1. We ask that one-year prior to your desired date that you call the Parish Offices to reserve your date. The secretary will pencil your date in and once a priest has been contacted he will permanently reserve your date.
2. Six months prior to your wedding date you should contact one of the parish priests to set up the first of four to five meetings with him. These meetings help create familiarity between you and the priest, but they also allow an opportunity for open, confidential, and frank discussion about the importance of marriage.
3. Within one month of your wedding date you will need to acquire a valid Ohio Marriage License from the Washington County Courthouse. This is to be brought with you to your wedding rehearsal.
4. If you are not a parishioner of St. Mary's or if you were not baptized here, then we will need a copy of your baptismal certificate.
5. In addition, you and your future spouse must attend a parish-sponsored or recognized marriage preparation day. An "Engaged Encounter Weekend" or a "Pre-Cana" weekend satisfies this requirement. The dates for these events are announced in the bulletin and Masses leading up to them prior.

Only in extraordinary circumstances should the wedding of a Catholic couple happen outside the context of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Between a Catholic and a non-Catholic:
Typically in cases where one party is Catholic and the other is of a different religion, the wedding takes place outside of the context of the Mass.  This would especially be true if the non-Catholic party's family is hostile or uncomfortable with tenants of the Faith.  In planning for your wedding, you as the couple must be considerate of those attending this joyous celebration.  However, should the couple choose to marry within the context of the Mass permission must be sought from the Bishop and the priest will take care of this aspect.

The preferred, although by no means exhaustive, option for a wedding between a Catholic and a non-Catholic is that the marriage be done outside of the context of the Mass.

Along with the theme of reverence there can be no alcoholic beverages on the premises of St. Mary's.  Also, since free consent of the spouses makes marriage-if one or the other spouse is intoxicated on the day of your wedding the wedding will be cancelled for that day. 

Because you have chosen to marry in the Church we ask that before and after the wedding that a reverential silence be maintained in this House of Prayer.  Also, while pictures are being taken before and after your wedding we ask that only those in the pictures be in the sanctuary.  This ensures that microphones and other liturgical furnishings are not disturbed.

Canon Law (The Catholic Church's Law) states that only two witnesses need to be present (The Maid of Honor and the Best Man), Canon 1108 S., 1.  When choosing attendants keep in mind this is a special and important day for you as a couple, so only those people who hold pride of place in your life should be asked to be attendants. 

Keep in mind that the number and behavior of the attendants should not impede the celebration of your wedding.  Typically, children five years of age and under are too young to participate in the wedding.

1. Weddings occurring during Easter and Christmas: The flowers placed in the sanctuary and the nave of the church are not to be moved.
2. Weddings occurring during Ordinary Time: Flowers and decorations may be placed in the sanctuary and the nave of the church, as long as, they do not impede the wedding.
3. Weddings occurring during Advent and Lent: Due to the penitential character of these two seasons, St. Mary's asks that you respect the Church's liturgical life, therefore, limited flowers or decorations may be put in the sanctuary or the nave of the church.

We ask that nothing be affixed to the pews with wire or tape, since we do have other liturgical celebrations in the church throughout the week and weekend. If you would like an aisle runner, please consult the florist about one; (our aisle is approximately seventy feet long).

The rehearsal for your wedding will be arranged during one of the meetings you have with the priest.  It is typically the Friday evening (the night before) your wedding.  Rehearsals run smooth when those involved arrive on time, are considerate, and conduct themselves properly within the church.  The rehearsal should last no longer than an hour, assuming all present listen and follow the directions given to them.

It is highly recommended that the Catholic spouse receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (go to Confession) after the rehearsal.  The rationale is that as you prepare to enter into a life long commitment that you do so with a clear conscience and in a state of grace.  Therefore, immediately after the rehearsal the priest will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the priest' sacristy which is located off of the left hand side of the sanctuary.

There is a preparation room for the bride on the left-hand side of the vestibule, commonly used as the "Cry Room".  For the bride's attendants the choir room is available.  For the groom and groomsmen, the social hall is available.  Please use the Wooster Street side entrance.

These rooms are in clean and good order when you use them, please leave them the same way you found them.  Remove your personal effects.

There are two options for the opening procession at weddings here at St. Mary's:  The priests of St. Mary's prefer the first option.

1.     The female attendants use the center aisle to process, while the groomsman come in from the Wooster St. side of the church and line up in front of the sanctuary steps, with the priest following them.

2.    The attendants enter the church, two-by-two (a groomsman with a bridesmaid) followed by the priest.

A flower girl may sprinkle petals on the aisle runner, as long as, someone has been pre-arranged to clean these up (the aisle runner and petals) after the wedding.

Here at St. Mary's we have a wonderful music program, lead by our extremely talented and competent director, Mr. John Ontko (his phone number is:  1-740-350-4224).  We ask that you contact Mr. Ontko after you have spoken with the priest.  Also, no music should be considered "set" until you have spoken with him about it.  Only organists at St. Mary's (Mr. John Ontko or Mrs. Ruth Cunningham) are to be the principal organists for your wedding.  The rationale is twofold:  The organ here at St. Mary's is a historic instrument and is very sensitive.  Due to the length and breadth of the church, certain timing is needed for organ music and singing to reach its optimal sound.  This timing is part and parcel of the organists playing here at St. Mary's. 

If there is someone close to you who would like to play or sing a solo during your wedding, this must be decided on between you and the Music Director.

As an over-arching approach to the music being chosen for weddings here at St. Mary's, all music played in the church must be based on Scripture, or at a bare minimum paraphrased from Scripture.  There can be no exceptions to this guideline.

Some pieces of music either have themes that are contrary to aspects present in a Catholic Wedding or by their associations with specific groups that hold teachings against those of the Church.  Some examples of this are as follows:

1. The wedding march from Wagner's Lohengrin, known as "Here Comes the Bride", is not allowed, and is not allowed in most Catholic churches.  Associations over the years have damaged the meaning of this piece.  The marriage in the opera ends in death and separation.

2. The Mendelssohn Wedding March from A Mid-Summer Night Dream accompanies a farcical wedding, far removed from any notion of marriage as a life-long commitment.

By definition a cantor within a liturgical celebration helps to animate the congregation's own singing.  It is appropriate that they chant the Psalm in the wedding, as well as, any acclamations that may arise based on the Liturgy you as a couple have decided upon.  Cantors also sing any solos that you may request as long as they are appropriate in nature and text to a Catholic understanding of marriage.

If you know someone who is a competent singer/cantor he or she may sing at your wedding with a cantor from St. Mary's, or if they are Catholic and a cantor in their own church they may act as a cantor, but this should be cleared with the Music Director when you discuss music selections with him.  Last minute changes are not to be the norm with regard to the cantor.

Here at St. Mary's we have a fine core group of cantors who sing at Sunday Masses and are familiar with the timing aspect of our church.  You may choose from any of the following:

Mrs. Heather Schaad:  1-740-350-0969
Mrs. Jennifer Simmons:  1-740-374-6866
Mrs. Karen Parlett:  1-304-464-4080
Mrs. Tiffanie Craven:  1-740-374-6331
Ms. Sue Lambert:  1-740-373-1417
Mrs. Joyce Huck:  1-740-373-5700
Mrs. Jean Cech:  1-740-374-3423

It is the couple's responsibility to contact the cantor of their choice and to secure the date with them.

Although these guidelines may seem extensive, we at St. Mary's have anywhere from 15-20 weddings per spring season and we have seen and have had to deal with innumerable issues.  These guidelines are to help ensure that your wedding is authentically Catholic and done with the decorum that the Rite itself demands.

We applaud and stand behind your decision to marry in the Church, and we are here to love and support you in that decision.  May God continue to bless you as you and your future spouse prepare for the reception of this Sacrament of Holy Mother Church.