Getting Married at St. John the Evangelist!
Congratulations on wanting to get married!
We want to do everything we can to make this a blessed and joyful experience. Please contact the office as soon as possible and before you make any reservations with other venues. As you know, Catholics take marriage very seriously. So we the following policies are in place to help us be as prepared as possible for this beautiful and life-long commitment.
So, please review the policies below. If you'd like to understand the policy a little better, feel free to ask. All of them have reasons behind them.
Who Can Get Married here?
Any couple where at least one person is Catholic can get married in a Catholic Church. Parishioners (registered or living in our territory) are encouraged to celebrate their weddings here and will not have to pay an extra Church Use Fee. Non-Parishioners will need to get written permission from their pastor to be married here and they will be asked to pay a Church Use Fee. Parishioners who are not regularly involved in the parish will also be asked to pay a Church Use Fee.
Wedding Between Two Catholics:
A wedding between two Catholics is ordinarily celebrated within Mass to show the link between family life and church and because Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom of the Church. As a marriage unites a man and a woman into "one flesh" so the Eucharist makes us one body with Christ and his Church. There are some circumstances when two Catholics do not celebrate their wedding in Mass. The pastor will discuss those circumstances with you during your preparation process.
Weddings between Catholics and Non-Catholics:
If one of the parties is a non-Catholic Christian, we do not allow a Mass without explicit permission from the Bishop, and that is rarely ever given. Ordinarily, we will celebrate the Rite of Marriage Outside of Mass, which includes some readings, a homily, the exchange of vows, and the Nuptial Blessing. It is possible to have the vows witnessed by the other Christian minister or even in another church, but it will require the Bishops' permission. Speak with the priest about applying for this if you think you have good reason.
Weddings between Catholics and Non-Christians (Unbaptized persons):
Yes, it is possible to get married in the Catholic Church with a non-Christian. It is not a sacramental marriage, but a natural one. To do this you do have to have permission from the Diocese. The pastor can request that permission from the diocese. Simply call and set up a meeting. Weddings between Catholics and unbaptized persons cannot be celebrated with a Mass, so the ritual described above will be used.
Special Circumstances:
If either person is previously married, they must first demonstrate to the pastor that they are able to be married again. This can involve seeking a Declaration of Nullity (Annulment) or simply proving the death of a previous spouse.
Being pregnant or having children before marriage does not prevent you from getting married in the Church. Because of the pressures involved, however, it will be necessary to meet with the pastor to determine the best course of action for everyone involved.
For couples where circumstances make it impossible to celebrate the Marriage in a Church in the usual way, it is possible to get permission from the Bishop to have the marriage performed in another approved way. If you think your circumstances warrant this special permission (called a "dispensation"), please speak with the priest about applying for it.
Getting Started:
Please contact the Church at least 7 months before your desired date. We have a preparation process designed to help you understand the Sacrament of Matrimony and prepare you to live a happy, healthy, holy marriage.
Preparation Process:
First, there is the initial interview to make sure you are free to marry and properly understand what marriage means. This will be done before we lock in your wedding date/time.
Second, you will be asked to complete a Prepare and Enrich Inventory. This is not a compatibility test, but a tool designed to help you understand yourselves and your relationship better. You can register here (be sure to put the address of whichever priest/deacon is leading your process - St. John the Evangelist, 1510 Church St if you're working with the pastor). The cost is $45. If you'd like, you can give us the information and the payment and we'll complete the registration ourselves.
Third, in addition to meeting with the priest/deacon to discuss your Prepare and Enrich results, you will begin a formal preparation program. The program we use is called Witness to Love. It involves selecting a mentor couple from within the parish to walk with you and help to prepare for the rest of your lives together. The mentor couple doesn't need any special training, they just need to be married for more than 5 years and practicing their Catholic Faith. The program leads both you and the mentor couple through building the virtues necessary for a successful relationship. If for some reason this approach is not viable, speak with Fr. Albert about other possibilities. Failure to complete an approved program will postpone the wedding.
Fourth (at the same time as step 3), all couples getting married at St. John the Evangelist will be asked to complete a Natural Family Planning course. There are many reasons for this (click here to see more), but here's a few: We want you to know what the Church actually teaches (there are a lot of false rumors about this); NFP has been shown to improve the success rate of marriages; And, NFP gives a practical way of managing your family without falling into the sin of artificial contraception. There are several models of NFP to choose from, but you must complete one before the wedding. Failure to do so will postpone the wedding. You can find several optionshere or here. Pick one, discuss it with the priest/deacon, and begin as soon as you can. You are responsible for any fees.
Fifth and finally, you will work with the celebrant to finalize the ritual itself - the selection of readings and other options provided by the Church for weddings.
The Importance of Ritual and Liturgy:
Marriage is a Sacrament, which means it is a part of the official, public prayer of the Church. As with all such rituals, there is a proper and formal way to celebrate it. While the relationship and the love of the couple is unique, their love story is entering into a much bigger love story between God and his people, so a wedding ritual is designed to be done a certain way, with reverence and respect for the Sacrament and the Church. If you want to do something silly and creative and goofy as part of your own celebration, by all means do so! But, it can't be at Church during the wedding ritual. Please look for a more appropriate time and place, such as at the reception. The ritual of the wedding comes to us from the Church - it is not up to the priest or the couple to make up what they want. So, all the liturgical norms in the Church's guidelines will be followed, even if your wedding is celebrated by a visiting priest or deacon. If a visiting priest or deacon violates this policy, you will lose the safety deposit and that priest/deacon will be disallowed from future celebrations.
The Time and Date of Wedding:
The Church has an ancient and sacred pattern of prayer, so some days and times do not allow for the celebration of a marriage. Weddings are never allowed during the Sacred Triduum (Good Friday through Easter Sunday). At St. John the Evangelist, no weddings will be celebrated on Sundays or during the last two weeks of Lent (called Passion-tide) in order to uphold the solemnity of that time. Neither will we celebrate a wedding on Ash Wednesday, Christmas, Ascension, Pentecost, All Souls Day (November 2), or on any Holy Day of Obligation.
Weddings will be allowed on Saturday evenings after the 4 p.m. Mass. These must be celebrated after 6 p.m. If you want to have your wedding Mass on the same day as a Solemnity (like St. Joseph, Husband of Mary) or when there is a proper Vigil Mass, you will not be able to pick out readings for the Mass and we will have to use the prayers for that feast day. Weddings outside of Mass will still be able to use the normal prayers and readings. Weddings celebrated during the week or before 1:30 p.m. on Saturday can use a regular wedding Mass and pick their own readings. If you do choose to have your wedding during the first part of Lent, you will not be able to decorate the Church with flowers and the music will be more restricted.
Rehearsals and Confession:
Rehearsals are usually scheduled during the evening one or two days before the wedding depending on the church schedule. One half hour is allotted for the rehearsal and must begin promptly at the scheduled time. If any member of the wedding party is not on time, the rehearsal will begin without him or her. The rehearsal will not be delayed for later arrivals. Only the wedding party is to attend the rehearsal. Other guests of the rehearsal supper should go directly to that location.
It is highly recommended that the Bride & Groom, as well as Catholic members of their wedding party, go to confession immediately before the wedding. The rehearsal is a good time to do that. If your rehearsal is on a Tuesday or Thursday night, confessions are available for 15 minutes before the regularly scheduled 6:00pm Mass, so it's a good idea to just come early for confession and Mass. On other nights, Fr. Albert will gladly offer confessions to the couple before the rehearsal.
Behavior:
If any member of the wedding party comes to the rehearsal or the wedding under the influence of alcohol or drugs or is inappropriately dressed then they will not be allowed in the Church. If either the Bride or Groom is under the influence, the wedding will be immediately cancelled. St. John the Evangelist Church has a sacristan/coordinator who is authorized to enforce these rules and, if necessary, call the Jeanerette City Police Department. Please consider this to be a serious warning. The bride and groom will be held responsible for the conduct and behavior of the wedding party and other guests inside the church an on the church grounds. Please make your wedding day a happy one and avoid any type of embarrassment to you and your family.
St. John the Evangelist Church has no dressing room facilities. The Parish Hall may be used depending on availability and for a $50 utility fee. Otherwise, all members of the wedding party should arrive fully dressed for the wedding. Arriving in robes, petticoats, or other forms of undress on the grounds of the church is strictly forbidden and is considered indecent exposure in a church. Such behavior will be grounds for postponement or cancellation of the ceremony.
Inappropriate behavior by any member of the wedding party, such as “mooning,” streaking, or disturbing the peace, is strictly forbidden and will also be grounds for postponement or cancellation of the ceremony.
Celebrant:
If the celebrant of the wedding ceremony is not the pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church, he must obtain written delegation from the pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church. This delegation will gladly be given to any priest in good standing who respects the policies and practices of St. John's and the Diocese of Lafayette. You will be asked to complete your initial interview with the Pastor, but the rest of the preparation should be completed by the priest or deacon you've asked to celebrate the wedding. Under special circumstances, the pastor will complete your preparation and the priest/deacon can simply celebrate the wedding.
Liturgical Ministers:
It is recommended that you choose experienced lectors and Eucharistic ministers for the ceremony. They must be in attendance at the wedding rehearsal so that the celebrant can instruct them on their part in the ceremony. Altar servers will not be provided by the parish for the ceremony. You are welcome to invite experienced servers from within your family or circle of friends to serve if you so desire.
You can have as many people as you want for your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Just remember that the more people you have, the longer the wedding will take and the more it can take the focus off the couple. Ring-bearers and Flower girls cannot be younger than 5 years old.
Readings:
Every Catholic wedding uses readings from Sacred Scripture. Readings from other sources are not allowed. The readings from Sacred Scripture must be chosen from those provided by the Church for this purpose and the guidelines on how those readings are to be chosen will be followed. (For example, during the Easter season, the first reading is always from the Book of Revelation). Additionally, the priest or deacon always reserves the right to pick the Gospel.
Wedding Planners:
Some people choose to hire an outside coordinator to handle the details of their wedding. Most wedding coordinators are very respectful of our liturgy and know to defer to us on what happens in the Church. But, just so it is clear, from the moment the wedding party enters the Church to the moment they leave it, the priest and sacristan have absolute authority on what happens. A wedding coordinator who attempts to force their opinions on the Church's liturgy will be asked to leave the premises.
Music:
Music is important to any liturgical celebration. Only approved religious and liturgical music may be used before, during and after the wedding. The musical treasury of the church is vast enough to accommodate the most diverse tastes. Secular, “pop” or “movie” music is not appropriate to a sacred celebration and therefore is not allowed. The emphasis must be on liturgical music, that is, music the texts of which are drawn from biblical sources and divine worship. All musical selections are subject to the approval of the pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church.
Photography and Videography:
Pictures and videos are nice remembrances, however, the photographer or videographer can detract from the ceremony itself. We should not be so eager to capture the moment that we interfere with actually living and enjoying the moment. Only one official still photographer and videographer are allowed to take pictures or film the ceremony. Please let your wedding party, family, and guests know this to avoid embarrassment. Photograph sessions after the wedding inside the Church may take place as long as it does not interfere with the regular Church schedule.
If you intend to video your wedding you are allowed to have one videographer with a self-contained, battery operated shoulder camera or a tripod on wheels may be used. Other equipment or hookups are not allowed.
No photographer or videographer is allowed in the sanctuary or the sacristy. Neither should they stand in front of the pews and obscure the view of anyone attending the wedding.
Flowers and Other Decorations:
Priority will always be given to decorations in place for parish weekend Masses. This is particularly true if your wedding falls during one of the major liturgical seasons (Advent, Christmas, Easter) or on the weekend of a major feast (Pentecost, Corpus Christi, etc.) when special decorations are already in the church or when the church has been decorated for a special parish ceremony you will not be allowed to change or adjust these decorations for your wedding. Decorations during the penitential season of Advent must be minimal, that is, nothing extravagant or exceptional.
Wedding Attire
Wedding attire is to be reverent, appropriate, and modest for all members of the wedding party. No shorts. No exposed midriffs. Nothing backless. No strapless dresses. No deep necklines.
Other Regulations
Fees:
The generous support of the members of our parish makes possible a beautiful and comfortable atmosphere for the sacred moment of marriage. Maintaining our Church is important and a priority, but it is not cheap. So, it is only just and fair that non-parishioners or non-contributing parishioners make a contribution towards those expenses. For the purpose of determining fees, a parishioner is anyone who lives in the territory of St. John the Evangelist or is Registered and attends Mass regularly here. You may be considered a "legacy" parishioner if you grew up in the area, completed your First Communion and Confirmation at St. John the Evangelist, and your parents are current parishioners. This does not extend to grandchildren. Parishioners who would still like to offer a donation to the Church are welcome to do so.
The “church use fee” is $600.00 for non-parishioners and $300.00 for non-active parishioners (no evidence of regular contributions to the parish). At the time the wedding is tentatively scheduled, the bride and groom will be required to place a deposit of $150.00 and sign St. John the Evangelist’s Damage Deposit Statement. This deposit will be refunded after the wedding only if no damage of any kind has occurred. Additionally all couples must pay a gratuity of $100.00 for the sacristan/coordinator’s services. This is also payable at the time the wedding is scheduled. It is a common practice to offer a donation to the priest or deacon who presides at the wedding, but it is not required. That can be given directly to the presider at the time of the wedding.
If you do choose to use the Parish Hall as a staging area before the wedding, there is a $50 utility charge.
You are responsible for paying any musicians, florists, and photo/videographers you hire.
Financial Difficulty:
At the pastor's discretion, a couple facing serious financial difficulty can receive help from the parish. He can choose to waive fees or assist a couple with other fees related to the preparation process. We don't want money to be the reason you do not get married in the Church. If you need help, please ask.
These policies are non-negotiable and exceptions are not made. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact the office at 337-276-4576.
We want to do everything we can to make this a blessed and joyful experience. Please contact the office as soon as possible and before you make any reservations with other venues. As you know, Catholics take marriage very seriously. So we the following policies are in place to help us be as prepared as possible for this beautiful and life-long commitment.
So, please review the policies below. If you'd like to understand the policy a little better, feel free to ask. All of them have reasons behind them.
Who Can Get Married here?
Any couple where at least one person is Catholic can get married in a Catholic Church. Parishioners (registered or living in our territory) are encouraged to celebrate their weddings here and will not have to pay an extra Church Use Fee. Non-Parishioners will need to get written permission from their pastor to be married here and they will be asked to pay a Church Use Fee. Parishioners who are not regularly involved in the parish will also be asked to pay a Church Use Fee.
Wedding Between Two Catholics:
A wedding between two Catholics is ordinarily celebrated within Mass to show the link between family life and church and because Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom of the Church. As a marriage unites a man and a woman into "one flesh" so the Eucharist makes us one body with Christ and his Church. There are some circumstances when two Catholics do not celebrate their wedding in Mass. The pastor will discuss those circumstances with you during your preparation process.
Weddings between Catholics and Non-Catholics:
If one of the parties is a non-Catholic Christian, we do not allow a Mass without explicit permission from the Bishop, and that is rarely ever given. Ordinarily, we will celebrate the Rite of Marriage Outside of Mass, which includes some readings, a homily, the exchange of vows, and the Nuptial Blessing. It is possible to have the vows witnessed by the other Christian minister or even in another church, but it will require the Bishops' permission. Speak with the priest about applying for this if you think you have good reason.
Weddings between Catholics and Non-Christians (Unbaptized persons):
Yes, it is possible to get married in the Catholic Church with a non-Christian. It is not a sacramental marriage, but a natural one. To do this you do have to have permission from the Diocese. The pastor can request that permission from the diocese. Simply call and set up a meeting. Weddings between Catholics and unbaptized persons cannot be celebrated with a Mass, so the ritual described above will be used.
Special Circumstances:
If either person is previously married, they must first demonstrate to the pastor that they are able to be married again. This can involve seeking a Declaration of Nullity (Annulment) or simply proving the death of a previous spouse.
Being pregnant or having children before marriage does not prevent you from getting married in the Church. Because of the pressures involved, however, it will be necessary to meet with the pastor to determine the best course of action for everyone involved.
For couples where circumstances make it impossible to celebrate the Marriage in a Church in the usual way, it is possible to get permission from the Bishop to have the marriage performed in another approved way. If you think your circumstances warrant this special permission (called a "dispensation"), please speak with the priest about applying for it.
Getting Started:
Please contact the Church at least 7 months before your desired date. We have a preparation process designed to help you understand the Sacrament of Matrimony and prepare you to live a happy, healthy, holy marriage.
Preparation Process:
First, there is the initial interview to make sure you are free to marry and properly understand what marriage means. This will be done before we lock in your wedding date/time.
Second, you will be asked to complete a Prepare and Enrich Inventory. This is not a compatibility test, but a tool designed to help you understand yourselves and your relationship better. You can register here (be sure to put the address of whichever priest/deacon is leading your process - St. John the Evangelist, 1510 Church St if you're working with the pastor). The cost is $45. If you'd like, you can give us the information and the payment and we'll complete the registration ourselves.
Third, in addition to meeting with the priest/deacon to discuss your Prepare and Enrich results, you will begin a formal preparation program. The program we use is called Witness to Love. It involves selecting a mentor couple from within the parish to walk with you and help to prepare for the rest of your lives together. The mentor couple doesn't need any special training, they just need to be married for more than 5 years and practicing their Catholic Faith. The program leads both you and the mentor couple through building the virtues necessary for a successful relationship. If for some reason this approach is not viable, speak with Fr. Albert about other possibilities. Failure to complete an approved program will postpone the wedding.
Fourth (at the same time as step 3), all couples getting married at St. John the Evangelist will be asked to complete a Natural Family Planning course. There are many reasons for this (click here to see more), but here's a few: We want you to know what the Church actually teaches (there are a lot of false rumors about this); NFP has been shown to improve the success rate of marriages; And, NFP gives a practical way of managing your family without falling into the sin of artificial contraception. There are several models of NFP to choose from, but you must complete one before the wedding. Failure to do so will postpone the wedding. You can find several optionshere or here. Pick one, discuss it with the priest/deacon, and begin as soon as you can. You are responsible for any fees.
Fifth and finally, you will work with the celebrant to finalize the ritual itself - the selection of readings and other options provided by the Church for weddings.
The Importance of Ritual and Liturgy:
Marriage is a Sacrament, which means it is a part of the official, public prayer of the Church. As with all such rituals, there is a proper and formal way to celebrate it. While the relationship and the love of the couple is unique, their love story is entering into a much bigger love story between God and his people, so a wedding ritual is designed to be done a certain way, with reverence and respect for the Sacrament and the Church. If you want to do something silly and creative and goofy as part of your own celebration, by all means do so! But, it can't be at Church during the wedding ritual. Please look for a more appropriate time and place, such as at the reception. The ritual of the wedding comes to us from the Church - it is not up to the priest or the couple to make up what they want. So, all the liturgical norms in the Church's guidelines will be followed, even if your wedding is celebrated by a visiting priest or deacon. If a visiting priest or deacon violates this policy, you will lose the safety deposit and that priest/deacon will be disallowed from future celebrations.
The Time and Date of Wedding:
The Church has an ancient and sacred pattern of prayer, so some days and times do not allow for the celebration of a marriage. Weddings are never allowed during the Sacred Triduum (Good Friday through Easter Sunday). At St. John the Evangelist, no weddings will be celebrated on Sundays or during the last two weeks of Lent (called Passion-tide) in order to uphold the solemnity of that time. Neither will we celebrate a wedding on Ash Wednesday, Christmas, Ascension, Pentecost, All Souls Day (November 2), or on any Holy Day of Obligation.
Weddings will be allowed on Saturday evenings after the 4 p.m. Mass. These must be celebrated after 6 p.m. If you want to have your wedding Mass on the same day as a Solemnity (like St. Joseph, Husband of Mary) or when there is a proper Vigil Mass, you will not be able to pick out readings for the Mass and we will have to use the prayers for that feast day. Weddings outside of Mass will still be able to use the normal prayers and readings. Weddings celebrated during the week or before 1:30 p.m. on Saturday can use a regular wedding Mass and pick their own readings. If you do choose to have your wedding during the first part of Lent, you will not be able to decorate the Church with flowers and the music will be more restricted.
Rehearsals and Confession:
Rehearsals are usually scheduled during the evening one or two days before the wedding depending on the church schedule. One half hour is allotted for the rehearsal and must begin promptly at the scheduled time. If any member of the wedding party is not on time, the rehearsal will begin without him or her. The rehearsal will not be delayed for later arrivals. Only the wedding party is to attend the rehearsal. Other guests of the rehearsal supper should go directly to that location.
It is highly recommended that the Bride & Groom, as well as Catholic members of their wedding party, go to confession immediately before the wedding. The rehearsal is a good time to do that. If your rehearsal is on a Tuesday or Thursday night, confessions are available for 15 minutes before the regularly scheduled 6:00pm Mass, so it's a good idea to just come early for confession and Mass. On other nights, Fr. Albert will gladly offer confessions to the couple before the rehearsal.
Behavior:
If any member of the wedding party comes to the rehearsal or the wedding under the influence of alcohol or drugs or is inappropriately dressed then they will not be allowed in the Church. If either the Bride or Groom is under the influence, the wedding will be immediately cancelled. St. John the Evangelist Church has a sacristan/coordinator who is authorized to enforce these rules and, if necessary, call the Jeanerette City Police Department. Please consider this to be a serious warning. The bride and groom will be held responsible for the conduct and behavior of the wedding party and other guests inside the church an on the church grounds. Please make your wedding day a happy one and avoid any type of embarrassment to you and your family.
St. John the Evangelist Church has no dressing room facilities. The Parish Hall may be used depending on availability and for a $50 utility fee. Otherwise, all members of the wedding party should arrive fully dressed for the wedding. Arriving in robes, petticoats, or other forms of undress on the grounds of the church is strictly forbidden and is considered indecent exposure in a church. Such behavior will be grounds for postponement or cancellation of the ceremony.
Inappropriate behavior by any member of the wedding party, such as “mooning,” streaking, or disturbing the peace, is strictly forbidden and will also be grounds for postponement or cancellation of the ceremony.
Celebrant:
If the celebrant of the wedding ceremony is not the pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church, he must obtain written delegation from the pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church. This delegation will gladly be given to any priest in good standing who respects the policies and practices of St. John's and the Diocese of Lafayette. You will be asked to complete your initial interview with the Pastor, but the rest of the preparation should be completed by the priest or deacon you've asked to celebrate the wedding. Under special circumstances, the pastor will complete your preparation and the priest/deacon can simply celebrate the wedding.
Liturgical Ministers:
It is recommended that you choose experienced lectors and Eucharistic ministers for the ceremony. They must be in attendance at the wedding rehearsal so that the celebrant can instruct them on their part in the ceremony. Altar servers will not be provided by the parish for the ceremony. You are welcome to invite experienced servers from within your family or circle of friends to serve if you so desire.
You can have as many people as you want for your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Just remember that the more people you have, the longer the wedding will take and the more it can take the focus off the couple. Ring-bearers and Flower girls cannot be younger than 5 years old.
Readings:
Every Catholic wedding uses readings from Sacred Scripture. Readings from other sources are not allowed. The readings from Sacred Scripture must be chosen from those provided by the Church for this purpose and the guidelines on how those readings are to be chosen will be followed. (For example, during the Easter season, the first reading is always from the Book of Revelation). Additionally, the priest or deacon always reserves the right to pick the Gospel.
Wedding Planners:
Some people choose to hire an outside coordinator to handle the details of their wedding. Most wedding coordinators are very respectful of our liturgy and know to defer to us on what happens in the Church. But, just so it is clear, from the moment the wedding party enters the Church to the moment they leave it, the priest and sacristan have absolute authority on what happens. A wedding coordinator who attempts to force their opinions on the Church's liturgy will be asked to leave the premises.
Music:
Music is important to any liturgical celebration. Only approved religious and liturgical music may be used before, during and after the wedding. The musical treasury of the church is vast enough to accommodate the most diverse tastes. Secular, “pop” or “movie” music is not appropriate to a sacred celebration and therefore is not allowed. The emphasis must be on liturgical music, that is, music the texts of which are drawn from biblical sources and divine worship. All musical selections are subject to the approval of the pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church.
Photography and Videography:
Pictures and videos are nice remembrances, however, the photographer or videographer can detract from the ceremony itself. We should not be so eager to capture the moment that we interfere with actually living and enjoying the moment. Only one official still photographer and videographer are allowed to take pictures or film the ceremony. Please let your wedding party, family, and guests know this to avoid embarrassment. Photograph sessions after the wedding inside the Church may take place as long as it does not interfere with the regular Church schedule.
If you intend to video your wedding you are allowed to have one videographer with a self-contained, battery operated shoulder camera or a tripod on wheels may be used. Other equipment or hookups are not allowed.
No photographer or videographer is allowed in the sanctuary or the sacristy. Neither should they stand in front of the pews and obscure the view of anyone attending the wedding.
Flowers and Other Decorations:
Priority will always be given to decorations in place for parish weekend Masses. This is particularly true if your wedding falls during one of the major liturgical seasons (Advent, Christmas, Easter) or on the weekend of a major feast (Pentecost, Corpus Christi, etc.) when special decorations are already in the church or when the church has been decorated for a special parish ceremony you will not be allowed to change or adjust these decorations for your wedding. Decorations during the penitential season of Advent must be minimal, that is, nothing extravagant or exceptional.
Wedding Attire
Wedding attire is to be reverent, appropriate, and modest for all members of the wedding party. No shorts. No exposed midriffs. Nothing backless. No strapless dresses. No deep necklines.
Other Regulations
- Sanctuary furniture is not to be moved or adjusted.
- The addition of trellises or arches are not allowed.
- An aisle runner is not allowed.
- The use of a unity candle is not allowed.
- The proper seating of the wedding party and attendants is in the nave (the front pews) of the church. Attendants are not allowed to sit in the sanctuary.
- To preserve the pews and walls of the church, the use of tape of any kind is not allowed.
- There is to be no throwing of rice, flowers, birdseed, petals, etc. inside or outside the church.
Fees:
The generous support of the members of our parish makes possible a beautiful and comfortable atmosphere for the sacred moment of marriage. Maintaining our Church is important and a priority, but it is not cheap. So, it is only just and fair that non-parishioners or non-contributing parishioners make a contribution towards those expenses. For the purpose of determining fees, a parishioner is anyone who lives in the territory of St. John the Evangelist or is Registered and attends Mass regularly here. You may be considered a "legacy" parishioner if you grew up in the area, completed your First Communion and Confirmation at St. John the Evangelist, and your parents are current parishioners. This does not extend to grandchildren. Parishioners who would still like to offer a donation to the Church are welcome to do so.
The “church use fee” is $600.00 for non-parishioners and $300.00 for non-active parishioners (no evidence of regular contributions to the parish). At the time the wedding is tentatively scheduled, the bride and groom will be required to place a deposit of $150.00 and sign St. John the Evangelist’s Damage Deposit Statement. This deposit will be refunded after the wedding only if no damage of any kind has occurred. Additionally all couples must pay a gratuity of $100.00 for the sacristan/coordinator’s services. This is also payable at the time the wedding is scheduled. It is a common practice to offer a donation to the priest or deacon who presides at the wedding, but it is not required. That can be given directly to the presider at the time of the wedding.
If you do choose to use the Parish Hall as a staging area before the wedding, there is a $50 utility charge.
You are responsible for paying any musicians, florists, and photo/videographers you hire.
Financial Difficulty:
At the pastor's discretion, a couple facing serious financial difficulty can receive help from the parish. He can choose to waive fees or assist a couple with other fees related to the preparation process. We don't want money to be the reason you do not get married in the Church. If you need help, please ask.
These policies are non-negotiable and exceptions are not made. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact the office at 337-276-4576.