Marriage Preparation/Wedding Guidelines
At least six months notice is required so that adequate preparation and arrangements can be made.
If you are interested in celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, please read our mariage preparation/wedding guidelines below:
MEMBERSHIP
Since Marriage is a Sacrament of the Catholic Church, it is normally celebrated in the parish where the couple worships. This means that in general, to get married in our parish, at least one party is a registered parishioner, has been a parishioner but has moved from the area, or lives in the area and will now become a parishioner. For other practicing Catholics, wedding requests are considered on a case by case basis since our church is not simply “rented” for weddings. For those who currently reside outside the Two Harbors area, marriage preparation normally takes place at the parish where they currently live. The couple must have an initial meeting with the clergy or other personnel with whom they will be doing their marriage preparation and that clergy or other person must send a letter to the pastor, Fr. Steve Laflamme, attesting to the fact that they have carried out the initial pre-nuptial interview and have established that both parties to the marriage are free to marry in the Catholic Church. This letter should be printed on parish letterhead, signed and dated by the clergy or other person preparing the couple for marriage, and mailed to Fr. Steve at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Fr. Steve must receive this letter before a wedding date can be placed on the Church calendar.
TIME OF YOUR WEDDING
The wedding liturgy, with or without Mass, is normally scheduled on a Saturday no earlier than 11:00 am and no later than 1:30pm. Evening weddings are normally only allowed on Friday evenings. It is preferable not to schedule weddings during Lent because of its penitential nature. Weddings are not celebrated during Holy Week, or on Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation.
PREPARATION PROCEDURES
Preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage begins at least 6 months prior to the planned date of the wedding. The marriage itself cannot be scheduled until an initial meeting with the priest (or deacon). Subsequent meetings with the clergy will follow.
Preparation also includes completion of the FOCCUS survey. This is followed by feedback sessions with a married couple in the parish. The cost for this service is $35.00, to be paid by the couple, to FOCCUS.
Each engaged couple will participate in a pre-marriage course or retreat. You will receive information from the priest or deacon about possible retreat dates.
DOCUMENTS NEEDED
LITURGY & ENVIRONMENT
The environment in the church reflects the liturgical season of the year: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time. Occasional liturgies such as weddings can influence the environment, but they should not dominate nor replace the seasonal décor. All questions as to what are acceptable decorations for a wedding at Holy Spirit are referred to Fr. Steve.
PHOTOGRAPHER
MUSIC
"Songs that are chosen for the Liturgy should be appropriate for the celebration and express the faith of the Church." (USCCB document Sing to the Lord, 1/220.)
REHEARSAL
Rehearsals are normally scheduled the day before the wedding at 5:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m, and are conducted by the priest or deacon who will be assisting at the marriage ceremony itself. All members of the wedding party are to be present. If someone must be absent, another person stands in his or her place and instructs the absentee prior to the wedding. The readers will practice the Scripture readings (Please note that if the wedding is taking place within the celebration of Mass, then the reader must be a Catholic). Musicians are usually not present at the rehearsal but may practice before the rehearsal begins. Wedding rehearsals usually take about one hour. The bride and groom must be present at the rehearsal no later than 15 minutes prior to the rehearsal to answer final questions regarding the ceremony, and the rest of the wedding party must be on time!
DONATIONS AND FEES
A donation is normally given to the Church where the Marriage is celebrated. This donation should be made prior to the wedding, preferably when the Marriage License is dropped off at the parish office. Additionally, you may choose to make an offering to the celebrating clergy.
TO RESERVE A DATE FOR CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE AT HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH:
Please Contact:
Treasaigh Anderson
Administrative Assistant
227 3rd Street
Two Harbors, MN
(218) 834-4659
Email: [email protected]