We at Saint Thomas are so happy that you, the bride-and-groom-to-be, are choosing to have the Church witness the love that you have for one another! As you make this big commitment to each other, we, at Saint Thomas, make a commitment to help you not only in the beauty of your celebration but in the life-long journey you will make together as husband and wife. So, in brief, here are the steps that are involved in arranging a wedding at Saint Thomas.
Initial Contact
A bride or groom will call the parish office to make arrangements (or inquiries) about weddings. The front desk will take down basic information (names, cell numbers and email addresses of bride and groom as well as possible dates of desired wedding) and give that information to one of our priests or deacons. No dates are promised until the couple meets with the priest or deacon.
Initial interview with the priest or deacon
At the interview, the priest/deacon will set the date and time of the wedding and go over all the information related to getting married including the forms and certificates that are required. At that interview, we will discuss if the wedding will either take place within a Mass or a ceremony.
Who will perform the wedding?
The priests or deacons assigned here are delighted to be witnesses of your marriage (by the way, only a priest can officiate at a wedding if it is celebrated within a Mass). If you desire to have a priest or deacon from another parish, we will gladly assist you in directing the visiting clergy to obtain the necessary requirements that are needed for that permission to be granted.
What about marriage preparation?
We offer a wonderful program of marriage preparation that takes place in two parts. The first part is an online inventory called FOCCUS (an acronym that stands for Facilitating Open, Caring, Communication, Understanding, and Study). After completing the instrument online, we will meet with you to go over the results of the inventory that will help you “focus” on areas of communication for your growth as a couple.
The second half of marriage preparation is called “Pre-Cana.” We will discuss with you the opportunities we offer regarding these sessions of information and discussion in a setting that helps a couple prepare for this beautiful life-time commitment.
As we get closer to the “big day,” we will discuss with you setting a rehearsal date, reminding you about the arrangements you need to make about getting a civil marriage license, making sure that you have contacted our parish music director, and the final discussions regarding the particular options you wish to incorporate into your wedding celebration.
How much does it cost to get married at Saint Thomas?
The all-inclusive offering and fee of $1000 covers all of the costs associated with your wedding (fees related to music, Pre-Cana, and staff costs as well as your offering of thanksgiving that supports the work of Saint Thomas Church). If these offerings and fees present a financial difficulty, please discuss payment options with the priest or deacon preparing you for marriage.
Making selections of readings and prayers for your wedding
Like many aspects of your wedding, you have an opportunity to make various selections for your wedding ceremony that reflect what you would like your guests to experience in this wonderful sacramental moment in your life. Below there is a PDF file that you can download which contains all the readings and prayers that you may wish to choose for your wedding ceremony. Below also is a form that you can use to record your selections. Of course, for any particular questions you may have regarding readings prayers and other elements you wish to include in your celebration of your marriage, it is good to speak to the priest or deacon who made the arrangements with you at your initial meeting.
PDF of readings and prayers you may choose for your wedding
Form to record your selections of Prayers and Readings
