Limousines should not drive on, nor park on, the sidewalk in front of the church entrance. Please inform the limousine service that serving champagne or other alcoholic beverages outside the church is strictly prohibited.
PICTURES AND PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER: In keeping with the sacredness of the building and to maintain the solemnity of the wedding ceremony, video recorders and cameras with flashes are not permitted. Please advise your photographer and videographer as to this strict policy of no flash photography. Videotaping and photography without flash are permitted in the church provided that the camera operator remains stationary, off to the side and outside the sanctuary area. It is important
to remember that these people are recording the celebration of a Sacrament, not producing a movie.
Please inform your photographer/videographer that the ceremony must not be delayed by taking photos/video at the main entrance of the church. If photos/videos are desired prior to the ceremony, please arrive early in order to take them. Photo taking after the ceremony is permissible but must be done in a timely fashion and must respect the sacred space of the church. Please inform your videographer and photographer of the policies of Saint Augustine Church and ask them to introduce themselves to the priest celebrating your wedding.
GUESTS AND CAMERAS: Please inform your family, friends and invited guests that flash photography is not allowed during the wedding ceremony at Saint Augustine Church. Photography during the processional and recessional is permitted. Wedding guests should not move about the church to take photos but must remain in their seats in the pews at all times during the wedding ceremony.
FINAL PREPARATION
WEDDING REHEARSAL: The wedding rehearsal is usually reserved for the night before the wedding. The time and date should be arranged with the priest celebrating the marriage. Everyone who is to have an active role in the wedding ceremony must attend the rehearsal. Those involved in the wedding rehearsal must be on time; tardiness of any kind cannot be accommodated. Please arrive quietly and prayerfully as you are entering the sacred space of the Church.
CIVIL MARRIAGE LICENSE: The bride and groom must apply for the civil marriage license on their own at the local town or city hall. The license must be delivered to the priest celebrating the marriage at least one week prior to the scheduled date of the wedding ceremony. The witnesses will be required to sign the license on the night of the rehearsal; therefore it is imperative that they attend the wedding rehearsal. If this is not possible then the priest must be contacted immediately.
CHURCH OFFERING: The church offering for a wedding at Saint Augustine Church is $300.00. All checks should be payable to Saint Augustine Church. This offering is paid one week prior to the scheduled date of the wedding ceremony.
MUSIC FEES: The fee for the organist is $200.00. Checks should be made directly to the organist. Any other fees for musicians or soloists should be in the form of checks made directly to them. All music fees must be paid in full one week prior to the scheduled date of the wedding ceremony.
REMUNERATIONS: It is customary on the day of the wedding for the best man to offer some remuneration to the two altar servers.
IN CONCLUSION
In conclusion, please be mindful that all of the above regulations are intended to serve one purpose: to provide you with a sacred and memorable wedding day. We, your parish priests, rejoice with you and will do everything in our power to provide you with a wedding that is joyous and Christ-centered. In the meantime, be certain of our prayers for you. God bless you both as you prepare for this most important Sacrament.