Catholic marriage is a sacred ceremony and a sacrament. Therefore, it must be celebrated in the Catholic Church. A wedding outside a sacred Space is becoming one of the most frequently asked questions regarding marriage. The Cannon Law of the Catholic Church states clearly in this regard: “A marriage between Catholics or between a Catholic party and a non-Catholic is to be celebrated in the parish church.” (c.1118.1). In rare circumstances, permission can be granted by the bishop of the Diocese of Austin to an individual case that one of the parties is non-baptized (Christian or Catholic) . The couple will need to write a letter to the (Arch) Bishop stating reasons for requesting such permission.
WHO CAN OFFICIATE YOUR WEDDING?
Due to shortage of priest, our pastor is the only priest assigned here. If you are not registered parishioners, we strongly encourage you to find priest/deacon for your wedding date if our pastor is unable to officiate your marriage. If you have a priest/deacon, who is not from St. Martin de Porres. He needs a letter of delegation from our pastor. You need to inform us as soon as possible.
If a priest/deacon is from the Diocese of Austin, our pastor will provide a letter of delegation in order for him to officiate your marriage validly. Pastor will provide immedialy once Marriage Packet has been received.
If a priest/deacon is outside of the Diocese of Austin, he needs to submit a letter of suitability from the bishop of his own diocese, or from his superior if he is a religious order priest. The letter must be sent to both the office of the Bishop of the Diocese of Austin and to the pastor here at St. Martin de Porres at least a month before the celebration.
PREPARING FOR WEDDING LITURGY
Wedding time: The wedding can be scheduled from 10am-2pm. You may request a specific hour within these time frame. However, you need to be flexible if the pastor already has commitments at the time you have requested.
Wedding coordinator: Only a St. Martin de Porres' wedding coordinator is allowed to facilitate the rehearsal and celebration at St. Martin Catholic Church.
Wedding with Mass: If both parties of the couple are practicing Catholics, the Church invites them to marry within the context of the Eucharist. In this case a priest is the ordinary witness of the wedding and presider at the Eucharist.
Wedding with the Liturgy of the Word: For a marriage between a Catholic and a fiancé of another religious tradition or non-baptized, they can be married within the Liturgy of the Word, followed by the Rite of Marriage, and concluded by the Lord's Prayer (without Mass). In this case, a deacon can serve as the minister of the service.
Choosing the readings for Mass or Liturgy of the Word. We strongly encouraging the couple to choose the readings that they like for their celebration. The Church has a list of readings that appropriate for wedding for you to choose. This liturgical form must be submitted to priest/or deacon at least 4 weeks before the celebration so he can prepare for the rehearsal, the celebration, and the sermon/homily. (Click here to download forms).
Wedding music: Music enhances the liturgy but is not required for a Mass or the Liturgy of the Word. However, if a couple chooses to have music, the music must be “live”, and not from the recorded CDs. Songs to be used for weddings must be religious songs that are appropriate for a Catholic Mass or Catholic Liturgy of the Word. Secular songs are not allowed during the wedding ceremony.
If you want music for your wedding, please contact musicians and directly book them for your wedding as soon as you can.
You may use outside musicians if you wish. However, they need to be familiar with the Catholic Wedding Mass or Liturgy of the Words service and following the guideline of our Church in choosing and playing music during the celebration. (Please see instruction for choir/cantor)
Dress code: Please keep in mind the virtue of modesty when choosing your dress and the dresses of your attendants, those in the procession, and lectors. You will be worshipping in a sacred space, therefore strapless, spaghetti straps, low-cut, and bare back dresses are inappropriate and NOT ALLOWED in the church for this occasion. If you choose your wedding dress or dress for bridesmaids that reflect above conditions, please use a shawl during the ceremony in the church. If you come dressed inappropriately, you will be required to wear a shawl provided from the church. Dresses must also be at least knee length.
Unity Candles: some couples desire to use Unity Candles. The unity candle, however, is not part of a Catholic wedding service. There is no need to have one in the Church. You can always use it at the reception.
Decoration:
Flowers: Flowers must be fresh flowers in the Church. Flowers can be placed in these following areas:
Most important area:
In front of the altar: either just one in the center or two(one on each side.)
Behind the altar: in the center or one on each side. They are to be placed on the flower stands provided by you. The Church doesn’t have or provide these stands.
Both side of the statues
In front of the ambo/pulpit
If there are two weddings on the same date, both couples will be notified. If both couples want to coordinate using same flowers, this will be fine. If each couple wants their own flowers, the first wedding must remove their own flowers within 30 minutes after the service. The second wedding can place flowers 30 minutes before their wedding if circumstances permit.
Flowers may be delivered to the church during the 1 hour wedding rehearsal or 30 minutes to 1 hour before the wedding. Flowers cannot be delivered less than 30 minutes prior to the wedding ceremony. The church will not be responsible to receive deliveries.
Spraying or painting of flowers or other items is NOT to be done within the church or on the church property.
It is NOT uncommon that the couple will leave the flower arrangements in the church. If you intend to do so, please inform the parish office so that the parish will not order additional flowers for the weekend.
NO flowers or plants are allowed on the Crucifix area or the altar.
Pew decorations: must be completed at least 30 minutes before the wedding or at the wedding rehearsal. Nothing is to be pinned, nailed, taped, wired or otherwise affixed to the altar or church furnishings, including pews. Pew bows are permitted with the bows as long as they are not affixed to the pews. The parish does not provide these bows. If there is another wedding following within the same day, pew decoration must be removed in 30 minutes.
NO candle pillars or candelabras anywhere in the church.
Kneeler may be draped if desired and provided by church.
Programs may be placed in the Narthex on a table provided.
No rice, bird seed, confetti, bubbles, flower petals, aisle runners or other like material will be used or thrown, either inside or outside the church building. There are NO exceptions to this rule.
The liturgical seasons: of Advent (the four weeks prior to Christmas) and Lent (the period from Ash Wednesday until Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday) are penitential/preparatory seasons in the liturgical worship calendar of the Catholic Church. While flowers (subdued arrangements) may be used, with permission, during Advent, NOflowers are allowed during the Lenten season, in keeping with the penitential spirit of the liturgical season. We ask that you restrict your floral selections during Lent to a limited amount of greenery. The restriction with regard to flowers during Advent and Lent does not apply to the flowers carried by the bride and bridesmaids. Pew bows are not permitted during the Lenten season.
Christmas and Easter decoration cannot be removed if the wedding falls on these dates.
Remember also that you may not displace the liturgical environment (banners, etc.) already present in the church; this applies to any liturgical season.
Absolutely No food or drink of any kind is permitted in the church especially alcohol.
AT THE CELEBRATION
Please be punctual. The pastor’s schedule is very busy during weekends. He often has other activities immediately after the celebration. So please be on time. If you are not there, he will start without you. Punctuation is also applied to the rehearsal time.
Absolutely no alcohol or other drinks, except water, are allowed in the church, before, during, or after the celebration. The marriage will become invalid if either or both are not fully conscious of the vow under influence of the alcohol when they exchange. A priest will refuse to celebrate your wedding if he sees alcohol in the Church. He will presume that either the bride or groom or both are consuming alcohol.
This is a religious celebration in the church with need for respect. Please do not play practical jokes, or exhibit childlike behavior, or poking fun during the celebration. A priest may refuse to continue the celebration if such behaviors are evident.
Photography: Only one or two photographers and/or one videographer are permitted during the celebration. However, it can only be done from the one side of the sanctuary at the floor level. They are NOT permitted to move around, especially in front of people, during the Mass. No photographer may enter the sanctuary space to take photos. (The sanctuary is an area that is raised above the main floor). No artificial lighting other than the church’s lighting is to be used and the use of flash photography is prohibited during the ceremony.
If you want to take pictures with the celebrant, please inform him ahead of time. If time permits; the priest will stay for one or two pictures immediately following the Mass. Please return back to the church immediately for the pictures and signature of the marriage license, including the witnesses if applicable and needed.
CHURCH’S FEE
Parishioner: $600 - Active Contributing Registered Parishioners. Either one or both live separately from parents who is parishioner(s) of St. Martin de Porres, must live in the parish boundary and should be registered at St. Martin de Porres at least 6 months prior to completing the Marriage Registration Form (not wedding). Clergy gift: The stipend for the priest or deacon is not included in the above cost, it is a free will offering. A clergy honorarium is a free-will offering. It is a way to acknowledge the work of the priest or the deacon who assisted you in your preparation and celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony.
Child(ren) of parishioner(s): $800. If one or both has parent(s) who is/are registered member of St. Martin de Porres at least 6 months prior to completing the Marriage Registration Form (not wedding) and are Active Contributing Registered Parishioners. Clergy gift: The stipend for the priest or deacon is not included in the above cost, it is a free will offering. A clergy honorarium is a free-will offering. It is a way to acknowledge the work of the priest or the deacon who assisted you in your preparation and celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony.
Non- parishioners: $1,200. Couples are asked to provide their own officiant (Roman Catholic priest or deacon). If you are not able to, one can be provided for an additional $150 fee.
The fee of the church included: church wedding coordinator, building usage for 4 hours: 1 hour for rehearsal, 1 hour set up, 1 hour for service, and 1 hour for pictures and clean up. The church will not cover the cost of musicians, cantors, flowers, photography.
Wedding outside of the St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church: $400 processing fee. (please remember the wedding outside of Sacred Space must secure permission from the Bishop on each individual case, and is only appropriate for a Catholic marry a non-baptized person.)
If you are parishioners who receive the marriage preparation here, but marry elsewhere, the fee is $200.00
To reserve the church for the date of your wedding, you must pay the $100, non-refundable deposit after the pastor confirms the available date and time.
The remainder of the fee must be paid in full at least TWO MONTHS prior to the wedding date. NO EXCEPTIONs.