Planning

You, as a couple, will be involved in the planning of your marriage ceremony.  The celebrant will aid you in the selection of readings and in choosing various prayers and blessings.  It is important to remember that your marriage is a Sacrament of God's people, the Church.  In your marriage you are very much in the center of life in the Christian community.  Your wedding ceremony is thus a prayer for and by the entire assembled community and should be regarded as a time of public prayer together.  The planning of your marriage ceremony should thus reflect your faith.

Music

The parish music director is responsible for all music at weddings at Saint Columban Church.  She/he will assist you in the selection of music for your marriage celebration that will be pleasant as well as appropriate for a Christian liturgical celebration.  You need to consult the music director as soon as possible even if you plan to use someone else for music and/or song.  (See Wedding Music Guidelines.)

Readings

You, as a couple, will select the readings for your wedding ceremony.  Usually there will be an Old Testament reading followed by a sung Responsorial Psalm, then a New Testament reading and a Gospel.  During the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Easter, if you are having a marriage celebration within a Mass liturgy, the second reading (New Testament) must be from the readings for the Sunday liturgy.

You may wish to have friends or members of your families proclaim the Old and New Testament readings.  Because this is an important ministry, we encourage you to choose those persons who are capable of proclaiming the Word of God well.  The vocalist or the musician usually cantors the Responsorial Psalm and Gospel Acclamation.  The Gospel that you select will be proclaimed by the celebrant.

Prayer Selection

You will be provided with a book of selections for prayers, for the exchange of your vows, and for the blessings used at your wedding ceremony.  You will be encouraged to make selections from the ones that seem most meaningful for you.

Flowers and Decorations

In the Church, everything should be natural.  Therefore, it is improper to use artificial flowers at the altar.  Saint Columban Church was designed to use a minimum of decorations.  It is the people who make the Church come richly alive.  An excess of flowers or other decorations will make the Church look overdone and spoil the atmosphere of your wedding.  The decoration of the Church may normally begin about one hour before the ceremony.

Since the decor must be returned to the way it was before the ceremony, any flowers, candle holders, etc. that you want to save should be taken with you after the wedding.  At times there may already be proper and sufficient decorations in the Church and additional decorations would be unnecessary.  When two weddings are celebrated on the same day, decorations and their cost may be shared.