Congratulations on your upcoming wedding and thank you for inquiring about the possibility of being married at Saint Cecilia Parish!! Janet Mullins (206-780-3851) is Wedding Coordinator for St. Cecilia Parish.

Notification of intent to marry must be given to the priest four to six months before marriage date. This may be done by calling the church office at 842-3594. Marriage Preparation Classes are required. At least one of the parties must be a registered member of the parish.

We want to support and assist you in every way possible as you embark on this very important commitment in your lives. This booklet is intended to answer a few of the questions that are likely to be on your mind at this time. It may also help you to raise some questions which haven’t yet occurred to you, but which will be important for you to consider as you make plans for your wedding.

Please read through the following material. We encourage you to call with any questions and to keep in touch as you plan your day.

We look forward to working with you in the coming months!

INTERVIEW

Notification of a couple’s intent to marry must be given four to six months before the marriage date. There are generally two interviews that take place. At the first interview, the pastor will usually assess the couple’s readiness for marriage and, if appropriate, discuss tentative wedding dates. The wedding date remains tentative until it is confirmed available on the Parish Master Calendar. The second interview usually will be scheduled closer to the wedding date. At this meeting, all Archdiocesan canonical forms will be completed. Additionally, Baptismal certificates, marriage preparation class certificates, and any other required documents should be provided by both the bride and groom.

Please note that it is the responsibility of the couple to provide the State of Washington Marriage License. The license must be brought to the wedding rehearsal. The bride, groom, and two witnesses (usually the maid of honor and best man) are required to return to the Sacristy of the Church immediately after the ceremony to sign all legal documents. Please factor in this time when making your arrangements.

MUSIC FOR YOUR WEDDING

We encourage you to discuss your requests for music with us prior to making arrangements. There are several options available depending on the musical preference of the bride and groom. We will gladly review your requests and/or provide the names of musicians that you can contact.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION

Marriage in the Catholic Church is a sacrament and a commitment for life. One of the ways we value and honor it is by taking time to help couples prepare. Couples preparing to marry at St. Cecilia’s are required to receive pre-marriage counseling. This is usually done by attending a marriage preparation for engaged couples, the Catholic Engaged Encounter Weekend. Please see the enclosed pamphlet as it gives details of the dates and locations that are available. These weekends are booked on a first come, first served basis, so please schedule your weekend as soon as possible. A certificate will be issued upon completion of the class and a copy must be submitted to the Parish.

YOUR CONTACTS IN THE PARISH OFFICE

If you have questions regarding your wedding, please contact the Parish Office (842-3594). We will be more than happy to answer questions, set up appointments for you to meet with Fr. O'Loughlin, and act as liaison between you, the priest, and the coordinator assigned to your wedding.

WEDDING COORDINATOR

A wedding coordinator will be assigned to your wedding after completion of the Questionnaire for the Bride and Groom is returned. We encourage you to return this form as soon as possible so that the Wedding Coordinator can begin working with you. You should complete as much information as possible on this form as it gives us vital information in assisting you with planning your wedding.

WEDDING REHEARSAL

The wedding coordinator (in conjunction with office staff) will schedule your wedding rehearsal. Rehearsals are usually held the day before the wedding in the late afternoon (Friday afternoon no later than 5:00 p.m.). The bridal party, parents of the bride and groom, readers, altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, etc. should plan to attend.

PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEOGRAPHY

The wedding photo session may require substantial time, depending on the photographer and quantity of pictures taken. It is essential that this time be scheduled on the Parish Master Calendar. Please do not finalize any arrangements with your photographer until after the time has been set aside on the Master Calendar.

Flash photography is not allowed during the service. If possible, have only one person doing non-flash photography during the ceremony so that it is not distracting. Please advise friends and relatives not to take flash photos during the service.

Videos are permitted and can be set up from several discreet locations in the church. Please inform your videographer that wireless microphones are not permitted as they interfere with the sound system in the church.

PROGRAMS

Some couples provide a program outlining the order of service for their wedding. If you would like to see samples of programs or have questions, please contact your wedding coordinator. Please note that programs are the responsibility of the bride and groom.

DECORATIONS

• Flowers: We strongly recommend using a florist from Kitsap County due to previous difficulties encountered in transporting flowers from Seattle, by ferry, in a timely manner. Flowers should be delivered on the day of the wedding and should be scheduled for a specific delivery time. We ask that you schedule the delivery time so that we can assure you that the church will be open for the delivery. If you would like to schedule a walk-through in the church with your florist, please call the Parish Office to set up an appointment.

  You will need to decide if flowers will remain in the church after the wedding ceremony or if you will be taking them to your reception location. We have a limited amount of vases which can be borrowed. However, this option is only available if the flowers will be left (vases cannot be removed from the church).

• Aisle Runner: If you plan on using a white carpet in the center aisle of the church, please have your request approved, as only certain types of adhesives are allowed on the brick aisle. Aisle runners must be provided by the bride and groom.
• Candles: There are two candelabras that can be borrowed for use on the altar. Each candelabra holds seven candles. Either 12" or 15" candles can be used, depending on the length of the service and the decorations that will be placed on the stands. The candles must be provided by the bride and groom. The candelabras may not be removed from the church.

• Pew Ribbons: The parish has ribbons that can be used to decorate the side of the pews and special fasteners that will not scratch the wood. These fasteners can be borrowed but may not be removed from the church. Occasionally, florists provide decorations for the pews. This is permitted as long as the flowers are attached in a way that will not damage the wood.
• Kneelers: If the wedding celebration is to take place within the Mass, kneelers are available for the bride and groom.

FACILITIES

The bride and her attendants may use the choir room in the church to gather and prepare for the wedding. 

The only changing area available for the men is the restroom just inside the front entrance of the church.

No food or drink is permitted in the choir room or in any part of the church.  NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES may be brought into any part of the church.

It is the bridal parties' responsibility to clean up. Please assign one person to see that all areas are cleaned up immediately following the wedding.

If you would like to have your wedding reception at the Parish, Conger Hall is available to be rented. Occasionally, the bridal party requests additional space for dressing or requests an area to serve as a staging area. Conger Hall has been used for this purpose and may be available for a rental fee. Arrangements for use of Conger Hall must be made through the Parish Office as such use would be handled under a separate facilities agreement and at an additional fee.

If you have any questions about the facilities and/or supplies, contact your coordinator or the church office (842-3594).

CARE OF THE FACILITIES

Since all the spaces of the church must be readied for liturgies and events following your wedding, it is essential that you assign someone to clean up these areas immediately following the wedding. Please remove all programs, the aisle runner, and any pew decorations that you have provided (leave the fasteners provided by the church). We also encourage you to have someone look for any articles that might have been left by your guests.

Please note that rice, bird seed, confetti or flower petals may not be thrown inside any parish building or anywhere on the church grounds.

FEES

The schedule below outlines fees for a wedding. All fees and the refundable damage deposit are required in order to confirm a wedding date. 

Flowers

Please advise the coordinator of the name of your florist. We strongly recommend using someone from the Kitsap side of the sound (due to previous difficulties encountered in transporting flowers by ferry in a timely manner). Betsy Miller decorates the church with flowers for Masses; if you plan on leaving flower, please notify her.

Photography

If possible have only one person doing the photography so that it is not too distracting during the service. Be certain you have discussed photos with the priest or deacon who is officiating as some do not allow flash photography during the service. Videos can be done from several discreet locations. Arrangements should be made with your coordinator at the rehearsal for set up.

Decorations

If you plan on using white carpet down the center aisle, please discuss it with your coordinator as only certain types of tape are allowed on the brick aisle. There are candelabra and kneelers at the church. Your coordinator can arrange to show you these items. No rice, bird seed, or flower petals may be thrown anywhere on the church grounds.