All couples being married at The Cathedral must participate in pre-marital counseling. This is normally done through the Diocese of Providence. Information is available at the Cathedral office (401)331-2434.

The ceremony we provide is both joyful and reverent as befits this important step in your lives. Several options within the Wedding service can be discussed with the officiating Priest. Examples are: A family member or friend may read one of the readings, or prayers of the faithful. Family member or friends may present the offertory gifts. All options must be discussed with and approved by the officiating Priest. Due to time constraints, there are to be no receiving lines at the Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul.

The Following policies regarding the use of flowers and other decorations in the Cathedral are based on safety, common sense and courtesy with the goal of preserving the inherent beauty of the sanctuary and promoting the sacred service that we consider each wedding ceremony to be. We ask that wedding parties and there florists keep these guidelines in mind when planning for floral arrangements.

Floral arrangements may not be placed on the altar or in any areas where accessibility is required. Several options for placements of flowers include, in front of the main altar, on the high mass altar or in front of the pulpit. Feel free to ask any Cathedral staff member for assistance with floral arrangement placement.

The use of a unity candle as part of the wedding ceremony is permitted with the celebrants approval. It must be provided by you or your florist and be placed on the table that the Cathedral will provide in the sanctuary in front of the pulpit. The florist must protect all surfaces from wax.

Pew markers such as bows or candles (must be enclosed in glass) are permitted and must be attached with a floral/pew clip over the top of the pew or tied on to the pew with a ribbon. No pins, nails, tape, glue or other adhesives are permitted.

All items brought in by the florist, decorator or wedding party must be removed immediately following the post-wedding pictures. The church is not responsible for items not removed and has no place to store them. The florist is accountable for any damaged caused to the church. Floral arrangements from your wedding may be donated to the church for use in our Sunday worship services.

Anything deemed to be a hazard to the wedding party, their guests, or the environment may not be used in the church or outside he church. The tossing of rice or birdseed as well as releasing balloons or birds is not permitted.

Weddings can be held in a variety of settings, but the choice of the Cathedral has some distinct implications. We consider the ceremony to be a sacred service where the bride and groom pledge themselves to one another in the presence of God. Our policies regarding photography and videography, both amateur and professional, emerge from this conviction. The bride and groom are required to read these policies and to provide a written copy to their photographer and videographer. Any questions may be directed to the Church Staff.

  Failure to comply with these policies can result in the ceremony being interrupted and/or a request for the disruptive
  party asked to leave.

You need to notify all members of the wedding party of the date and time of the rehearsal. One hour is set aside for your rehearsal and will be conducted by a Cathedral staff member. The rehearsal is vital to ensure that the ceremony goes smoothly. It is crucial that the entire wedding party be present and on time. We urge you to plan to arrive 15 minutes ahead. If an outside wedding planner is involved, that person is required attend the rehearsal, as well.

The sacred nature of Christian marriage must be reflected in the music you choose as a part of your wedding service. The music should be both joyful and worshipful. The texts of any special music you select need to express more than the love of one person for another, just as Christian marriage involves more than the affirmation of human love. Varying styles of musical setting are acceptable. The music, that it might be consistent with our Christian understanding of marriage, must be scriptural, or be prayerful, or be a blessing sung as a benediction. From prelude to postlude, music needs to be dignified and worshipful. The Cathedral organist is expected to play for all weddings and our soloist must be used as well. You may speak to the cathedral rector about additional instrumentalist. Employing instrumentalists expands choices of processional music. Please plan to meet with the Cathedral organist at least 8-10 weeks prior to the wedding.

We recommend you begin arranging for your license at least one month before the wedding. Please bring the license wedding rehearsal.

The Church will be open one (1) hour prior to the scheduled wedding time. Please arrange with your florist, photographer and/or videographer to arrive accordingly. The building will be closed one (1) hour following the conclusion of the wedding service.

All ushers should arrive ready for duty at least thirty (30) minutes prior to the wedding or at the designated time for pictures to be taken prior to the ceremony. It is good church custom for the usher to precede those being ushered, rather than to have the lady take his arm. However, you may choose whatever custom you desire. It is not necessary to ask those entering if they are "friends of the bride" or "friends of the groom." (The night of rehearsal, ushers will be instructed to watch to the best of their ability to see that there are an even number of guests on each side of the church.) There are places designated for the immediate members of the families, but for all others, there is no special "side."

Thirty (30) minutes prior to the scheduled wedding time, the Bride and all attendants, the groom, best man and groomsmen must be in their reserved area(s) for the start of the ceremony. Twenty (20) minutes prior to the start of the service, the parents and grandparents of the Bride and Groom will be asked to wait in the narthex (foyer area) for seating or further instruction. We request that children, participating in the wedding service be at least five (5) years old. Generally, only the bride, groom, maid of honor, best man and clergy go inside the chancel (altar)area for the remainder of the service. The remaining attendants stand where rehearsed near the altar area and steps.

Please be sure that the wedding party arrives on time as there may be other services that immediately follow at the Cathedral.

In addition, there is to be no alcohol/illegal drugs consumption prior to your rehearsal or wedding service. A member of the wedding party will be excused from participation if alcohol or drugs are detected on the person prior to the Wedding service. The Wedding will be canceled immediately when alcohol or illegal drugs are detected on the bride or groom prior to the wedding service.

The Bride and Groom are responsible for seeing that all members of the wedding party and any outside contracted persons are aware of these policies. Any church property damaged or destroyed becomes the full replacement responsibility of the bride and groom. The Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul and its staff reserves the right to modify these policies at any time. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to call the parish office and ask to speak to someone regarding your concerns.