| WEDDINGS AT OLD ST. MARY'S |
| Preparation | Ceremony | Documents | FAQs | General information Music | Floral | Guest Lodging | Contact |
| Congratulations on your engagement! The parish and staff of Old St. Mary's Church joyfully welcome you as you prepare for the Sacrament of Matrimony. The love you have privately come to realize and share will now be made public through a sacred sacrament. We join in the support of family and friends as you undertake a new way of life. The purpose of this guide is to provide you with insights and information which will help to make your wedding day a happy and holy event. It details the various steps that are important as you prepare for the Sacrament of Matrimony. One of the parish priests or a deacon will assist you in the preparatory steps which will lead to your wedding day. You will also meet with Old St. Mary's director of music to plan all of the music for your wedding. We assure you of our continued support, help and prayers. If we may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. The Parish Staff |
Marriage Preparation
Engagement and preparation for a marriage is both a time of great joy...and a time of great stress. Often it will
be the most peripheral details which might cause the greatest stress between the couple and their families
and friends. The most important thing you can do is set the tone for your marriage, with concentration on what
is truly important, the religious expression, in God, of your love. Keeping this central will help keep everything
else in perspective.
Pre-Marriage Preparation is required. Two of the most popular options available are Pre-Cana and the
Discovery Weekend. Pre-Cana sessions are scheduled as one day-experiences on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to
4:30 PM at many sites throughout Lake and Cook counties. All couples have found these of value.
The Discovery Weekend experience is usually held at a retreat house. Like the Pre-Cana Program, it is led by
married couples and a priest. Because it is a full weekend, it affords a greater opportunity for sharing,
reflecting and developing a view of married life that can extend beyond the wedding day.
The parish priest or deacon assisting you will provide the schedule for these programs. You may also find the
schedule online at www.familyministries.org, or call the Archdiocesan Family Ministries Office at 312.751.8351.
The priest or deacon will also help a couple complete a pre-marriage survey to help the couple identify areas
for further discussion before the important commitment of marriage.
The Wedding Ceremony
The bride and groom are the center of the wedding ceremony; according to Catholic understanding, they are
the principal celebrants of the marriage. Everything should be planned so that the witness of the bridal couple
to God's love can be acknowledged and appreciated by all.
We urge that the number of people in the wedding party be kept simple. The two witnesses to the marriage
(traditionally known as the Best Man and Maid of Honor) are essential to the wedding. Others may be involved
in the wedding in a variety of ways: reading the scriptures, serving as Eucharistic Ministers (if they have been
trained), bringing up the offertory gifts of bread and wine, or helping to seat the wedding guests.
Required Documents
1. A Baptism certificate dated within six months of the wedding is to be submitted by each Catholic person. In
an interfaith marriage, a baptized non-Catholic is also asked to present a record of Baptism, if that is possible.
2. A recently issued Confirmation certificate is requested if this information is not included in the notations on
the back of the Catholic Baptism certificate.
3. Two affidavits affirming each person’s freedom to marry may be required, in some cases. The consulting
priest will advise.
4. The attendance certificate presented at the completion of the Pre-Marriage Preparation is to be kept on file at
Old St. Mary’s Church with the other marriage documents.
5. A marriage license from Cook County, Illinois is required and is to be presented to the Old St. Mary’s Church
priest or deacon at the time of the rehearsal. Currently a Cook County license is valid for sixty days from the
date of issue, and must be obtained at least one day prior to the wedding. For information on obtaining a
marriage license, including locations and hours, see Cook County's marriage page, here or phone
312.603.5664.
6. Because every couple is unique, there are some cases where other documents may be required. The
consulting priest will assist in this regard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who may be married at Old St. Mary’s?
A. The common practice for marriages in the Catholic Church is that the wedding should take place in either
the parish of the bride or of the groom. If either you or your fiance lives within the boundaries of Old St. Mary’s
parish (from the Chicago river to the north and west, 18th Street to the south, and Lake Michigan to the east), or
if one or the other of you lives outside the parish boundaries, but is a registered parishioner and regularly
attends Mass here, then the wedding can take place here.
Q. What if neither of us belongs to Old St. Mary’s parish?
A. Unfortunately we are not able to accommodate requests for weddings to take place at Old St. Mary Church if
you are not a parishioner and resident of the South Loop.
Q. What if I don’t have a parish? I’m not registered anywhere and don’t go to any one particular church.
A. Every Catholic has a parish by virtue of one’s residence, and that parish has responsibility toward all who
live within its boundaries. Wherever you or your fiance live, you live within the territorial bounds of a parish. It is
usually the Catholic church closest to where you live.
Q. How soon must plans be made for our wedding?
A. Following the marriage guidelines of the Archdiocese of Chicago, arrangements for your wedding should be
made at least four months in advance. This is necessary to allow sufficient time to complete
pre-marriage requirements and to take care of the details of planning the marriage ceremony.
Q. What sort of liturgy should be planned?
A. Generally, if both parties are active Catholics, marriage should be celebrated during Mass. Receiving Holy
Communion expresses more deeply the unity of the couple. In weddings where the two parties are of different
faiths, or where large numbers of expected guests are not Catholic, we encourage use of the Rite for
Celebrating Marriage Outside Mass (i.e., without communion).
Q. What type of readings should be used and whom should we ask to read?
A. A broad selection of readings from scripture which you may find appropriate for your celebration can be
found in the Together for Life workbook which your presider will provide you. When selecting readers for your
ceremony, we ask that you choose those who have been trained with the church as lectors, or who would
otherwise be competent and comfortable proclaiming the Holy Scriptures.
General Information
1. No date will be set for a wedding without a personal interview between the couple and one of the
priests/deacons.
2. For couples preparing at Old St. Mary's, the documents should be presented and the nuptial questionnaire
be completed at least four months before the wedding. It is the couple's responsibility to schedule an
appointment with the consulting priest to complete this questionnaire. If the couple is being prepared at
another parish, we must have the paperwork at least four weeks before the wedding. If a visiting priest is to
witness the ceremony, he is normally responsible for completing the paperwork and conducting the rehearsal.
3. With the volume of weddings and religious services in our church, it is necessary that the rehearsal (45
minutes) and the wedding (one hour) start and end on time. Weddings can be scheduled on Saturdays at 10
AM, 2 PM and 7:30 PM, and also during the week.
4. An offering to Old St. Mary's Church is expected. We suggest a donation of $500 to cover building and staff
costs. A non-refundable deposit of $200 is required to reserve a wedding date on the Church calendar; this
should be given as early in the process as possible. This donation does not include music fees.
5. All wedding music is planned in consultation with our director of music. Note that, since we follow The
National Association of Pastoral Musicians Guidelines, if a visiting organist is granted permission to play, the
music director’s fees are still to be paid. Please refer to the WEDDING MUSIC SECTION for further information
about the fees for the musicians.
6. You will plan your wedding liturgy with both the priest and the parish director of music. Please note: This
meeting needs to occur prior to contacting any musician or soloist.
7. Arrangements for flowers are to be made by the bride and groom with the florist of your choice. We urge
couples to be very sparing in their use of flowers. The church building is, itself, beautiful and the congregation
wants to see the bridal party and not a floral show. Please refer to the FLORIST guidelines below.
8. Arrangements for photographs are to be made by the bride and groom with the studio of your choice.
Photographers/videographers should be instructed not to interfere with the wedding service. They should
stand at the back and to the side, well out of the sightlines of the congregation. No stationary lights are
permitted and photographers should use the available light of the church as much as possible.
Videographers may not roam during the service.
9. The church is not equipped with a bridal room, so it is best that the bride, groom and wedding party arrive
prepared. There are bathrooms in the foyer.
10. Old St. Mary’s Church has a seating capacity for 700. The Chapel, which has a seating capacity of 25, is
also available for weddings.
11. Out of respect for the church building, which is a sacred space, and out of respect for others who will be
using this space after the wedding, we ask that no rice, birdseed, confetti or balloons be used inside or
outside the church. If a Unity Candle is desired, the church will supply the candle(s) and pedestal. Before and
during the service, the wedding party and their guests shall behave appropriately, refraining from bringing food
or alcohol onto Church property.
11. If a private wedding consultant is employed, please communicate this information to your consultant. It is
good to keep in mind that the priest or deacon will be conducting the rehearsal and officiating the ceremony
with the advice of the bride and groom only. Again, we urge couples to keep plans for the wedding simple so
that the impact of the Sacrament can be experienced by all.
Music for your Wedding
Planning: We ask all couples being married at Old St. Mary’s Church to call Mr. Chuck Kessell, the director of
music, at 312.922.3444 x 20. Please call him at least six weeks before the wedding to schedule a wedding
music consultation appointment. It is helpful if you have reviewed and chosen your scripture readings,
especially the responsorial psalm. Chuck Kessell is the organist and musical advisor who will guide you
through the music selection process. Any questions regarding the suitability of wedding music selections will
be decided by him.
Vocalists: It is our policy that a cantor be engaged for each wedding. The cantor is the vocal soloist and leads
the congregational singing. Chuck Kessell will secure the services of a cantor for your wedding. It is important
that a cantor from Old St. Mary’s Church participate in your wedding because of their high level of skill,
familiarity with the liturgy, experience in the church space, and ongoing working relationship with our staff and
clergy.
Instrumentalists: Additional instrumentalists (trumpets, violins, etc.) are often desired as part of the wedding
music. Chuck Kessell knows local instrumentalists who are superbly skilled and experienced in working at
Old St. Mary’s Church. He will engage these musicians for you after your wedding music planning meeting. It
is our policy that instrumentalists for Old St. Mary’s Church weddings be engaged through Chuck Kessell.
Fees: Organist $200; Cantor $150; Priest (love offering) $100. (Note: These are base fees which include the
consultation, preparation and performance of the wedding liturgy. The music director will inform you of the
exact amount of music fees at your meeting.)
Pre-Recorded Music: The use of pre-recorded music is NEVER permitted in Old St. Mary’s Church liturgy.
Guidelines for the Florist
The following guidelines are to be followed by all florists who service Old St. Mary’s Church.
No floral arrangements, candles, hurricane lamps, trellises, canopies, ribbons or any other decorations are
allowed in the aisles or on the pews. Decorations should be focused in the sanctuary.
Floral arrangements in the sanctuary are not to block the liturgical movements. Also note that additional floral
arrangements may interfere with video taping.
Flowers are not to be placed on the altar.
Deliveries and decorations can be done starting one hour before the wedding time, or at another time to be
arranged with the priest.
Contact Information
Old St. Mary’s Church
1500 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: 312.922.3444
Fax: 312.922.3447
E-mail:Marywolf@oldstmarys.com
Parish Office Hours
Monday-Friday
9 AM to 4 PM
Engagement and preparation for a marriage is both a time of great joy...and a time of great stress. Often it will
be the most peripheral details which might cause the greatest stress between the couple and their families
and friends. The most important thing you can do is set the tone for your marriage, with concentration on what
is truly important, the religious expression, in God, of your love. Keeping this central will help keep everything
else in perspective.
Pre-Marriage Preparation is required. Two of the most popular options available are Pre-Cana and the
Discovery Weekend. Pre-Cana sessions are scheduled as one day-experiences on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to
4:30 PM at many sites throughout Lake and Cook counties. All couples have found these of value.
The Discovery Weekend experience is usually held at a retreat house. Like the Pre-Cana Program, it is led by
married couples and a priest. Because it is a full weekend, it affords a greater opportunity for sharing,
reflecting and developing a view of married life that can extend beyond the wedding day.
The parish priest or deacon assisting you will provide the schedule for these programs. You may also find the
schedule online at www.familyministries.org, or call the Archdiocesan Family Ministries Office at 312.751.8351.
The priest or deacon will also help a couple complete a pre-marriage survey to help the couple identify areas
for further discussion before the important commitment of marriage.
The Wedding Ceremony
The bride and groom are the center of the wedding ceremony; according to Catholic understanding, they are
the principal celebrants of the marriage. Everything should be planned so that the witness of the bridal couple
to God's love can be acknowledged and appreciated by all.
We urge that the number of people in the wedding party be kept simple. The two witnesses to the marriage
(traditionally known as the Best Man and Maid of Honor) are essential to the wedding. Others may be involved
in the wedding in a variety of ways: reading the scriptures, serving as Eucharistic Ministers (if they have been
trained), bringing up the offertory gifts of bread and wine, or helping to seat the wedding guests.
Required Documents
1. A Baptism certificate dated within six months of the wedding is to be submitted by each Catholic person. In
an interfaith marriage, a baptized non-Catholic is also asked to present a record of Baptism, if that is possible.
2. A recently issued Confirmation certificate is requested if this information is not included in the notations on
the back of the Catholic Baptism certificate.
3. Two affidavits affirming each person’s freedom to marry may be required, in some cases. The consulting
priest will advise.
4. The attendance certificate presented at the completion of the Pre-Marriage Preparation is to be kept on file at
Old St. Mary’s Church with the other marriage documents.
5. A marriage license from Cook County, Illinois is required and is to be presented to the Old St. Mary’s Church
priest or deacon at the time of the rehearsal. Currently a Cook County license is valid for sixty days from the
date of issue, and must be obtained at least one day prior to the wedding. For information on obtaining a
marriage license, including locations and hours, see Cook County's marriage page, here or phone
312.603.5664.
6. Because every couple is unique, there are some cases where other documents may be required. The
consulting priest will assist in this regard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who may be married at Old St. Mary’s?
A. The common practice for marriages in the Catholic Church is that the wedding should take place in either
the parish of the bride or of the groom. If either you or your fiance lives within the boundaries of Old St. Mary’s
parish (from the Chicago river to the north and west, 18th Street to the south, and Lake Michigan to the east), or
if one or the other of you lives outside the parish boundaries, but is a registered parishioner and regularly
attends Mass here, then the wedding can take place here.
Q. What if neither of us belongs to Old St. Mary’s parish?
A. Unfortunately we are not able to accommodate requests for weddings to take place at Old St. Mary Church if
you are not a parishioner and resident of the South Loop.
Q. What if I don’t have a parish? I’m not registered anywhere and don’t go to any one particular church.
A. Every Catholic has a parish by virtue of one’s residence, and that parish has responsibility toward all who
live within its boundaries. Wherever you or your fiance live, you live within the territorial bounds of a parish. It is
usually the Catholic church closest to where you live.
Q. How soon must plans be made for our wedding?
A. Following the marriage guidelines of the Archdiocese of Chicago, arrangements for your wedding should be
made at least four months in advance. This is necessary to allow sufficient time to complete
pre-marriage requirements and to take care of the details of planning the marriage ceremony.
Q. What sort of liturgy should be planned?
A. Generally, if both parties are active Catholics, marriage should be celebrated during Mass. Receiving Holy
Communion expresses more deeply the unity of the couple. In weddings where the two parties are of different
faiths, or where large numbers of expected guests are not Catholic, we encourage use of the Rite for
Celebrating Marriage Outside Mass (i.e., without communion).
Q. What type of readings should be used and whom should we ask to read?
A. A broad selection of readings from scripture which you may find appropriate for your celebration can be
found in the Together for Life workbook which your presider will provide you. When selecting readers for your
ceremony, we ask that you choose those who have been trained with the church as lectors, or who would
otherwise be competent and comfortable proclaiming the Holy Scriptures.
General Information
1. No date will be set for a wedding without a personal interview between the couple and one of the
priests/deacons.
2. For couples preparing at Old St. Mary's, the documents should be presented and the nuptial questionnaire
be completed at least four months before the wedding. It is the couple's responsibility to schedule an
appointment with the consulting priest to complete this questionnaire. If the couple is being prepared at
another parish, we must have the paperwork at least four weeks before the wedding. If a visiting priest is to
witness the ceremony, he is normally responsible for completing the paperwork and conducting the rehearsal.
3. With the volume of weddings and religious services in our church, it is necessary that the rehearsal (45
minutes) and the wedding (one hour) start and end on time. Weddings can be scheduled on Saturdays at 10
AM, 2 PM and 7:30 PM, and also during the week.
4. An offering to Old St. Mary's Church is expected. We suggest a donation of $500 to cover building and staff
costs. A non-refundable deposit of $200 is required to reserve a wedding date on the Church calendar; this
should be given as early in the process as possible. This donation does not include music fees.
5. All wedding music is planned in consultation with our director of music. Note that, since we follow The
National Association of Pastoral Musicians Guidelines, if a visiting organist is granted permission to play, the
music director’s fees are still to be paid. Please refer to the WEDDING MUSIC SECTION for further information
about the fees for the musicians.
6. You will plan your wedding liturgy with both the priest and the parish director of music. Please note: This
meeting needs to occur prior to contacting any musician or soloist.
7. Arrangements for flowers are to be made by the bride and groom with the florist of your choice. We urge
couples to be very sparing in their use of flowers. The church building is, itself, beautiful and the congregation
wants to see the bridal party and not a floral show. Please refer to the FLORIST guidelines below.
8. Arrangements for photographs are to be made by the bride and groom with the studio of your choice.
Photographers/videographers should be instructed not to interfere with the wedding service. They should
stand at the back and to the side, well out of the sightlines of the congregation. No stationary lights are
permitted and photographers should use the available light of the church as much as possible.
Videographers may not roam during the service.
9. The church is not equipped with a bridal room, so it is best that the bride, groom and wedding party arrive
prepared. There are bathrooms in the foyer.
10. Old St. Mary’s Church has a seating capacity for 700. The Chapel, which has a seating capacity of 25, is
also available for weddings.
11. Out of respect for the church building, which is a sacred space, and out of respect for others who will be
using this space after the wedding, we ask that no rice, birdseed, confetti or balloons be used inside or
outside the church. If a Unity Candle is desired, the church will supply the candle(s) and pedestal. Before and
during the service, the wedding party and their guests shall behave appropriately, refraining from bringing food
or alcohol onto Church property.
11. If a private wedding consultant is employed, please communicate this information to your consultant. It is
good to keep in mind that the priest or deacon will be conducting the rehearsal and officiating the ceremony
with the advice of the bride and groom only. Again, we urge couples to keep plans for the wedding simple so
that the impact of the Sacrament can be experienced by all.
Music for your Wedding
Planning: We ask all couples being married at Old St. Mary’s Church to call Mr. Chuck Kessell, the director of
music, at 312.922.3444 x 20. Please call him at least six weeks before the wedding to schedule a wedding
music consultation appointment. It is helpful if you have reviewed and chosen your scripture readings,
especially the responsorial psalm. Chuck Kessell is the organist and musical advisor who will guide you
through the music selection process. Any questions regarding the suitability of wedding music selections will
be decided by him.
Vocalists: It is our policy that a cantor be engaged for each wedding. The cantor is the vocal soloist and leads
the congregational singing. Chuck Kessell will secure the services of a cantor for your wedding. It is important
that a cantor from Old St. Mary’s Church participate in your wedding because of their high level of skill,
familiarity with the liturgy, experience in the church space, and ongoing working relationship with our staff and
clergy.
Instrumentalists: Additional instrumentalists (trumpets, violins, etc.) are often desired as part of the wedding
music. Chuck Kessell knows local instrumentalists who are superbly skilled and experienced in working at
Old St. Mary’s Church. He will engage these musicians for you after your wedding music planning meeting. It
is our policy that instrumentalists for Old St. Mary’s Church weddings be engaged through Chuck Kessell.
Fees: Organist $200; Cantor $150; Priest (love offering) $100. (Note: These are base fees which include the
consultation, preparation and performance of the wedding liturgy. The music director will inform you of the
exact amount of music fees at your meeting.)
Pre-Recorded Music: The use of pre-recorded music is NEVER permitted in Old St. Mary’s Church liturgy.
Guidelines for the Florist
The following guidelines are to be followed by all florists who service Old St. Mary’s Church.
No floral arrangements, candles, hurricane lamps, trellises, canopies, ribbons or any other decorations are
allowed in the aisles or on the pews. Decorations should be focused in the sanctuary.
Floral arrangements in the sanctuary are not to block the liturgical movements. Also note that additional floral
arrangements may interfere with video taping.
Flowers are not to be placed on the altar.
Deliveries and decorations can be done starting one hour before the wedding time, or at another time to be
arranged with the priest.
Contact Information
Old St. Mary’s Church
1500 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: 312.922.3444
Fax: 312.922.3447
E-mail:Marywolf@oldstmarys.com
Parish Office Hours
Monday-Friday
9 AM to 4 PM