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THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE
Those interested in arranging a wedding at the Cathedral
should contact the office for a copy of the marriage
brochure. The text of the brochure has been
reproduced here to assist those interested.
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Congratulations!! The Cathedral of
Saint Joseph Parish and Staff send you our very best
wishes as you prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage. Our
prayer for you is that the Cathedral will provide the
simple elegance and sacred atmosphere to make the
beginning of your married life a profound memory and the
start of a long, spirit-filled journey for a lifetime
together.
This brochure is intended to answer
some of the questions which are most likely on your mind
at this time. Please read over these guidelines
carefully so that there is no confusion about your use
of the Cathedral Church. It may also help you to raise
some questions for the Cathedral staff which have not
yet occurred to you, but will be important for you to
consider as you make plans for your wedding. It will
assist you in making your wedding day a happy and holy
event for you and for the Cathedral community.
Please be assured of our continued
prayers and support as you journey toward this special
day in your lives.
Cathedral of Saint Joseph Community
Who can be married at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph?
Normally, those who are registered and
active parishioners of the Cathedral Parish. The
Catholic Church has a long tradition of celebrating the
sacraments within one’s own community of faith. There
can be exceptions to this. For example, couples
belonging to other parishes within the Archdiocese might
wish to celebrate their wedding in the Mother Church
with a priest from their home parish officiating. If you
are not familiar with the Cathedral, please come to one
of our weekend liturgies. This will help you to become
familiar with the space. You will be sure to agree that
the Cathedral is a special and holy place.
Who is able to officiate at weddings in the Cathedral?
One of the priests assigned to the
Cathedral will officiate at the weddings of Cathedral
parishioners. In addition, permission can be given for
another priest or deacon in good standing to officiate.
And, as indicated above, if you belong to another parish
within the Archdiocese, your parish priest will be the
appropriate person to witness your marriage. A letter of
delegation will be sent to the priest or deacon
approximately two months prior to the wedding.
Are people who are not of the Catholic faith able to be
married at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph?
They are, if they are marrying a
Catholic.
Are people who have been married before able to be
married in the Catholic Church?
It is advisable to speak with a priest
or deacon since there can be extenuating circumstances
in this area.
Is some sort of preparation needed for couples wishing
to be married at the Cathedral?
Yes. Since marriage in the Catholic
Church is both a sacrament and a lifetime commitment,
one of the ways we value the integrity of this
commitment is by requiring proper preparation. Couples
who are parishioners of the Cathedral will meet with one
of the Cathedral priests. Couples who are not
parishioners of the Cathedral generally deal directly with the
priest or deacon who will officiate at their wedding.
When may weddings take place at the Cathedral?
Saturday weddings are celebrated at
11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Friday weddings
are also permitted. They are never celebrated on Sunday.
Also, the Church discourages the Sacrament of Marriage
to be celebrated during Lent.
How does one arrange to schedule a wedding on the
Cathedral Calendar?
You must schedule an appointment with
one of the Cathedral priests in order to arrange for a
date. At this initial meeting with the priest, you will
be required (if Catholic) to provide recent copies of
baptismal certificates (dated no less than six months
prior), establish your freedom to marry within the
Church, verify who will officiate at your ceremony and
place your security deposit. Once these requirements are
fulfilled, the date can be secured. The steps listed
above should be followed before you finalize any
arrangements regarding the place of your reception.
What if my wedding is cancelled?
It is necessary for you to contact us
immediately if your plans change and you decide not to
use the Cathedral. We receive many requests for dates
and need to keep our calendar current. Your deposit is
refundable, in most circumstances, up to six months
before the wedding.
Is there a fee involved for a Cathedral Wedding?
Yes, the fee helps defray the cost of
the services of marriage preparation, the clergy, the organist, the cantor,
the sacristan, the custodians, as well as the cost of
utilities such as heat, air-conditioning and
electricity. There are two fee schedules at the
Cathedral, one for parishioners and another for
non-parishioners. The parishioner rate for a wedding is
set in order to honor the commitment of participating,
contributing members to the parish community. Normally
speaking, the parishioner rate applies to those who have
been registered and participating members for at least
six months prior to scheduling. The fee is due no later
than the day of the rehearsal.
Donation for Parishioners
For weddings in the Cathedral, the fee
is $700 plus deposit. No parishioner of the Cathedral of
Saint Joseph is ever turned away because of the
inability to pay.
Donation for Non-Parishioners
For weddings in the Cathedral, the fee
is $1000 plus deposit.
Please note that a security deposit of
$200 is required for all weddings and must be given to
the priest at the initial interview in order to secure
the date. This deposit will be returned to you if the
rehearsal and/or wedding ceremony begins no more than
fifteen minutes past the scheduled time. It is very
unfair to the priest, the musicians and your guests to
be late at your own wedding or rehearsal! The refund
will be mailed within one month after your wedding
ceremony if you have met the Cathedral requirements.
What about the marriage license?
Every marriage solemnized in the State
of Connecticut requires a marriage license. The marriage
license may be obtained either from the City of Hartford
or the Connecticut town in which you live. The marriage license is
valid sixty-five (65) days after the date it is issued.
The State of Connecticut no longer requires a blood test
before applying for the marriage license. This license
is to be brought to the rehearsal and given to the
priest or deacon officiating.
What if I have a private wedding consultant taking care
of my wedding plans?
It is recommended that you duplicate
this brochure for the wedding consultant’s information.
It is good to keep in mind that a person from the
Cathedral Staff will be conducting the rehearsal and
officiating at the ceremony under the advisement of the
bride and groom ONLY.
Where can we park?
The front entrance to the Cathedral is
located at 140 Farmington Avenue. There is limited
street parking available. Your guests should be directed
to park in the Cathedral parking lot located behind the
Cathedral off of Asylum Avenue. Directions can be found
on the Cathedral website,
www.cathedralofsaintjoseph.com .
What about the rehearsal?
Please be sure that all members of the
wedding party have been properly notified of the time,
place, which entrance is to be used for the rehearsal,
and have been given directions to the Cathedral. The
East Entrance to the Cathedral will be the only entrance
unlocked for the rehearsal. Parking is available in the
Chancery parking lot located off Farmington Avenue.
Can I have a unity candle at the ceremony?
Although the use of the Unity Candle is
discouraged since it is not an integral part of the
Catholic marriage ceremony, they are permitted. It is
the responsibility of the bride and groom to supply the
unity candle and accessories for their ceremony. The
Cathedral is
able only to supply an appropriate stand.
Can I rearrange the furniture in the Cathedral?
Any furniture or liturgical decorations
(plants, banners, altar cloths) already present in the
sanctuary may not be disturbed in any way. Certainly
nothing should be moved or rearranged without
consultation with the Cathedral Staff.
What about flowers?
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The Cathedral is much larger than most people think.
Too few, too low, or too small of an arrangement
will look out of place. Please encourage your
florist to examine the space in person since a
normal size arrangement will generally not be
adequate for the desired effect.
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Flowers are not to be placed on the altar.
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Florists may deliver arrangements to the Cathedral
one-half hour before the ceremony begins. They must
call the rectory if they plan on delivering flowers
at an earlier time to ascertain if there is another
function prior to the wedding ceremony.
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Floral arrangements must never obstruct the view of
the assembly. The assembly must always be able to
see the altar, the lector, the cantor and the
presider.
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Only bows or flowers are allowed on the pews. They
must be attached with ribbons, rubber bands, or
felt-covered wire only. No tacks, nails or duct tape
may be used anywhere in the building.
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If not indicated, the pew decorations will be
removed and discarded by the Cathedral sacristan.
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All floral arrangements are to be left in the
Cathedral to enhance the beauty of our weekend
liturgies.
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The season of Lent is a penitential season of the
Church year and flowers should be limited and
reflect the spirit of the season.
What about Photography and/or Videography?
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Photographers are asked not to interfere with the
movement of the procession or recessional by having
couples stop in the aisle.
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Photographs taken during the ceremony must not
interfere with the reverence, dignity, sacredness of
the Sacrament of Marriage.
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Photography/Videography is allowed to be taken from
the choir loft.
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Photographers/Videographers are not to enter the
sanctuary (anywhere above the main floor level) at
any time. They are allowed to take photos/video from
behind the metal grill surrounding the sanctuary.
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It is advisable for the Photographer/Videographer to
speak with the priest or deacon officiating at the
wedding before the ceremony.
Can I have a runner?
Runners are permitted at the Cathedral.
It is good to keep in mind that the runner may make the
marble floor slippery and hazardous. Runner should be
150 feet in length to accommodate the Cathedral aisle.
Can my flower girl throw petals as she processes down
the aisle?
No. The scattering of fresh flower
petals is damaging to the Cathedral floor. Flower girls
are welcome to carry a basket of arranged flowers to
enhance the beauty of your ceremony. As a matter of
course, nothing should be scattered in the Cathedral.
How can I help respect the sanctity of the Cathedral
building?
Out of respect for the Church building,
which is sacred, and out of respect for others who will
be using this space after the wedding, we ask that no
rice, birdseed, confetti, or balloons be used inside the
Cathedral or on the Cathedral Plaza. No beverages are to
be brought into the Cathedral. Chewing gum is not
permitted during the rehearsal or ceremony. Dress and
behavior should likewise be respectful.
How do I prepare a program for the wedding guests?
The Cathedral does not prepare wedding
programs. If you choose to prepare a program booklet to
be distributed to your guests, please consult the
Cathedral Staff. The music department may also assist
you with the program.
What about Cathedral safety?
The Cathedral of Saint Joseph does
employ a security guard who will be on duty during your
rehearsal and ceremony. However, we would advise that
you attend to any personal belongings while on the
Cathedral grounds. Vehicles are to be locked at all
times. The Cathedral does not take responsibility for
lost or stolen articles.
There are many regulations regarding the use of the
Cathedral. What if they are not followed?
These regulations are in place to
protect the sanctity of the building and to maintain a
level of organization with the many people who visit the
Cathedral each year. The Cathedral Staff has a
collective experience of what will work within our
worship space and what will not. Although the guidelines
may seem overwhelming and restricting, in the long run,
they will assure you a wedding ceremony that will be
breathtaking and unforgettable. Failure to follow these
guidelines will result in the loss of the deposit. It is
the responsibility of the bride and groom to communicate
all policies to those who will be involved in the
wedding ceremony.
MUSIC FOR YOUR WEDDING
Introduction
The Cathedral
Music Department will help make the liturgical
celebration of your marriage a beautiful, prayerful, and
joyful event. We guide you in planning and we provide
the musicians who will lead the singing and play
instruments at your wedding. We look forward to meeting
with you to assist in the selection of music appropriate
to the sacramental nature of the liturgical celebration
of marriage.
Planning
We ask that
all couples being married in the Cathedral call the
Music Office (860-249-7655) to schedule a wedding music
consultation appointment. Note the selections you would
like and bring the list to the planning meeting. It is
also helpful if you have reviewed and chosen your
scripture readings, especially the responsorial psalm.
Organist
The Cathedral
Organist or Assistant Organist must play for all
weddings. As your advisor, they will guide you through
the music selection process. Any questions regarding
the suitability of wedding music selections will be
decided by the Music Director.
Vocalists
It is our
policy that a Cathedral Cantor be engaged for each
wedding. The cantor is the vocal soloist and leads the
congregational singing. The Music Director will secure
the services of a Cathedral Cantor for your wedding. It
is important that a Cathedral Cantor participate in your
wedding because of their high level of skill,
familiarity with Cathedral liturgy, experience in the
vast Cathedral space, and ongoing working relationship
with Cathedral staff.
Instrumentalists
Additional
instrumentalists (trumpet, violin, etc.) are often
desired as part of the wedding music. After your
wedding music planning meeting, the Music Director can
engage the services of professional instrumentalists who
are superbly skilled and experienced in working in the
Cathedral. It is Cathedral policy that instrumentalists
must be arranged through the Music Director.
Choir
A quartet,
octet, large choir or any other combination of Cathedral
singers may be contracted for your wedding. The Music
Director can help you with this at the wedding music
planning meeting.
Non-Cathedral Musicians
For the
reasons given above, the use of non-Cathedral musicians
for weddings is strongly discouraged. In the event,
however, that you wish to employ a non-Cathedral
musician at your wedding, the following information
applies:
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In the
case of qualified non-Cathedral singers, they will
be permitted to sing one or two solos as decided by
the Music Director. Please note that even in cases
where a non-Cathedral singer is permitted, a
Cathedral Cantor must be present to lead the
liturgical music.
Pre-Recorded Music
The use of
pre-recorded music is never permitted in Cathedral
liturgy.
Suggested Wedding Music:
This list is only a sampling of music commonly used for
weddings;
we encourage you to bring you own ideas.
PDF file of possible music choices
SUBMIT your wedding music request
Processionals and Recessionals
Air (fr.
Suite No. 3) - J. S. Bach
Canon in D -
Pachelbel
The Rejoicing
- Handel
Jesu, Joy of
Man’s Desiring - J. S. Bach
Ode to Joy -
Beethoven
Psalm 19 -
Marcello
Rondeau -
Mouret
Toccata in F
- Widor
Trumpet Tune
- Purcell
Trumpet
Voluntary - Clarke
Hornpipe (fr.
Water Music) - Handel
Air (fr.
Water Music) - Handel
Wedding March
- Mozart
Vocal
Solos
Alleluia -
Mozart
Gift of Love
- Hopson
Jesu, Joy of
Man’s Desiring - J. S. Bach
Laudate
Dominum - Mozart
Let the
Bright Seraphim - Handel
Love is
Patient - Powell
Love is the
Sunlight - Traditional Gaelic
Panis
Angelicus - Franck
The Call -
Vaughan Williams
Thy Perfect
Love - Rutter
Wedding Song
- Peeters
Music for
the Unity Candle Ceremony
A Unity
Candle Song (Vocal solo) - Haan
La Grace
(Instrumental) - Telemann
Music for
Marian Devotion
Ave Maria -
Bach/Gounod
Ave Maria -
Dupré
Ave Maria -
Saint-Saens
Ave Maria -
Schubert
Music Planning Sheet for a Wedding Mass
Music
Planning Sheet for a Wedding Ceremony
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