HOW TO SCHEDULE A WEDDING

Congratulations on your decision to get married!
We are joyful that you have chosen to celebrate your marriage in the Church and to receive the beautiful Sacrament of Matrimony.

Step One: Register for Your Wedding

The first step is to register by completing our online wedding form. You do not need a Google account to fill it out. CLICK HERE FOR THE FORM.

After submitting the form, you will need to schedule an initial appointment to begin the marriage preparation process and complete the necessary paperwork. Appointments are available at the Parish Office, located at St. Joseph Rectory (1335 North Main Street), on Tuesdays from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM and Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM. If these hours work for your schedule, you may book an appointment online through SignUpGenius. If you prefer not to schedule online or if you need a different time, you may also arrange an appointment by calling Shanna Lubold at 508-673-1123.

Please bring your sacramental records to this first meeting. A recent Baptismal Certificate, issued within the last six months, is required, as it includes notations of Confirmation and other sacraments. If your Confirmation is not listed on the Baptismal certificate, please bring your Confirmation record as well. A First Communion certificate is not needed. Anyone baptized outside the Catholic Church must also provide a Baptismal record.

We look forward to accompanying you as you prepare for this sacred moment in your lives.
Fr. Fred Babiczuk

SPECIFIC TOPICS OF INFORMATION

  • It is recommended that you arrange your wedding music soon after meeting with the parish priest. Our parish has an organist and cantor available, and their contact information may be obtained from the priest. All music selections must follow Diocesan Guidelines, which can be summarized as “Church music in church and non-church music elsewhere.” Any financial arrangements with musicians are to be handled directly between the couple and the musicians and not through the priest. For additional guidance regarding wedding music, please refer to the link provided HERE.

  • Weddings may be scheduled on Saturdays between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM, with 1:00 PM being the latest start time. Friday weddings may also be arranged.

  • Couples may choose to provide flowers for the sanctuary for their wedding. These flowers are considered a gift to the church and may not be removed for use at the reception or dinner. Aisle runners are not permitted. Pew decorations such as bows are allowed, but they must be attached using ribbon only—no clamps, tape, or adhesive materials may be used—and they must be removed immediately after the ceremony.

  • Most couples wish to have photographs or video of their wedding day, but care must always be taken to preserve the sacred nature of the ceremony. Photographers and videographers should contact the parish office in advance with any questions. They are not permitted to enter the sanctuary at any time, but they may move discreetly through the church aisles without obstructing the view of guests. They should also speak with the priest before the Mass if they have any questions.

  • We kindly ask that guests refrain from throwing rice, flower petals, bubbles, or any other items.

  • Wedding candles or unity candles are not necessary, as they are not part of the official Catholic Rite and are not used in the Church.

  • If you have a relative or close friend who is a priest or deacon and would like to invite him to witness your marriage, you are most welcome to do so. Please discuss this with the parish priest so that all required legal and ecclesiastical permissions can be obtained.

  • It is customary to offer a free-will donation to the parish on the occasion of your wedding. There is no set fee for parishioners, and couples are asked to give what they are able. This offering does not go to the celebrant. If you wish to give a personal gift to the priest or deacon who celebrates your wedding, please do so in a separate envelope. This is entirely optional.

  • All couples are required to participate in a Marriage Preparation Program, either through the Diocese of Fall River or through a similar program in their home diocese. Information for the Fall River program can be found at www.fallriverfaithformation.org under “Programs,” then “Marriage Preparation.”

  • Couples who are not members of this parish or diocese are welcome to request a wedding here when possible. In such cases, a letter of permission from one of the couple’s pastors must be provided at the time the paperwork is completed.

  • Diocesan guidelines require that couples notify the parish priest at least eight months before the intended wedding date in order to complete the necessary preparation and paperwork.

  • Wedding rehearsals are usually held the evening before the wedding. All members of the wedding party and anyone participating in the procession should attend and arrive on time. Proper church etiquette is expected, and guests are asked not to bring bottles of water, coffee, or chewing gum into the church.

  • There are two options for the wedding procession. In the traditional procession, ushers enter two by two, followed by the bridesmaids in single file, then the ring bearer and flower girl, then the maid of honor, and finally the bride escorted by her father. In the family procession, ushers and bridesmaids enter two by two, followed by the flower girl and ring bearer, then the best man and maid of honor, then the groom with his parents, and finally the bride with her parents.

AFTER THE WEDDING

You will receive a copy of your Marriage Certificate on the day of your wedding. If you need additional copies in the future, they may be obtained through the Parish Office. After your wedding, please register in your parish as soon as possible via this link. As a newly married couple, you now form a new family within the Church, and it is your responsibility to register in the parish where you will be living, whether that is here at our parishes or another parish elsewhere.

If you have any questions at any time, please contact the parish office at 508-673-1123.

WEDDING PLANNING RESOURCES

As outlined above, here are some wedding planning resources that will assist you while planning your wedding at our parishes.

Music Guide: HERE
Readings Selections: HERE
Link to Pre-Cana Registration: HERE