Complete Marriage Guidelines
The complete guidelines for celebrating the sacrament of marriage at Our Lady of Grace Parish is listed below. Please select a category topic and view specific information related to that category.
Scheduling
Normally weddings are celebrated in the parish of either the bride or groom. A wedding date will be confirmed on the parish calendar only after a parish priest has spoken with engaged couples and determined the couple’s freedom to marry. For this reason no commitments should be made with caterers, reception halls, etc., until the date is confirmed.
Weddings must be scheduled at least six months before the ceremony. In the Roman Catholic tradition, the bride and groom are the ministers of the sacrament of marriage with the priest, best man and maid/matron of honor as the witnesses.
The priest at Our Lady of Grace Parish is available to preside at the weddings of registered parishioners or children of registered parishioners. Permission must be granted by the pastor to have a visiting priest preside at a wedding at Our Lady of Grace Parish. Visiting priests are expected to follow all parish guidelines for the celebration of the wedding liturgy.
Weddings are usually scheduled for Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Only one wedding a Saturday is allowed. Weddings can also be scheduled for other days of the week (as long as there is no other event scheduled in the church).
Evening weddings usually begin after 6 p.m. or before 8 p.m.
Weddings are not celebrated on Sundays. They are not celebrated during Lent, on holy days of obligation, and usually not during the season of Advent.
In the event of a cancellation, please call the parish office at 724-838-9480 as soon as possible.
Documents
All baptized persons preparing for marriage must present a copy of their baptismal record. Catholic parties must present a recent baptismal certificate issued within six months of the marriage date. To obtain a recent copy of your baptismal certificate, call the church where you were baptized and ask to have a copy sent to Our Lady of Grace Parish.
All necessary interviews and subsequent paperwork must be completed at least one month prior to the wedding. These interviews and paperwork should be completed by the priest presiding at the wedding liturgy. Engaged couples who are legal residents of another state must have permission from their local pastor for the marriage to take place at Our Lady of Grace Parish.
A marriage license from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania must be obtained and should be received by the parish office at least 10 days prior to the wedding date.
Marriage licenses can be obtained from any county courthouse, but are not available until 60 days prior to the wedding date (i.e., the marriage license for a May 24 wedding can be obtained after March 24).
Marriage Preparation
Couples are to take an active part in the preparation of the marriage ceremony. You will be invited to work together with the priest in the planning of the wedding liturgy. In preparation for the wedding ceremony and marriage, the Catholic party (or parties) is reminded that weekly Mass attendance is a requirement of our Catholic faith and is an important preparation for the sacrament of marriage.
The initial part of the marriage preparation process is a meeting with the pastor. Every couple should meet with the pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish at least six months to a year before their wedding date.
This meeting will determine freedom to marry and review the entire marriage preparation process.
Special note: No couple needing a decree of nullity or an annulment will be started in the mentoring process or given a marriage date until this circumstance is resolved.
During these meetings with the pastor, official paperwork will be completed, various aspects of marriage will be discussed, and the ceremony will be reviewed. The Diocese of Greensburg requires that all couples preparing for marriage participate in some form of marriage preparation program. There are various programs available. Please review the option with the parish priest to decide which option best suits you.
1. Sponsor Couples involve one married mentor couple and one engaged couple.
2. Engaged Encounter is a weekend program that usually begins on a Friday evening and ends Sunday afternoon.
> View the additional information about these programs.
Out-of-diocese couples should seek training in the parish/diocese in which they reside. Please refer to the section below on “Out of diocese preparation.”
Out-of-diocese Preparation
All Catholic dioceses and many parishes offer marriage preparation programs that are accepted by the Diocese of Greensburg. In some instances one or both of the engaged live outside of the Diocese of Greensburg. If one member of the engaged couple lives locally, the marriage preparation can take place at Our Lady of Grace Parish. However, if both members of the engaged couple reside outside the diocese, it is expected that they will arrange for marriage preparation in either the parish or the diocese where either resides.
Any approved parish or diocesan program is acceptable. Proof of participation in the marriage preparation program should be provided to the pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish.
Choosing the Ceremony
If both of you are Roman Catholic, the church expects the wedding to be held within the celebration of the Mass. The Eucharist is a sign of unity. Both families are able to receive communion, as would all Catholics at the ceremony.
If you do not share the same faith, it is expected that the wedding ceremony be celebrated according to the Rite of Marriage Outside of Mass.
Details of the Celebration
Many customs and traditions have been introduced into the wedding ceremony, which are not a part of the Roman Rite.
• Unity Candle: The unity candle is not a part of the Liturgy of the Catholic Church and is not permitted to be used at Our Lady of Grace Church.
• Presentation of Flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary: Private devotions are normally celebrated outside of Mass. If both parties hold a special devotion to Mary, however, the presentation of flowers may be considered. The statue of Our Lady of Grace is located in the front of the church to the left of the altar (as you face the altar).
• A wedding runner or “crash” is not permitted to be used.
Flowers
Flowers for the sanctuary are to be provided by the couple. Two floral arrangements will be placed on the floral stands in the sanctuary and will remain in the sanctuary for the upcoming Sunday Masses. No other flowers are permitted on the altar or in the sanctuary.
Bows
Bows may be used on the pew ends and attached with rubber bands only. No tape or pins of any kind are permitted.
Thrown Material
No material (rice, flower petals, sparkles, confetti, balloons, etc.) may be thrown or disbursed at any time on church grounds. Bubbles may be used outside of the church only.
Order of Celebration
Rite of Marriage within Mass
When the Rite of Marriage is celebrated outside of Mass, the italicized sections below are omitted.
Entrance Rites:
1. Liturgical procession
2. Greeting
3. Hymn (optional)
4. Penitential pite
5. Opening prayer
Liturgy of the Word:
1. Old Testament reading
2. Responsorial Psalm
3. New Testament reading
4. Gospel acclamation
5. Gospel
6. Homily
Rite of Marriage:
1. Instruction
2. Consent
3. Blessing and exchange of rings
4. Prayers of the faithful
5. Preparation of the gifts
6. Eucharistic prayer
7. The Lord’s prayer
8. Nuptial blessing
9. Sign of peace
10. Communion
11. Prayer after communion
Concluding Rite:
1. Flowers to Mary (if appropriate)
2. Blessing and dismissal
3. Introduction of the couple
4. Recessional
Suggestions and Rules
Children in the Wedding
It is strongly recommended that children must be at least seven years of age in order to participate in the wedding party. For your own benefit, and from experience, we discourage the use of younger children in the wedding party.
Alcoholic beverages, drugs or firearms
Alcoholic beverages, drugs or firearms are not permitted anywhere on Our Lady of Grace Church property. Their use/presence is entirely inappropriate (especially on the wedding day). It is the responsibility of the couple to inform the wedding party, family members, friends and the limousine service of this restriction. The only request we have of the limousine service is that they know alcohol is prohibited to be consumed on church property and open containers are not allowed. We ask for your help to make the ceremony more prayerful by not contributing to a ‘party’ atmosphere before the wedding.
Bride’s Room
Our Lady of Grace Church has a room where brides may prepare for the wedding ceremony. The bride may choose to use this facility to dress or freshen-up and wait comfortably. It is air-conditioned with a private restroom.
Photographs/Videos
The taking of pictures and videos in the church during the ceremony is permitted as long as the photographer and/or videographer respect the sacredness of the ceremony and do not disturb the prayerful movement of the liturgy.
Special areas are designated for the photographer and videographer. The parish wedding coordinator will supervise this aspect of the wedding.
Normally, there is a two hour time limit from the scheduled start of the wedding in which the wedding party must be out of the church. However, if the wedding is scheduled for 2 p.m., the wedding party must be out of the church by 3:30 p.m., with no exceptions, due to the regular Saturday evening Masses at 4 p.m.
The following rules and suggestions for photographers and videographers will help them better understand what our parish is asking of them for your wedding. To make this day more special, we need to work together to provide and record a meaningful religious experience. The photographer/videographer should not disturb the prayerful movement of the liturgy.
The following rules apply:
Pictures/videos may be taken at any time during the wedding ceremony as long as the sacredness of the ceremony is respected, however:
1. No flash pictures may be taken during the ceremony.
2. You may not stand in the sanctuary at any time.
3. Equipment may not be stored in the main body of the church.
4. The church provides a wedding coordinator who will let you know where you may or may not stand and where you may set up equipment during the ceremony. If you have any questions, please ask. It is better to clarify before the wedding than cause any disturbance during the ceremony.
5. Pictures/videos may be taken before the ceremony of the bride and groom (either separately or together).
6. Posed photographs should be completed at least 45 minutes prior to the scheduled start to avoid last-minute confusion.
7. Pictures/videos may be taken in the church after the ceremony. The wedding party needs to be out of the church two hours after the scheduled start of the wedding. For a 2 p.m. wedding, the wedding party must be out by 3:30 p.m. due to a 4 p.m. Mass time).
8. Liturgical furnishings are not to be moved for any reason.
9. Videographers may not attach or place any microphones of any kind next to existing parish microphones.
Music
Only an Our Lady of Grace Parish organist is to play the organ for all weddings at the church. Please contact the director of Music Ministry at 724-838-9480 to set up an appointment to select your music. All music must be approved by our music minister.
Non-sacred music is not allowed as part of the wedding liturgy.
Cantors can be provided by the parish. We have several cantors who have sung for many weddings. Another cantor may be invited, but he/she must be approved by our music minister.
Rehearsal
Rehearsals are usually scheduled for the evening before the wedding between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. All participating in the ceremony must attend. The couple is to remind their wedding party that proper dress and conduct is required at the rehearsal. Rehearsals must begin on time as there may be other events scheduled in the building. The presider and wedding coordinator may also have other events scheduled following your rehearsal. The sacrament of reconciliation will be provided immediately following the rehearsal for all Catholics in the wedding party.
Wedding Coordinator
Our Lady of Grace Parish provides a wedding coordinator to help with various aspects of the wedding liturgy. The wedding coordinator will contact the couple the week prior to the wedding to finalize details and will attend the rehearsal and wedding to assist the wedding party and priest.
Altar Servers
Two altar servers will be provided by the parish unless you notify us otherwise.
Fees
The stipend set by the guidelines of the parish is $500. This fee includes the presider, organist, wedding coordinator and servers. Non-parishioners must pay a total stipend of $750, which also includes use of the church building.
The above stipend does not include a cantor. If a cantor other than the organist is required, they must be engaged by the couple and approved by the music director.
The stipend must be dropped off at the parish office at least one week prior to the date of the wedding.
Conclusion
The sacrament of marriage is an important event in the life of the church. The entire worshipping community has an interest in your wedding. Couples need to remember that their wedding is not a private event; rather it belongs to the entire church community.