The Marriage Ceremony
When meeting with the priest or deacon who will be celebrating your wedding, you should discuss the readings and other liturgical details.
Please click this to read: Norms for Weddings at the Cathedral Basilica
Time is provided to set up flowers only during the short period (one hour) immediately before the scheduled wedding time.
The Cathedral does not provide decorations or storage, so delivery and removal must be made on the day of the wedding.
An aisle runner and the tossing of genuine flower petals are not allowed at the Cathedral.
Artificial flower petals are allowed.
Candles may not be placed down the aisle or attached to the pews.
Wedding programs/booklets are allowed, but not provided by the Cathedral.
There are 23 pews on each side of the main aisle.
All flower arrangements must be prepared prior to their arrival to the Cathedral.
Remove the flowers immediately. Please assign this duty to someone in your wedding party. We are not responsible for any items left in the Cathedral.
If items have been forgotten, please have someone call the parish office on the Monday after the wedding to arrange pickup.
Florist Guidelines
Please communicate with John Brooks, the Director of Worship, about these details.
Flowers may be delivered and set up in the Cathedral during the one-hour period of set-up before the scheduled wedding time.
The Florist ought to deliver flowers on the east side of the Cathedral to the set of double wooden doors behind Mary's Garden.
Staff will not sign for any items and are not liable for any items.
Catholic liturgy is marked by elegance and simplicity. Most weddings at the Cathedral only use flowers for the bride's & bridesmaids' bouquets.
All parts of the liturgy will conform to the Catholic Church’s standards for divine worship.
Therefore, despite personal preferences, the decisions on what is appropriate for the liturgical celebration will be dependent upon the Director of Sacred Music.
The wedding fee includes the services of a Cathedral organist and cantor. If additional musicians are desired (e.g. trumpet, violin, flute, harp, etc.), arrangements can be made with several musicians who have performed at the Cathedral repeatedly. Their fees will be in addition to the wedding fee and have to be paid directly to the individuals who will be playing at the wedding. All musicians who perform at the Cathedral Basilica need approval from the Director of Sacred Music.
Director of Sacred Music: Joel Trekell
303.839.0210
The bride and her bridesmaids are expected to dress modestly. If the top of your dress is low cut, backless, or strapless, you should wear a shawl or small jacket. The bride's legs above the knee should be covered.
If you have a doubt about whether your dress is appropriate, you may submit a photo and have it approved. If it is not, he will suggest adjustments to bring it up to standard, by either adding fabric or adding a shawl.
Common Rules
Make a list of photos you want and inform those you want in the photos not to leave the Cathedral until photos are taken.
Must be done quickly and quietly, because you are in Church and other services may be in progress.
Posed Photography Times
15 minutes while guests arrive.
30 minutes after the ceremony if the ceremony is not delayed, ceremony must start on time.
Photography Limits
It is prohibited to take photos in the Sanctuary at the high altar.
It is prohibited to walk in the Sanctuary, move any furniture or candleholders.
Prohibited are camera lights, strobe lights, and umbrella lights.
The photographer must remain inconspicuous.
Videography
Videographers may not bring in umbrella lights or other extra equipment aside from when they carry.
The rehearsal is the day prior to the wedding.
For 10am weddings, the rehearsal is 2pm the previous day.
For 1:30pm weddings, the rehearsal is 4pm the previous day.
The rehearsal will take one hour. Please be on time.
The Cathedral Director of Worship will direct the rehearsal. Outside wedding coordinators cannot run the rehearsal at the Cathedral.
The Cathedral does not provide a venue for a wedding reception.
Bridal Room – The bridal room is for the convenience of the bride and her attendants. There is room for the bride to put on her dress, as well as sufficient mirrors for touching up hair and makeup. This room is available for only the one hour immediately preceding the wedding time.
All belongings must be removed before the ceremony begins. We suggest that you have one person remove all items and lock them in the trunk of a car, prior to coming into the Cathedral. Please be in the vestibule ten minutes before the beginning of the wedding.
We do not have a separate room for the groom and his groomsmen.
The Cathedral is not liable for lost or stolen items in the Cathedral proper or any other church area.
Please see our Visiting and Parking page and share it with your guests.
Alcohol or drugs are not allowed in the Cathedral or on the Cathedral grounds.
Rice, glitter, confetti, birdseed, etc. may not be thrown inside or outside the Cathedral.
The sound system is not available for cassette playing or any other electronic device.
The doors to the Cathedral will not be locked during weddings.
Liturgy/song books may not be removed from the pews.