Wedding Guidelines

SAINT ALPHONSUS PARISH WEDDING INFORMATION (6/1/15)

Mail all correspondence to 2030 Constance Street, New Orleans, La 70130

(504) 522-6748

St. Mary’s Assumption Church, 923 Josephine Street

St. Mary’s Chapel, 1516 Jackson Avenue

Marriage Preparation

The policy of the Archdiocese of New Orleans regarding marriage preparation is that preparation should begin at least SIX (6) months prior to the date of the wedding. Ordinarily the parish priest or deacon from the parish of either the bride or the groom is the responsible party to oversee the wedding preparation. One of the priests from St. Alphonsus is also available to guide you through this process especially if he will be the officiant at your wedding. Marriage preparation includes:

Spiritual/Sacramental instruction.

A recent (6 months) copy of each person’s baptismal certificate.

Pre-Marriage Questionnaire to be filled out with the priest or deacon.

Pre-Marriage Inventory to offer the couple some objective feedback about their relationship…their strengths as well as potential areas of growth.

Affidavits of Free Status for each person getting married.

Attendance at Pre-Cana or Day for the Engaged Program is required. At the conclusion of the day a certificate will be issued which you are to give to the priest or deacon with whom you are doing your marriage preparation.

If you are not a registered parish member of St. Alphonsus Parish you will need a letter of permission from either the bride or groom’s pastor allowing the wedding to take place here.

Officiant at the wedding

The officiant at your wedding can either be a priest from St. Alphonsus Parish or a priest or deacon who is not from St. Alphonsus. Priests/deacons from outside the New Orleans Archdiocese or Baton Rouge Diocese will need “letters of suitability” from their own diocese in order to officiate at a wedding in New Orleans. Any priest or deacon who is not on the staff of St. Alphonsus Parish will also need delegation from St. Alphonsus to witness your marriage. Please give to your officiant (if he is not from St. Alphonsus Parish) the form that he is to complete in order to perform your wedding.

Timeliness and Timing your Celebration

Wedding rehearsals and weddings are scheduled to begin on time. Immediately after your rehearsal is completed (this usually runs 30 to 40 minutes) you are asked to leave the church so the wedding coordinators can either prepare for the next rehearsal or close the church for the day.

Weddings in church on Saturday are to be completed no later than 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon or can begin between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Friday weddings can begin anytime in the later afternoon up to 8:00 p.m. Weddings in St. Mary’s Chapel allow more flexibility in time.

Our weekend Mass schedule is as follows:

Church: Saturday 4:00 p.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sunday Chapel: 9:00 a.m. on Sunday We request that you make your florist, photographer, and anyone else associated with your wedding aware of this schedule as they prepare the details for your wedding. The church will be open one hour before the wedding time.

Fees

For parishioners (a person who is registered as a parish member for at least six months, regularly attends Mass here, and contributes to the parish) the fee is $900.00 for the use of St. Mary’s Assumption Church and $750.00 for the use of St. Mary’s Chapel. For others the stipend schedule is $1,800.00 for the use of St. Mary’s Assumption Church and $1,500.00 for St. Mary’s Chapel. This includes the stipend for the wedding coordinators. A non-refundable deposit of one half the stipend is due within two weeks after the church is reserved. The remainder is due one month before the wedding is to take place.

Music

Our director of music/organist is the person who ordinarily plays at all weddings. If you wish someone else to play for your wedding you must first clear it with our music director. You are to also work through him if you wish to have a vocalist (our vocalist is Sheila McDermott) at your wedding. The music director’s name is Mr. Robert Zanca. He will help you select liturgical music and obtain the vocalist for your wedding. The fee for each of them is $300.00. Mr. Zanca can be reached at (504)621-6249 or rgzuno@aol.com.

Mrs. Judy Burke is the contact person for all of our wedding coordinators. She can be reached at (504) 220-3012. The wedding coordinators will assist at your rehearsal and wedding with logistics and ceremonial details once the deposit for the church is received.

Candles

Any candles (except the “unity” candle) must be protected by a glass hurricane globe.

Attaching Items to Pews

Nothing may be taped or attached in any way that may cause damage to the wood or the finish.

Aisle Dimensions

The aisle in St. Mary’s Church is 94 feet from the sanctuary steps to the back of the last pew. There are 32 pews from the front to the back. The aisle is 10 feet 8 inches wide. At the direction of our insurance carrier, an aisle runner is not permitted.

Photography and Videography

All photographers and videographers are asked to show respect by not becoming intrusive in the religious ceremony. They are to check with the priest or deacon for any specific guidelines. Photos following the ceremony may be taken for a maximum of thirty (30) minutes.

Throwing of flowers, flower petals, rice, seed, bubbles, open flame, wishing lanterns, etc., are not allowed.

Since these can create health as well as liability issues, our insurance prevents us from allowing such.

Church Decorations

Flowers or other decorations already present in the church are not to be removed or replaced.

Within two weeks after speaking with one of the priests on the staff of St. Alphonsus Parish regarding your wedding please return this form along with the deposit for your wedding. Only then will the date and time be officially secured.

Name of Groom _________________________________________

Address _________________________________________

_________________________________________

Email Address _________________________________________

Phone _________________________________________

Name of Bride _________________________________________

Address _________________________________________

_________________________________________

Email Address _________________________________________

Phone _________________________________________

Date of proposed wedding ___________________________________

Time of proposed wedding ___________________________________