ARCHDIOCESAN GUIDELINES

WHO

The bride or the groom must be a registered and active member of the parish. Regular envelope use is an indication of parish membership. If either party (whether Catholic or not) has been previously married, bring this matter to the  priest's attention immediately.

Because of its long history, Holy Redeemer often attracts the children (and even the grandchildren!) of former parish members who wish to be married here.

Active parishioners will receive precedence in assigning wedding dates and times, but all are free to inquire of availability.

Weddings are generally celebrated on Saturday afternoons (12:00pm or 2:00pm). Weddings are generally not celebrated during the season of Lent.

Movement in the sanctuary by the photographer and flash are no-no's (except during the processional and recessional, by the professional.) No family flash, please! most professionals can use "available light" to make beautiful images. Please inform your photographer that no more than thirty minutes will be permitted for photographs following the ceremony, in consideration of later weddings or parish activities.

Throwing of these items is not permitted inside or outside of Holy Redeemer Church. Clean-up is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive...and rice or birdseed poses a hazard, causing falls and injuries. If rice, birdseed, or confetti are thrown, you will be charged for the cleanup.

For parish members: A stipend of $300, which includes the $150 non-refundable for reserving the date, is customary.

A stipend of $600 is requested for the weddings of couples who are not registered members of Holy Redeemer Parish.

The non-refundable deposit of $250 to reserve the date and time is included in this amount.

The couple is responsible for contracting the musician for your wedding mass. Holy Redeemer provides the services of a professional, bilingual music minister for a separate fee. The established cost for our parish musician is $100.00 and is separate from the church wedding stipend. If you desire another musician or Mariachis, you should inform our music minister and make the necessary arrangements on your own.

Each couple makes arrangements with a florist. Generally, two flower arrangements are adequate. These are placed near, and not upon, the altar. Custom dictates that floral arrangements remain in the church after the ceremony. They are not to be removed to the banquet hall. Flowers may be left at the church on the day of the wedding by stopping at the parish office.

Arrangements should be made at the Parish Office several weeks in advance of your wedding date. Only those directly involved should attend. Plan on the rehearsal beginning promptly and lasting only 45 minutes. Remember that your Marriage License, along with the parish wedding stipend and the musicians, must be received at the Parish Office in advance of the rehearsal.

Please note that, due to other commitments, the parish priest is not free to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation ("confession") with the wedding participants at the time of the rehearsal. While we highly recommend the celebration of this sacrament before the wedding, especially by the bridal couple, arrangements should be made to celebrate it at some other time before the wedding, i.e., at the regularly scheduled Saturday Confession (3:30 - 5:00 pm)