Beth & AJ Jones Wedding

Wedding Policy of St. John Church (.pdf format)

Wedding Music Guidelines and Selection Sheet (.pdf format)

Basic requirements:

The Parish requires at least a minimum of nine month preparation period, and it is recommended that the engaged couple begin their preparation and request their wedding date reservation at the Church a year in advance due to the large number of requests that we receive.  Our parish priest, Father Ronald M. Klingler, will finalize the date for a wedding in our church after an interview with the wedding couple. 

Preliminary Preparation:

1. The couple should schedule an appointment with the priest who is responsible for marriage preparation for an initial interview. After that interview, the couple may schedule their wedding date.

2. The engaged couple should also check with the priest or diocese on how  to register for additional classes that are part of the marriage preparation process.

Necessary Documents:

1. A current copy of each individual’s baptismal certificate (issued within 6 months of the wedding date) from the parish of baptism. The baptismal certificates must be given to the priest who is completing the wedding paperwork.

2. Pre-nuptial investigation form from the priest.

3. Marriage License – The State of Ohio requires a Marriage License, which is valid only for sixty days. The wedding cannot be performed without a license. The license must be given to our parish priest, Father Ronald M. Klingler, at the rehearsal.

Marriage Ceremony:                                                                                                                           

1. A Nuptial Mass is the usual form for the celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony between two Catholics.

2. A marriage between a Catholic and a baptized Christian is usually celebrated outside of Mass.

3. A marriage between a Catholic and an unbaptized person is usually celebrated outside of Mass.

4. A marriage between couples cohabitating is always celebrated outside of Mass.

5. You will receive a booklet titled Together for Life, which contains the scripture readings that may be used in the ceremony and the texts for the Marriage Rite. When meeting with the priest, you should discuss the readings and any other questions regarding your ceremony.

6. The Church can provide two candelabras. There is a $10 fee.

7. The Church will provide altar candles, but the bride and groom must supply the wedding unity candle (if desired). 

8. An aisle runner is not necessary, but if used, the aisle is one hundred feet long. Please assign someone the duty of picking up your aisle runner as soon as the ceremony is over.

9. The tossing of flower petals is not allowed.

10. Hymnals cannot be removed from the pews.

Rehearsal:

1. The rehearsal is the day prior to the wedding, and is usually booked at 6:00 PM.

2. Please be on time, and please advise all of your wedding party that they must be on time. One hour is reserved for the rehearsal, so come prepared.

3. Our parish priest, Father Ronald M. Klingler, will organize and run the rehearsal. Outside wedding coordinators may come and observe the rehearsal from the back of the Church, however, they will not be involved in the wedding ceremony/Nuptial Mass. 

4. The Church organist does not attend the rehearsal.

Music:  Wedding Music Guidelines (.pdf format)

1. Our parish organist and director of music/liturgy, Robert Sullivan, will play at all weddings in our church.  Please contact him at  330.454.8044 x 201 or robert_sullivan@ameritech.net  as soon as you secure your wedding date and time. All music should be chosen four months in advance.   You will meet with the organist and director of music who will play over a number of  pieces that you may select from for the processional, recessional, hymns, service music and vocal solos. This is a very extensive selection, and includes a lot of "wedding favorites" as well as music that is only heard at the Church. Mr. Sullivan will secure the cantor and additional instrumentalists once the wedding consultation has taken place.  Confirmation of such musicians will follow in writing, along with a list of music chosen. 

2. Our organist and director of music will make arrangements for additional musicians:  cantors (it is the policy of this church that only our parish cantors sing for weddings) or instrumentalists (we use musicians from local symphonies: Canton, Akron, New Philadelphia, Cleveland Orchestras.  Instruments that can be used are trumpet, brass quintet, string quartet, harp, flute, etc).  Should you not wish the added expense of these musicians, please keep in mind that our new 79 rank Kegg Pipe Organ can adequately provide many moods. In general we discourage bringing in other musicians. All of our Church musicians are highly trained professionals with extensive experience performing in such a large space.                  

3. According to the doctrines on liturgical music in the Roman Catholic Church, music for weddings must be sacred or religious; music written for the Church, or of religious content. This excludes all popular music, and tunes from secular operas or other secular sources. The music is a sung prayer, and it is a part of the overall liturgy.

4. Fees for the organist, cantor and additional musicians must be in the church office within two weeks of meeting with the organist and director of music.  These stipends will be held until the week of the wedding. 

Prohibitions:

ALCOHOL OR DRUGS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE CHURCH OR ON THE CHURCH GROUNDS.

1. Rice, confetti, birdseed, etc. may not be thrown inside or outside the Church.

2. The sound system is not available for cassette playing or any other electronic device.

3. The doors to the Church cannot be locked during the ceremony.

4. Set up times are no earlier than one hour before the wedding – 11:00 AM for the 1:00 PM wedding and 5:00 PM for the 6:00 PM wedding.

Photography/Video Guidelines:                                                                                       

1. The photographer, whether a professional or a family friend, must consult with the priest at the Church to discuss the pictures taken during the ceremony. 

2. You will have 30 minutes after the ceremony for posed group pictures. This must be done quickly and quietly, because you are in Church, and other services may be in progress. Your wedding ceremony must begin on time, or your picture taking time will be cut short by the amount of time that your ceremony was delayed. Make a list of the pictures you want, and inform those you want in the pictures not to leave the Church until their pictures are taken.

3. Because of the presence of the Blessed Sacrament at the high altar, pictures are not allowed in front of the high altar. All photographs must be taken at the main altar (the lower altar). The photographer may not walk in the sanctuary, and may not move any furniture, candleholders or chairs. 

4. Spontaneous photography during the ceremony is permitted only at designated locations by the photographer. "Roving" photographers/videographers are not allowed (family or professional).

5. The photographer may take pictures of the wedding party coming down the aisle. Once the Bride is at the steps of the Sanctuary, the photographer may not move around during the ceremony.

6. The videographer or photographer must remain inconspicuous. The video camera must be placed on a tripod, and remain stationary. The videographer may not sit while in the sanctuary.

7. The photographer or videographer are not allowed in the organ loft.

Flowers/Decorations:

1. The Church does not provide any special decorations. We do not provide storage for any items, so deliveries must be made the day of the wedding. Floral deliveries must be made on the east side of the Church, to the set of double wooden doors. Florists must check with the priest regarding a suitable time for delivery. The staff of the Church will not sign for any deliveries and are not liable for any items.

2. If you desire pew bows or other decorations on the pews, no tape or tacks are permitted. Pew clips must be used, or bows may be tied with ribbon or hung with pipe cleaners. 

3. All decorations must be prepared before bringing them into the Church.

4. After the wedding, special decorations must be removed from the Church immediately, including the aisle runner, pew bows, unity candle, etc. Please assign this duty to someone in your wedding party. We do not have storage space to hold these items for you, and we are not responsible for any of these items left behind in the Church.

5. You may call the Rectory office for information regarding the florist used at St. John Church.

                    Fees
          

            **Organist fee is determined by the number of rehearsals (cantor,
                 instrumentalists, choir, etc) and/or meetings with wedding couple.

            ***This information will be provided to the wedding couple during their
                 consultation with the organist.

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