Wedding Date: ___________
Wedding Time: ___________
Rehearsal Date: ___________
Congratulation and best
wishes on your upcoming wedding. We at
Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys hope to help you make your day most memorable and
joyous. The following rules and
guidelines are offered to help you provide for the sanctity of this solemn
celebration:
1. During your initial meeting with Frs. Audette
or Gannon, or Deacons Detje or Howe, please also make arrangements for a
rehearsal date and time.
2. At the appointment with your priest or deacon
(or with the priest/deacon who will witness your marriage), you should have the
following documents available:
a. Recently issued copy of your baptismal certificate (within six
months of your wedding date) whether you are Catholic or a baptized Christian,
b. If you are a Catholic, certificates of First Communion and
Confirmation,
c. If you are not a registered parishioner of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys
Parish and do not live within the confines of the parish, a letter of
permission and "freedom to marry" from your pastor.
3. All engaged couples are required by diocesan law to attend a marriage preparation workshop. If possible, this should be done at least six months before the wedding. Schedules are available at the church office. Also, Encounter Weekends are available sponsored by our Diocese and, under special circumstances, pre-marriage counseling is available on a parish basis. These programs are worthwhile in your preparation for the Sacrament of Matrimony.
4. You are responsible for making reservations with the Marriage
Preparation Program, either the Pre-Cana or the Engaged Encounter Weekend
soon after your first meeting with your priest or deacon.
5. Call and make a second appointment with your priest or deacon after
you have been to a Marriage Preparation Program to further discuss your
forthcoming marriage. Please bring to
this meeting a certified copy of your Baptismal
certificate (dated w/i 6 months of your wedding date), the dates of your
First Communion, and Confirmation certificates, if these sacraments were not
received at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Church.
For non-Catholics, only a Baptismal certificate is necessary. Remember, any certified Baptismal record
should be dated at the bottom and no older than six months with a notation of
freedom to marry.
6. Saturday weddings are scheduled between 11 am and no later than 2:30
pm. This scheduling avoids conflict
with morning liturgies (re: funerals) and the afternoon Vigil Mass.
7. We encourage all Catholics in the bridal party to receive Holy
Communion at a Nuptial Mass. Although
the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available on the night of your
rehearsal, we encourage all to receive the Sacrament before this time.
8. The clergy and music ministers of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys are
willing to assist you in planning your wedding ceremony. Please remember that you are being married
in a Catholic setting. Your vows, the
prayers and the Scripture readings you choose, and your very presence declare,
that you believe in the Catholic understanding of marriage. When you choose music, dress, etc., please
make sure that they also express the same understanding. Brides, bridal attendants
and guests should not wear off-the-shoulder gowns. If worn, a shawl, sweater or cape must be worn to cover shoulders
and the upper part of the breast.
9. Prior to the wedding, the priest or deacon must be informed of the
readings chosen and the names of the readers. You will be given a copy of "Together
for Life” to help you plan and make prayer and reading selections. If you have not given this information to
your priest or deacon during meetings or by phone/e-mail, you must bring it to
the rehearsal.
10. Arrangements for the
music, singers and instrumentalists are to be made through the Director of Music, Mr. Jack Basso, 775-4349. Please contact him as soon as the church date for the wedding is
set. Music selections can be made at a
later date. The fee of $125.00 is to be paid directly to Mr. Basso on or before
the day of the wedding. Music should be
played in the following places: 30 minutes or less before the beginning of the
ceremony; the processional, the lighting of the Unity Candle, the Offertory
(presentation of gifts); at Communion (a meditation piece); and the recessional
music to be played at the end of the ceremony. A list of approved music selections will be made available to
you once you reserve your date and Mr. Basso's services. Your own appropriate music is welcome; check
with your celebrant.
11.
Your wedding takes place not only within the St Marguerite Bourgeoys Church
building, but also within the church's liturgical year. Therefore, decorations for a particular
liturgical season (for example: poinsettias at Christmas, lilies at Easter, and
etc.) can’t be removed for the ceremony.
Keep this in mind when making flower arrangements. All furniture, decorations and plants are
not to be moved without checking with Fr. Audette.
12. Arrangements for flowers are your responsibility. Your flowers can remain after the ceremony;
if not, please take them as soon as possible.
Additionally, pew decorations should be removed immediately after the
wedding when appropriate. Bow/flower
pew-clips are available and must be returned if borrowed. To save money, it is suggested that couples
getting married on the same day speak with one another regarding flowers. It may be possible to coordinate the flowers
for your weddings, thus economize.
Please inform your florist not to use wire or sticky tape to attach bows
to pews. If an aisle runner is needed,
arrangements should be made through your florist. The center aisle is 38 feet long.
13. Within at least a month's time before the wedding, a blood test is
required in order to obtain a marriage license from the Town of
Brookfield. It is the law
that licenses come from the town/city in which the marriage is to take
place. In this case, Brookfield Town
Hall, the Office of the Clerk. Allow at
least ten days to obtain the license.
It must be presented to the priest or deacon at rehearsal so that the
wedding can take place. Do not come
for the rehearsal without the license; no license, no wedding – it’s the law.
14. Proper comportment at the
rehearsal will make everyone happier and assure the beauty of the
ceremony. The policy of our church is
that rice, confetti, birdseed, or flower petals not be thrown. Please inform your guests. All those who participate in the wedding
must be at the rehearsal including the photographer.
15. For your convenience,
we request that the bride, her parents and the bridal party arrive at the
church at least 10 minutes prior to the wedding. You may use the conference room off the lobby. The groom, best man and groomsmen should
arrive at the sacristy one-half hour before the wedding. If the wedding party arrives extremely late
in such a way as to interfere with another wedding or parish Mass, the ceremony
will have to be abbreviated. (No alcoholic beverages are to be brought into the
building.)
16. You set the tone for your marriage ceremony; therefore,
photographers are not to make this a "photo-opportunity". Photographers should remain inconspicuous
and not stop the flow of the ceremony.
Ample time will be available after the wedding for restaging of special
moments. Video equipment should be set
up beforehand in an inconspicuous location (not in the sanctuary), and remain
stationary. The church grounds are
available for bridal party photography especially the bridal bridge, gazebo and
gardens.