MINIMUM NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT: $500

The rental fee for a ceremony includes 4 hours of rental time (2 hours before the wedding, 1 hour

for the wedding, and 1 hour after the wedding). Rental fee also includes one hour of rehearsal

time the night before the wedding, church rental, pastor or deacon, and coordinator. There is

an extra fee for weddings scheduled on holidays. Couples marrying at St. Joseph Old

Cathedral are required to attend one of the offered pre-marriage sessions. Wedding fees must

be paid in full one month before the scheduled date.

MUSIC FEES:

Parishioner:

base rate/visiting musicians not paid by parish: $500 // with choir: $750

Non-parishioner:

base rate/visiting musicians not paid by parish: $500 // with organ: $750 // with choir: $1,000 

MEMBERS

The cost of the church for contributing members is $1,000.00; fees for servers, consultants,

security, and cleaning still apply. Total for members is $1,640.00. To qualify for the discount,

you must be an active, contributing member for at least six months before applying for a

wedding date.

Clergy Stipend: There is no set fee. A priest is not permitted to “charge” for his ministry. It is customary to give the priest a monetary gift for the wedding and the work involved

amenities

● Wedding planning services

● Bride’s dressing area

● Groom's dressing area

● Day of coordination

● Pastor or Deacon included

● One hour rehearsal time the night before the wedding

RESTRICTIONS

● No alcohol or drugs allowed on the premises

● The coordinator must approve all decorations

● No rice, birdseed, glitter, confetti, etc.

● No amplified music

● No vaping or tobacco products

● No kitchen

WEDDING DEPOSIT

A $500 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit is required to save the date. The wedding

coordinator will contact you for an initial visit to assist you with your wedding plans.

PREPARATION

Our ministry at St. Joseph Old Cathedral is to assist you as an engaged couple, not so much for

a wedding day but for a lifetime celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Therefore,

you are encouraged to pray for the graces and strength to respond generously to God’s call to

the vocation of Christian marriage.

INITIAL MEETING WITH A PRIEST OR DEACON ASSIGNED TO ST. JOSEPH OLD CATHEDRAL

Although other ministers may receive permission to witness weddings at St.

Joseph Old Cathedral, it is the duty of the parish-assigned clergy to conduct and supervise the

preparation process, including spiritual formation.

MARRIAGE COUNSELING SESSION

The couple will meet with our staff counselor, complete

a personality inventory and marriage preparation assessment. Please contact the church office

at least 6 months before the wedding to schedule counseling. No cost is involved.

THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

It is recommended for Catholics as part of their

spiritual preparation for Christian marriage. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not celebrated

at the time of the rehearsal or the day of the wedding; however, arrangements for a private

celebration of Reconciliation may be made with your wedding celebrant. Reconciliation is

offered at St. Joseph Old Cathedral Monday through Friday from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and

Saturday & Sunday from 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

WEDDING COORDINATOR

Early in the preparation of the wedding, it is essential to meet with the wedding coordinator of

the parish. They will assist you in meeting any staff members involved in the wedding. While

many couples have a “wedding consultant/planner,” it is essential to note that it is the wedding

coordinator of this parish who will be responsible for all things liturgical, in conjunction with

the celebrant, for planning, rehearsal and the wedding celebration.

The wedding party will be allowed access to the church two hours before your wedding. Please

keep this in mind when making arrangements with your florist, photographer and

videographer. The coordinator will show you to the designated bride and groom dressing

areas. The bride must be at the church one hour before the start of the wedding for the

ceremony to take place.

THE WEDDING LITURGY

The liturgy of Christian marriage is a moment of joy and celebration. In planning, keep in

mind that the ceremony is first and foremost a moment of prayer for all who are present. All

aspects of the celebration should reflect the noble simplicity befitting Christian worship.

Whether the ceremony is celebrated with or without Mass, the liturgy will be discussed and

planned with your celebrant. The wedding coordinator will provide you with a booklet to help

you decide what readings and vows to use during the wedding celebration. Non-scripture

passages are not allowed in the place of scripture. Please remember that this is also a parish

celebration, as well as a celebration of the couple. Couples being married at the 6:00 p.m.

service will be required to use the readings of the day; one marriage reading may be

substituted.

MINISTERS OF THE CELEBRATION

The Church considers the couple that is marrying as Ordinary Ministers of the Sacrament.

The Law of the Church is specific with regard to the couple’s eligibility to celebrate this

Sacrament of the Church; the priest/deacon is the chief witness on the part of the Church of

this Holy Sacrament, attests that all is in order. Along with you and your celebrant, others will

take part in this moment of prayer and commitment. The Best Man and Maid of Honor are in

attendance as personal witnesses. Members of your wedding party, usually ushers, will greet

the guests in a spirit of hospitality and welcome. The Director of Music at St. Joseph Old

Cathedral will provide a musical setting that respects the dignity of this moment. Beyond

these ministries, we ask you to consider individuals who might function in the following

memorable roles in your wedding:

LECTORS

Whether or not your celebration takes place in the context of a Mass, the proclamation of

God’s Word in the Scriptures is an integral part of the wedding celebration. It is the desire of

the church that lectors be Catholic. You may select one or two individuals, depending on the

number of chosen readings, to proclaim God’s Word to the community gathered. Those whom

you select should first and foremost be persons of faith who actively participate in the liturgy

of their church. They must show reverence, pronounce the readings with effective intonation,

and wear respectful clothing.

COMMUNION MINISTERS

Only those commissioned by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City as Communion ministers may

serve at the nuptial mass.

ALTAR SERVERS

The altar servers are called upon to assist the priest/deacon in the liturgical celebration of the

sacrament. If the couple wants to have a family member or friend serve, permission must be

secured from the pastor/administrator of the parish. One adult server from this parish will be

at the service to oversee the servers.

GIFT BEARERS (optional)

For those who choose to celebrate Mass, you may select two people to bring forward the gifts

of bread and wine, which will be placed upon the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Again,

those you select should be active practicing Christians to act as gift bearers.

FLOWERS TO MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD

It is customary (but not required) for the bride and groom to ask for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary as they begin their married life. At the appropriate time, they will go to the statue of Mary and present flowers while a Marian hymn is sung.

This is a gesture of prayer and petition that usually takes place toward the end of the wedding

celebration. The newly married couple (never the bride alone) asks Mary, as Mother of the

Church and a model of discipleship, to remember them in her unceasing prayers. Flowers can

be placed on the riser at the Mary altar, but not directly on the altar.

DECORUM IN THE HOUSE OF GOD

Because we revere the place in which the community of the Church gathers for worship, we ask

that your friends and relatives, particularly the wedding party, be aware of the sacredness of

the church building. In each Catholic Church, the Sacrament of the Lord’s Body is reserved in

the tabernacle. For these reasons, we ask that all who enter the church at any time, whether

before, during, or after the rehearsal or during the wedding celebration itself, observe these

basic principles: Silence, respect and reverence while in the church; no food, drink or chewing

gum. No alcoholic beverages, drugs, tobacco or vaping products on the church grounds,

including the parking lots and street.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

All clothing and personal items must be removed from the church property upon completion

of the wedding. Uninvited guest(s) should be reported immediately to facility maintenance. It

is the renter’s responsibility to discreetly screen guests. An hourly fee will be assessed for any

time requested outside the parameters of the Agreement. THERE IS A $500 CHARGE FOR

EACH ADDITIONAL HOUR BEYOND THE STIPULATED TIME (2 HOURS BEFORE THE

SERVICE, 1 HOUR SERVICE AND 1 HOUR AFTER).

THE PARISH HALL IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL OR USE FOR RECEPTION AT THIS

TIME.

FLOWERS/DECORATIONS

The beauty of weddings essentially exists in the exchange of vows and rings at the altar of the Lord. Decorations should not distract or overpower these sacred symbols. All flower arrangements and decorations must be coordinated and approved by the

sacristan/coordinator in accordance with the church guidelines. Bows and fresh flowers may

be used on the pews. Please have your florist check with the coordinator about the types of

clips to be used. Fresh flowers are allowed in the Sanctuary on the pedestals near the Blessed

Sacrament and by the St. Joseph or Marian Altars. No silk or artificial flowers are ever to be

used.  No decoration is to be used that will obscure the line of vision in the church, or damage in any way the furnishings of the church. No tacks, nails, or other items that damage wall or furniture should be used.

The following restrictions are applied to all weddings

• An aisle cloth is not allowed.
• Flower petals may not be dropped within the church or chapel and flower girls are not permitted to hand out flowers while walking down the aisle.
• Rice, birdseed, balloons, confetti, bubbles, or sparklers are not permitted on the church premises.

Flowers

Flowers should contribute to the aesthetic beauty of the church, not detract from it. The proper placement of flowers may be discussed with the parish wedding coordinator. Only live flowers are permitted in the sanctuary.

Candles

Hurricane lamps and rented candelabras are not permitted. Candles are not allowed on the pews, or in the aisle.

PICTURES & VIDEOGRAPHER

We do understand the importance of photographs and videos for your personal keepsakes, but

we also request that the sanctity of the ceremony be maintained. The videographer and the

photographer are guests in the Cathedral and are asked to comply with the rules of the church.

There should be no cameras in the back sanctuary and absolutely NO CROSSING IN FRONT

OF THE HOLY SACRAMENT at any time to take a photograph. Please inform your

videographer and photographer. There is a 4:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday evenings. If a wedding

is scheduled at 6:00 p.m., please keep this in mind when planning your pre-wedding photos.

Allowing photographers/videographers in the choir loft is only permitted with prior approval.

If allowed, they must not obstruct the view of the organist, soloists or instrumentalists. There

is a 1-HOUR TIME LIMIT FOR PHOTOS AFTER THE WEDDING. Please keep within this

time frame and please keep noise to a minimum.

It is very important when choosing a photographer and videographer for your wedding that you make them aware of these guidelines. If the photographer or videographer has any questions, please contact the parish wedding coordinator.

During the ceremony, flash pictures may be taken when the wedding procession enters the church. Flash photography is not allowed once the bride and groom have entered the sanctuary and until the ceremony is over.

Photographers and videographers are not permitted to roam throughout the church during the wedding ceremony. He or she can position at the back of the church during the ceremony. Photos may be taken in the church before and after the wedding ceremony, except in the case of a Saturday evening wedding. Photos taken before the wedding will end 30 minutes before the start of the wedding.

Video cameras must be placed on a tripod. The tripod can be placed in the back aisle leaving enough room for the wedding party to move down the aisle or on one of the side aisles. The cameraperson cannot walk around the church or in the sanctuary during the ceremony. The cameraperson cannot lie in the aisles or stand in the pews.

When the ceremony is over, the Wedding Coordinator will bring the wedding party around to the sanctuary so the photographer can take additional photos. After the marriage license is signed, a photo of the couple with the priest should come first

MUSIC

Music is a vital part of the celebration of marriage. In keeping the reverent, grace-filled

celebration, music of a secular nature is not allowed. A wedding is a celebration of the

Church’s sacrament, a list of permitted music will be provided to you by the organist.

If you wish to use a soloist other than the cantor provided by this parish, please speak with

your consultant so that arrangements may be made with the soloist and organist. The organist

is available to practice with outside soloists one hour before the wedding: this is included in

the prearranged fee. Any other times for practice will have to be arranged with the organist.

The Church is clear in prohibiting of pre-recorded music and is never to be used.

All music before and during the ceremony must reflect the reverence and dignity of the occasion, intensify the Christian meaning of the liturgical service and dignify and enhance the sacredness of the liturgy. Keep in mind that the architecture of our parish church lends itself to more traditional styles of music.

The following may not be used:

• Any music that is purely secular in nature and, as such, neglects the sacred union of the couple, not only to one another, but also to Christ
• Popular, operatic or Broadway musical favorites which merely recall sentimental and personal associations; such music should be reserved for the wedding reception
• No pre-recorded music.

Contact Clint Davis, Director of Music at St. Joseph Old Cathedral at music@sjocokc.org

MUSIC FEES

Music fees are separate and will be paid directly to the organist, soloist, and any other musicians participating in the service. The cost

for the organist $300.00 and Cantor $175.00. There is a $200 deposit that is nonrefundable; it

will be applied to the final payment. The balance of the fee is DUE SIX WEEKS before the

wedding date. Wedding fees are NOT REFUNDABLE within 30 days of the wedding.

ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, TOBACCO, VAPES,

NARCOTICS, DRUGS OF ANY KIND ARE ALLOWED ON CHURCH

PROPERTY

A wedding is a Sacrament of the Catholic Church and is to be entered under free will. If you

have been drinking and/or impaired, under the influence of any substance, it is not considered

free will. If there is any violation of this particular Tenet, the celebrant of the wedding will be

notified and the wedding will not take place.

THIS MEANS ALL SUBSTANCES AND APPLIES TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE WEDDING

PARTY.

● No food or drinks are ever allowed inside the church, this includes water.

● Hurricane lamps on pews or pew candles are not allowed.

● Nothing is to be thrown in or outside the church. No rice, bird seed, confetti

(biodegradable or not), marshmallows, bubbles, sparklers, etc. NO EXCEPTIONS

● No flower petals are allowed to be dropped down the aisle.

● No aisle runners are allowed at the cathedral.

● No unity candles are to be allowed at St. Joseph Old Cathedral.

● No silk or artificial flowers.

● No flowers are allowed on the Altar.

● No pre-recorded music.

● No amplified music.

● Horseplay, running in the church, whistling, etc., will not be tolerated.

● Noise must be kept to a minimum, as the Holy Sacrament is housed here.

We remind you that you are a guest at St. Joseph Old Cathedral. The volunteers and workers

are not to be abused, either verbally or otherwise. Please use the trash cans provided in the

dressing rooms for all trash. Please ask your consultant/coordinator for any help or questions

concerning the planning of your wedding ceremony. We wish you a joyous and blessed event.

Please Note: By submitting your deposit and scheduling your wedding, you acknowledge that

you have read, understood, and agree to comply with all provided policies and requirements,

including the timely submission of all necessary documentation.

WEDDING GUIDELINES

The Rite of Marriage

Your wedding at St. Joseph’s will be dignified and sacred. All members of the wedding party, family and guests must contribute to the sacredness of the ceremony by their appropriate behavior. Therefore, the drinking of alcohol before the wedding is strictly prohibited. Any violation of this can lead to the cancelation of your wedding.

All weddings at St. Joseph’s parish follow the ritual guidelines of the Roman Catholic Church—no exceptions.

The Church provides two options for the wedding ceremony:

• the Nuptial Mass
• the Sacrament of Marriage outside of Mass.

It is highly recommended that Catholic couples select the Nuptial Mass for their wedding ceremony.

The Wedding Party

• There is no limit to the number of bridesmaids and groomsmen you can have for your wedding.
• Two witnesses (a Best Man and a Maid/Matron of Honor) are required by Oklahoma Law and the Catholic Church for a marriage to be valid.
• Witnesses must be 18 or over.
• Groomsmen will assist ushers (if applicable) in seating guests before the wedding.

Flower Girls and Ring Bearers
It is preferred that flower girls and ring bearers chosen for your wedding be age appropriate, in other words, they should old enough to walk down the aisle by themselves.