Congratulations and Welcome!
We pray that this time of preparation for your wedding will be filled with grace, happiness and joy.  Your wedding day marks the beginning of your life-long commitment and is meant to be a happy and meaningful celebration, one that you will long remember.  We offer these guidelines to help you prepare for your life-long commitment as a married couple, as well as the celebration of the wedding day itself.
 
 Marriage Preparation Process

1. Meeting with Fr. Bill to begin the process of marriage preparation.
2. Participating in an approved marriage preparation program.
3. Planning your wedding Mass

 
Step 1:  Meet with Fr. Bill
Fr. Bill will assist the couple in discerning whether they are free to marry in the Catholic Church.  This meeting(s) will include reviewing required documents, reviewing approved marriage preparation programs and planning the wedding date and time.  A 12-month notice is required to ensure enough time for preparation. 

The following documents are required:

1. BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE: (if Catholic) Must be issued by the Church of baptism within six months of the planned wedding date. PROOF OF BAPTISM (for non-Catholics)
2. STATEMENT OF FREEDOM TO MARRY: This form is to be filled out by parents or if they are deceased, by a relative who has known the party to be married since birth.
3. MASSACHUSETTS MARRIAGE LICENSE: You cannot get married in this church without a license. The license should be given to Fr. Bill no later than the wedding rehearsal date. The marriage license is good for 60 days after it is issued.

 
Step 2: Marriage Preparation Programs
 
Couple to Couple – This is arranged locally with a couple in the parish who meet in their home with those intending to marry.  Together the couples review their Premarital Inventory and discuss areas and concerns that can help the couple improve their relationship and subsequent marriage.
 
Engaged Encounter – This is designed for couples who are over the age of 25 and/or have experience in living on their own.  This is a weekend experience that begins on a Friday evening and concludes on Sunday afternoon.  The cost is $180 per couple and includes room accommodations and meals along with materials.
 
 
Step 3:  Wedding Liturgy Planning
 
The wedding liturgy, like all other sacramental celebrations, is a communal event--a celebration of the whole Church. Yet, it is unique in being the only sacrament where it is the couple themselves who are the ministers of the sacrament; the priest or deacon is a witness.
 
Our staff will help you with the planning of the wedding liturgy and the rehearsal before the wedding. 
 

• Weddings are typically scheduled on Friday evenings at 5 or 5:30PM or Saturdays at 10:00 or 11:00 a.m., or 1:00 or 2:00 p.m. 

 

• The ministers of the Wedding Mass include:
  • Altar servers (2) who will be scheduled by the church.  Family members who are altar servers are most welcome.  (Altar servers are normally paid $20.00 each on the day of the Wedding.)
  • Readers of the Word - You may choose family members or friends to read the scriptures.  You will provided copies of readings for your readers. 
  • Attendants (bridesmaids, junior attendants) 
    Your wedding attendants are chosen by you to assist in the wedding liturgy.  If you choose to have a ring bearer and/or flower girl, an adult should be available to assist them if necessary.
  • Ushers – Ushers are to greet and seat all guests before the wedding liturgy begins.
  • Visiting celebrants - A letter from your proposed presider is required indicating his commitment to the date and time before your wedding date is confirmed.  Priests not from the diocese of Worcester must have a letter from their bishop stating they are in good standing in their diocese. Out of state clergy are also required to gain authorization from the Office of the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Photographer Guidelines

• Your photographers and videographers are welcome if they respect the sacred nature of the wedding ceremony.  Photographers may not enter the sanctuary, and flashbulbs or other bright lights are prohibited during the ceremony as they are very distracting to the presider and the congregation.  
• Please ask your photographer and videographer to check in with the priest prior to the wedding ceremony for instructions to prevent any last minute confusion over the proper places for photographs and photographers. 

Floral Guidelines

• Bows may be used to mark reserved pews, but shall be attached so as not to damage the pews, i.e. no glue, tape, tacks, nails, etc.
• Due to the width of the center aisle and safety and insurance concerns, no candelabra or candles may be used or attached to the pews.
• Dropping flower petals (real or artificial), throwing rice or birdseed, and floor runners are not permitted inside or outside of the church for safety reasons.  Slipping on these materials could cause a serious fall or injury to relatives, friends or to you.
• Seasonal considerations:  The seasons of Advent and Lent  – are times of expectation and preparation.  These are seasons of simplicity; seasonal decorations already in the church – advent wreath/candles, Paschal candle, banners, etc. are to remain in the Church during the wedding. 
• Flowers beautify the sanctuary of our Church and we ask that you leave your flowers as a gift to the parish after the wedding.  The flower arrangements remind the parishioners that the Sacrament of Marriage has been celebrated.

Altar candles are lit for your wedding ceremony.  If you plan to use the Unity Candle, the church will provide a stand for it.You are encouraged to set a time when your florist may come to decorate the Church.  The Church may be decorated on Friday afternoon or on Saturday morning. Rehearsals are typically scheduled the evening prior to the wedding, and last approximately one hour. Only members of the wedding party and the parents need to be present for the wedding rehearsal. The rehearsal allows members of the wedding party to become familiar with the environment and comfortable in the roles they will assume as part of the wedding.

Please ensure that your entire wedding party is at the rehearsal at least 15 minutes before the rehearsal begins. If you have any questions or problems, please feel free to speak to Fr. Bill.In the Diocese of Worcester, the customary offering for *registered, active parishioners of Sacred Heart or their children is $250.00. and $325.00 for non-parishioners. The fees are used to cover the Marriage preparation materials; costs incurred by the use of the church as well some compensation for the priest or deacon presiding. We ask that your fee be paid one month prior to the wedding date.
 
*REGISTERED parishioners: Making regular weekly offering for one year prior to the marriage.
 

• Altar servers usual stipend is $20.00 for each server.
• Musicians and soloists are paid personally 

ONE LAST NOTE
Thank you for reading and following these guidelines. We hope that your wedding will be beautiful and well organized. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Fr. Bill at the parish office (phone: 508-473-1900).
 
Our goal is to help you to prepare yourselves well for the sacrament of marriage and to ensure that your wedding ceremony runs smoothly. Remember, your wedding is a day, your marriage a lifetime.
 
Thank you for choosing to celebrate your wedding at the Catholic Community of Sacred Heart. Our parish community prays for you and asks God to bless you with many happy years of marriage.