A suggested time-sheet for your avoidance of last minute chaos
 

One year before the Marriage:

• Meet certain to file your Application for the Holy Sacrament and Petitioners' Statement with the Religious Ordre to ensure your wedding date is guaranteed.
   
• Obtain recent copies of your Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation records and attach them to your application. In the event you do not have the required documentation, discuss this matter immediately with an Ordre priest.
• Free copies are available from your parish that performed your baptism or conformation. This is vitally important.
   
• Check for catering halls for rentals.
   

Eight months before the Marriage:   

• Take a Marriage preparation course or Engagement Encounter.
• If dispensations are necessary, request them from a designated priest of the Religious Ordre.
• Hire photographer.
• Hire florist.
• Hire caterer.
• Hire musicians for the reception.
• Arrange for Wedding Gown, other clothes.
• Begin list for invitations of your honored guests and relatives.

Six months before the Marriage:

• Plan music for your ceremony and the following reception.

• Arrange for printing of invitations and possibly ceremony programs.

• Choose scriptures for the wedding, usually two that express your love for each other.

• Invite friends or relatives to do the scripture readings.

• Plan reception menu and discuss with facility any details of special dietary needs that might have to be addressed.

• Send out invitations.

• Contact all participants in the ceremony (Ushers, brides- maids, etc.) Discuss their participation in the ceremony and any special requirements or tasks you wish them to be responsible for on your wedding day. Remind the person(s) bestowing you of this fact.

• Arrange for the Wedding Banns to be published.

• Obtain a unity candle for the ceremony should you wish to utilize this option.

• ARRANGE TO GET THE MARRIAGE LICENSE! Find out local requirements, a listing of local official is located on our website.

One month before the Marriage:

• Arrange for the wedding rehearsal and dinner should you choose to have one.

• Finalize any details about the ceremony. (Flowers, music, people involved, etc.)

• Get final fittings for wedding clothes.

• Make sure you get the Marriage License.

One week before the Marriage:

• Prepare cash offerings for the Church, Priest or Deacon, Organist, and Altar Servers. The groom should give them to those people before the ceremony.

• Make sure that members of the Wedding Party know the time of the rehearsal and will attend. If any are coming from a distance and cannot attend the rehearsal, make sure that they know their responsibilities.

The day before the Marriage:

• Be certain you place your Marriage License where it is easily located on the day of your marriage.

• Arrive at the rehearsal on time. Remind those with special duties, of their responsibilities.

• Go to Confession should you wish to begin your married life with a clean moral slate.

• Don’t party all night. You’ll need your full strength tomorrow!

WEDDING DAY:

• Having had a good nights rest, have a relaxing and enjoyable breakfast or brunch.

• The Groom and Best Man should arrive at least 1 hour before the ceremony to handle any last minute details.

• Arrive at the Church/facility on time. (The bride may be a little late!)

• Present your marriage license to the priest and have your witnesses available to append their signatures to the license.

• Give the priest your required mass and travel expense, he will acknowledge with an official receipt.

• Relax and let the Priest witness your Holy Sacrament. He is especially trained to assist you every step of the way.

• Smile and hold hand's, remember, your in love and this is your day to proclaim it!