Marriage

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CRITERIA FOR BEING MARRIED IN THE CATHEDRAL OR SACRED HEART CHURCH

To be married in the Cathedral the following criteria are essential: -

·         At least one party must be a Catholic.

·         Both parties must be 18 years of age or over.

·         Both parties must not have been married previously.  If married previously, a Letter of   Freedom or evidence of a Catholic Church Annulment is required.

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NOTICE OF MARRIAGE

The Cathedral requires at least three to four (3 – 4) months’ and up to eighteen (18) months’ notice before your Nuptial Service or Nuptial Mass is to be celebrated.

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CELEBRANT

Any Catholic priest or deacon registered as a Marriage Celebrant in the Archdiocese of Hobart or another Diocese of Australia may officiate.  Please include his name and address on your agreement form.

You may invite your own Parish Priest or Priest friend to officiate.  Alternatively, the Administrator or one of the priests stationed in the Cathedral Parish would be happy to officiate at your wedding.

Your Marriage Celebrant acts on behalf of the Commonwealth and the Church is responsible for the following:

MARRIAGE PAPERS/DOCUMENTS

Your priest will require copies of your Birth and Baptism Certificates and will complete all the documentation with you.  It is important to contact him promptly as “The Notice of Intended Marriage” must be completed not more than eighteen (18) months and not less than one (1) month before the marriage.

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NUPTIAL SERVICE OR NUPTIAL MASS?

This is a Faith issue which you need to discuss with your priest before making a final decision.

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MARRIAGE PREPARATION PROGRAMS

These programs are designed to open up many issues which contribute to a successful and happy marriage.   You will be provided with a brochure at the time of booking.

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WEDDING BOOKLET (ORDER OF SERVICE)

Your priest will guide you in the selection of prayers and scripture readings.  Since a Nuptial Service or Nuptial Mass is the official Liturgy of the Church, it must be in accord with “The Rite of Marriage” approved for use in Australia.

Before printing your wedding ceremony booklet, it must be submitted to your priest celebrant for approval.

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WEDDING TIMES AT THE CATHEDRAL

St Mary’s Cathedral and Sacred Heart Church are available for weddings throughout the year with the exception of the Easter Triduum and during Sunday and weekday Masses.  The Cathedral can accommodate approximately 600 guests and Sacred Heart Church approximately 200.  Weddings are generally celebrated on Saturdays at 2 or 4pm.

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STARTING TIME OF THE NUPTIAL SERVICE OR NUPTIAL MASS

Normally, the Cathedral is heavily booked for weddings.  Please appreciate that your wedding may not be the only one in the Cathedral for that day.  Hence, all marriage ceremonies must start at the time for which they are booked.  Therefore it is expected that the bride arrive at the Cathedral ten minutes before the booked time of the wedding ceremony.  It takes at least ten (10) minutes to leave the car, have a photograph taken, enter the porch and see to final details of dress, hair, veil etc.

Late arrival of the bride (more than ten minutes) is unacceptable and can cause serious inconvenience to our staff, your guests and the next Wedding Party.  Late arrivals may result in musicians being unable to provide services for your Wedding and a shortened ceremony.

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FEES

As a guide for you as to what is appropriate, the present fee for completion of the various papers and Celebrant of a Civil Marriage can be in excess of $500.   There is no set fee for the priest but an appropriate fee offering should be made with approximately $250 as a minimum.  This needs to be given to the Priest at your rehearsal.

Cathedral Fee                   

$700       November to April

$600           May to October

Sacred Heart Church Fee             

$450   November to April

$350   May to October

The fee includes:

·         Use of the Cathedral/Church  for one and a half (1 ½) hours for your wedding.

·         Flowers already placed in the Churches in preparation for weekend Masses.

          Depending on the season, floral arrangements may vary and during Lent there are none.

·         You may use our white satin pew bows.

·         Wedding rehearsal for one and a half (1 ½ ) hours.

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PAYMENT OF FEES

A deposit of 50% within two (2) weeks of a tentative booking being made.

The full balance of the Fee must be paid no later than three months prior to your Wedding.   Cheques are to be made payable to ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL PARISH.  You may also pay via bank transfer using your surname followed by ‘wedding’ on the deposit to:

St Mary’s Cathedral

BSB        067000

Acc #     10315740

 

On receipt of payment of the deposit, we will then confirm your Wedding Booking.

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CANCELLATIONS

Please notify the Cathedral Office on 6234 4463 as soon as possible if you cancel your wedding arrangements.  All fees are refundable, except a booking fee of $150.

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WEDDING MUSIC OPTIONS

There are restrictions concerning music for weddings in the Cathedral/Church. 

Secular or concert music is not permitted.  During the penitential season of Lent (i.e. from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday) in accordance with Church regulations, only music appropriate to that liturgical season may be used.

One or more of the following options are available for a Nuptial Service or Nuptial Mass in the Cathedral/Church:-

·         Cathedral Organist (You can obtain the details from the priest or Office Manager)

·         String Trio or Quartet

·         Singers - Soloist    (You can obtain the details from the priest or Office Manager

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Recorded music, tapes or CDs, are sometimes allowed, subject to agreement by the Administrator, and you may bring your audio device or CD player and should assign someone to operate them.  

                                      

CONFETTI ETC

The throwing of confetti, rice, almonds, flower petals etc is not permitted both inside and outside the Churches – this is in accordance with the Litter Act and Regulations 1979-1988 and penalties apply.

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PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEO OPERATOR

One professional photographer and one professional video camera operator may take formal photographs in the Cathedral/Church.

They must agree to follow standard Church practice to be discreet and not enter the sanctuary area during the ceremony or cross from side to side distracting the congregation.  They should not move around excessively.  Artificial lighting is not permitted in the Cathedral/Church.

Both photographer and video operator must report to the Celebrant before the wedding ceremony.

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LIMOUSINES AND WEDDING CARS

We welcome the use of Limousines and wedding cars for weddings however please be aware if a Super Stretch Limousine is used there may be an issue negotiating our driveways.

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WEDDING CEREMONY REHEARSALS

If you wish to have a rehearsal of your Nuptial Service or Nuptial Mass in the Cathedral/Church, it is necessary to book for this.  The only times available for wedding rehearsals are generally as follows:-

Tuesday to Friday for one and a half hours only.

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BOOKING THE CATHEDRAL OR CHURCH FOR YOUR WEDDING

Once you have decided to book your wedding you need to contact the Cathedral Parish on 6234 4463 to check if the date you require is free.

Bookings are only accepted from the bride or the groom.  A tentative booking will be taken and held until the deposit is forwarded or for a maximum of fourteen (14) days.  If after fourteen (14) days your booking fee has not been received your tentative booking will be cancelled.

It is possible, however, to transfer or change your date and time.

After you have made a tentative booking, you will receive and agreement form (by email) for completion and return.

·         An acknowledgement letter from the Administrator

·         Agreement Form

If you are happy to adhere to the regulations and requirements of weddings in our parish as outlined in this Booklet, you should complete and sign the Agreement Form and return this with your deposit.  On receipt of your deposit an Agreement Form will be emailed to you from the Administrator, along with the details of your marriage preparation class.

Thank you for considering St. Mary’s Cathedral or Sacred Heart Church for your wedding and we wish you well with your preparations for your marriage.

Please note this information is correct at the time of publication but is subject to change. (2016)

 

CATHEDRAL CENTRE HIRE

Please note you may wish to consider hiring the attractive, spacious Ground Floor area of the adjoining Cathedral Centre for guests to mingle between the wedding and your reception.  Please contact the Cathedral Office re pricing.

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