WEDDING
GUIDELINES
We want to assist you in every way possible as you make plans
for your wedding day. Please read over these guidelines carefully
so there is no confusion about your use of the Cathedral Church.
Although you have booked a date with the wedding coordinator,
this date is not considered final until the priest or deacon who
will perform the ceremony has agreed to the date, having made
certain that there is adequate time to fulfill all church requirements.
For a couple to be married at the Cathedral, at least one of the
parties must be a Catholic in good standing. If you have been
married previously, the church cannot be reserved until an ecclesiastical
annulment is granted. If you were married in a civil ceremony
and wish to be married in the Church, Diocesan policy requires
a wait of at least a year. You will need to participate in one
of the marriage preparation programs offered by this Diocese or
by your parish church. If you live in another diocese, you should
follow the requirements of that diocese. The priest or deacon
who performs the wedding ceremony has responsibility to ensure
the canonical requirements are met regarding premarital preparation
and the details of the wedding ceremonies itself. You will meet
with the priest several times in order to fulfill all of the requirements
of the Diocese. His sessions will address the spiritual and theological
significance of the Sacrament of Matrimony, as well as issues
specific to your relationship. He will also help you complete
the necessary paperwork.
I. FEES FOR THE USE OF THE CHURCH
a. For those who are ACTIVE, CONTRIBUTING AND REGISTERED
MEMBERS of the Cathedral Parish for at least one year prior to
reserving the Church, the fee is $1,100.00 for the use of the
Church and the BrideÕs Room. The fee for NON-MEMBERS is $1,200.00.
A deposit of one-half the fee is required at the time of booking
the wedding
b. Both fees include the organist, cantor, rehearsal, and sacristan
but does not include the honorarium for the priest or deacon officiating
at the wedding.
c. There will be a $100.00 refund if the Church and BrideÕs Room
are left in good order, cleared of trash, floral boxes, programs,
and if these guidelines are followed. If the organist is not needed
at the rehearsal, there will be a $50.00 refund. The refund will
be mailed at the end of the month of your wedding to the person
who wrote the check for the fee. You will need to let Shawn Hallman,
the Cathedral Secretary know if that address will change after
the wedding.
d. The fee for the Church is due within two weeks of booking the
church. You may pay the entire amount or 1/2 of the fee. The balance
will be due a month before the wedding. Your check should be made
out to the Cathedral of St. Andrew and sent to the church office,
617 Louisiana Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. The wedding date
should be on the check for accounting purposes.
e. THE WEDDING DATE CANNOT BE HELD FOR MORE THAN TWO WEEKS WITHOUT
PAYMENT OF THE FEE. If this is a problem for you, please let the
church office know now. Contact us immediately if your plans change
and you decide not to use the Church. We receive many requests
for dates and need to keep our calendar current. The fee is refundable,
in most circumstances, up to two months before the wedding and
possibly then, depending on the situation and on how promptly
the church is informed.
1.1 FEES FOR THE USE OF MCDONALD HALL
For those who are ACTIVE, CONTRIBUTING AND REGISTERED MEMBERS
of the Cathedral Parish for at least one year prior to reserving
McDonald Hall for a wedding reception, the fee is $450.00. The
fee for NON-MEMBERS is $550.00. Built into these fees is a $150.00
security deposit, which is refundable after the wedding. A deposit
of one-half the fee is required at the time of booking the wedding.
We only allow one event in the Hall on Saturdays so make arrangements
early. The church office will send you the Policies and Contract
for McDonald Hall upon request.
1.2 WEDDING COORDINATOR
a. The Wedding Coordinator for the Cathedral of St. Andrew is
Ruthie McRae. Her home phone number is 663-8798. Her duties include
booking the church for weddings, mailing out the wedding form
and guidelines, answering questions about the wedding, and meeting
with the bride and groom to discuss the use of the Cathedral Church.
However, she will not be at the wedding. You will need to call
and set up a time to meet with Ruthie two or three months before
the wedding. She is available to meet with you between the hours
of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the church office in the rectory
next door to the Cathedral.
b. The Sacristan is Terry Sharp. Terry will open the Church and
the Bride’s Room for the rehearsal and for the wedding.
He also sets up for the wedding and adjusts the lighting.
c. You must call for an appointment with Shawn Hallman, the Cathedral
Secretary, (374-2794) to see the church or McDonald Hall at any
other time.
1.3 MUSIC
a. Phil Bordeleau is the Director of Music and the Cathedral Organist.
He may be reached between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at the Cathedral Office
(374-2794). Phil is available to meet with you to plan the music
for the wedding during office hours. You may want to schedule
meetings with Phil and Ruthie on the same day if you meet during
the week.
b. Enclosed are the Music Guidelines, which should help you understand
the Cathedral’s policy regarding music and may answer questions
about the organ, soloists, cantors, and appropriate times for
music during the service.
1.4 REHEARSALS
a. Rehearsals are usually held on the day before the wedding at
5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., or 7:00 p.m. However, during Lent they will
have to be scheduled earlier because Stations of the Cross are
at 7:00 p.m.
b. The priest or deacon who will witness the wedding conducts
the rehearsal, which takes about an hour.
c. If there is a wedding consultant, please make sure the priest
is aware of this so that there will be no conflicting roles at
the rehearsal. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE BE ON TIME
because we often have more than one rehearsal scheduled.
d. When you come to the church for the rehearsal, you may bring
dresses, programs, etc. to be locked in the Bride’s Room
if your wedding is at 2:00 p.m. or if your 7:00 p.m. wedding is
the only one scheduled that day.
d. When you come to the church for the rehearsal, you may bring
dresses, programs, etc. to be locked in the Bride's Room if your
wedding is at 2:00 p.m. or if your 7:00 p.m. wedding is the only
one scheduled that day.
1.5 ADMITTANCE
a. The Church and Bride’s Room will be opened no earlier
than TWO HOURS BEFORE THE WEDDING. For 2:00 p.m. weddings, the
church will be opened at 12:00 p.m.
b. The Bride’s Room will be opened at 5:00 p.m. for a 7:00
p.m. wedding. There is a 4:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon Mass and
photographs can start as soon as the Mass is over.
c. Enter through the front doors of the Church, turn left, go
up the stairs and across the bridge through the double doors to
get to the Bride’s Room.
d. The groom and groomsmen may wait in the chapel (to the right
of the sanctuary) or in the vestibule of the Church with the ushers.
They should arrive at the church dressed in their wedding attire.
e. The bride and her attendants should come to the church with
their hair and makeup done. There is neither time nor space to
do this at the church.
f. Everyone in the wedding party should arrive at the same time
especially if photographs will be made before the wedding.
1.6 DECORUM IN THE CHURCH
a. Please remember and remind your family and friends who come
for the rehearsal and wedding that proper decorum is expected.
This is a sacred place. You are a guest in the Cathedral and in
the priest’s home. Avoid the use of loud music and foul
language.
b. THE USE OF ALCOHOL IN THE CHURCH IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED AS
IS SMOKING.
c. Chewing gum is not allowed in any church facility.
d. ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD OR DRINK, OTHER THAN WATER, IS ALLOWED IN
THE BRIDE’S ROOM. The nursery, across from the Bride’s
Room, will be open and light snacks are allowed there.
e. All trash must be put in trash bags and the Brides’ Room
and Nursery left as it is found. Any mess or spillage made from
floral arrangements or make-up should be cleaned up immediately!
If not, this could result in the loss of your deposit.
1.7 SECURITY
a. Unfortunately, there are occasionally problems with car break-ins
in the downtown area. If you would like to hire an off-duty police
officer to patrol the parking lot during your wedding, call 379-1533.
SECURITY IS REQUIRED FOR A NIGHT RECEPTION AT MCDONALD HALL.
b. The door to the Bride’s Room can be locked during the
wedding and unlocked afterward by the Sacristan. However, the
attendants should be told not to bring valuables to the church.
c. There should be an usher located in the back of the church
or the vestibule during the wedding to open and close the glass
and outside doors and to watch for any uninvited persons who might
enter the church during the ceremony. Ushers may use the chains
located behind the statue to secure the outside doors of the church.
We strongly suggest that you copy the following information
and give it to the florist, photographer, videographer, and anyone
else involved in the wedding.
1.8 FLOWERS AND CANDLES
Please keep in mind the intrinsic beauty of the interior of the
Cathedral. Excessive use of flowers is not necessary and moderation
is requested during Lent.
a. The church will not be unlocked earlier than two (2) hours
before the wedding. Florists will not be permitted to set up earlier
than two (2) hours before the time of the wedding. Floral arrangements
must not be stored in the vestibule of the church or block any
doors for public access before the wedding.
b. Floral arrangements must not obscure the back Altar, Tabernacle,
or Bishop’s Chair.
c. Candles, candelabra, and unity candles (all supplied by the
florist) are permitted provided that plastic floor coverings are
arranged so as to catch any falling wax. The florist is responsible
for any wax spillage on the carpets.
d. The candles that belong to the church will be lighted by the
Church Sacristan.
e. Aisle decorations must be affixed with plastic clips, wires,
or ribbons. Do not use tape, tacks, nails, or glue on the pews.
f. AISLE RUNNERS ARE NOT PERMITTED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS.
g. PLEASE NOTE: THE DROPPING OF FRESH PETALS IN THE CHURCH AND
THE THROWING OF RICE, BIRD SEED, CONFETTI, ETC., OUTSIDE THE CHURCH
OR MCDONALD HALL IS NOT PERMITTED.
h. The florist or family should remove all decorations immediately
following the ceremony except for the flowers you wish to donate
for use in the church. This includes all flowers, greenery, candles,
and aisle sprays. Everything must be removed from the Bride’s
Room, the nursery, and the church including floral boxes, wrappings,
etc. Items belonging to the florist may be left in the sacristy
and picked up on Monday morning.
1.9 PHOTOGRAPHY
a. Photographs taken during the ceremony must not interfere with
the reverence, dignity, and sacredness of the sacrament of marriage.
b. Flash pictures may be taken before or after the wedding and
during the procession and recession, but not during the wedding
ceremony.
c. Natural light photographs may be discreetly taken from the
balcony or the back of the church. The organ is located in the
balcony so the photographer should be careful not to interfere
with the organist or musicians.
d. The courtyard in back of the rectory may be used for photographs.
If pictures are taken in the church before the wedding, they should
be completed at least one-half hour before the ceremony begins.
1.10
VIDEO RECORDING
Video recording is allowed but must not interfere with the dignity
of the ceremony. The video camera must be stationary and can be
in the transepts (areas at the front sides of the church) or in
the choir loft. The video operator may film from the rear of the
church, but may not walk up and down the aisles. No artificial
lighting is permitted. Set up must be completed thirty minutes
before the wedding.
