St. James the Greater Catholic Church
Dogtown
Guideline for Marriage Preparation

You are about to commit yourselves to one another in Holy Matrimony. This is to be a life long commitment. We are honored that you are asking us to help you prepare for this most important step in your lives.

We want you to be as confident as possible in making your wedding vows. So, in keeping with the procedures of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, we have a program that helps you understand one another, and appreciate the Holy State of Matrimony.

Our Church building is not only historic and beautiful, but it is also a house of prayer. Accordingly it is worthy of respect, and so we have some rules about its use for weddings.

Finally, there are some steps that must be taken in order to confirm your date for the wedding.

The following information, we hope, will help you prepare your permanent commitment to one another. Above all we want to help you!
Part I: Confirming the Date
Part II: Preparation
Part III: Planning your Ritual

Part I: Confirming the Date

Because this question is probably uppermost in your minds, we treat it first. Before confirmation, you will need to do the following:

If you are a registered and active member of the parish, contact the priest or deacon about arranging the details. He will explain the procedures, answer your questions, and set the tentative date. A $500.00 offering is expected before the date is reserved.

No date is considered final until all these steps have been completed.

You may schedule your wedding on Friday evening or Saturday up to 1:30 PM.

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Part II: Preparation

In accordance with the norms of the Archdiocese, we have the following expectations:

1. Participation in FOCUS - Facilitation Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study.
2. Participation in at least on recommended marriage preparation program.
3. Completion of the necessary forms for our Church records.
4. Planning of your ceremony with the priest or deacon.
5. If the priest or deacon is not of our Archdiocese, please let a priest know as soon as possible.
6. Please let your parish know about your wedding at least one month in advance, so they may publish your marriage bands.

Part III: Planning Your Ritual

Because you are getting married in a Catholic Church, you are requested to follow the ritual of the Catholic Church. However, there is room for some creativity.

1. We offer a booklet that will help you prepare your liturgical celebration.
2. The Nuptial Mass & Your Wedding:
   1. If both of you are Catholics ordinarily you would have a Mass.
   2. If one of you is not a Catholic ordinarily you would not have mass.
   3. If one of you is not baptized, then a Mass would not be permitted.
3. Music: We adhere strictly to the guidelines for Music at Weddings as set-forth by the St. Louis Archdiocese. Because of the Sacramental nature of the Wedding Ceremony, secular music is not permitted. Music should be of good quality, enhancing the Liturgy and emphasizing the spiritual aspect of the Wedding Ceremony.
   1. The Parish Music Minister is responsible for all music during the wedding. He should be contacted as soon as the wedding date is set and the church has been secured. His fees are included in the offering you made to the church.
   2. Soloists are welcomed. It is the role of the Soloists/Cantor to lead the Congregation in the singing of the various sung responses and service music.
   3. Care should be given to insure that as much of the music as possible is congregational. The Responsorial Psalm is to be a Psalm. The Gospel Acclamation is always to be sung, the Lord's Prayer, during the Communion Rite, may NEVER be a solo. The Communion Song should be Congregational in nature.
   4. Programs, if used, should be a Worship Aid as opposed to simply a listing of who's who in the wedding party. Worship aids should contain such things as the Responsorial Psalm Refrain, Gospel Acclamation and Communion Song, or reference to where they can be found in the hymnal. Sample Worship Aids can be provided upon request.
   
   NOTE: With Regard to Guest Musicians.
   In order to preserve the integrity of the Liturgical Celebration, we welcome any liturgically trained musician, subject to the approval of the Parish Music Director. If the guest musician is not a liturgically trained and approved musician, the couple must secure the services of either the Parish Music Minister, or some other liturgically trained musician to be on-hand during the service to assist the guest musician with the various aspects of the liturgy.

   It is not required that our music director be engaged for every wedding, but he has the final approval on all guest musicians and all music used during the service. Guest musicians must secure permission to play at St. James by contacting the parish prior to the wedding.
   
   

4. We have altar servers who minister at weddings or you may provide your own if they are trained. A stipend is expected for them.
5. PHOTOGRAPHY
   1. Photographers are asked to avoid being a distraction during the ritual.
   2. Videographers must remain stationary during the ritual.
   3. Photographs may be taken up to 30 minutes before or following the ritual.
6. FLOWERS AND DECORATIONS
   1. Only freshly cut flowers and live plants are permitted and should be left at the altar.
   2. No tape or mechanical devices may be added to the pews or communion rail.
   3. An aisle runner should not be used.
   4. Flowers may not be placed on the main altar.
7. DECORUM
   1. No food or drink is permitted in the Church or on its grounds.
   2. Please dress appropriately for the rehearsal.
   3. No rice, birdseed, flowers or any other item may be thrown in the Church or on its grounds.
   4. We expect all to act with respect and reverence while in our church.
   5. The entire Bride's party should come dressed for the wedding.

We hope that these guidelines will help to make the ritual for your wedding reverential and memorable. Your cooperation is much appreciated. If you have any questions please feel free to ask them. We want to do everything possible to help you in this the most important day of your lives together.

In Jesus,


Father Johnson