Holy Matrimony
The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is a covenant between a man and a woman in Jesus Christ. We are truly excited that you are considering celebrating the Sacrament of Matrimony at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. The Wedding Guidelines below will help you to know what to expect when making plans for your wedding at the Cathedral Basilica. We ask that engaged couples carefully read and consider all the guidelines below before requesting a meeting with a priest of the Cathedral Parish.
WEDDING GUIDELINES:
- A minimum of six months for advanced planning and preparation prior to a wedding date is required.
- If the bride and groom are not registered members of the Cathedral Parish, then a letter of permission from one of their home pastors is needed to be married at the Cathedral Basilica. A letter is not needed if the bride or groom is a member of the Cathedral Parish.
- Wedding date availability will be confirmed at the time of the first appointment with a priest of the Cathedral Parish.
- Also, at the time of the first appointment, any special circumstances and needs regarding the celebration of the wedding will be discussed.
- At your first appointment, please bring the letter of permission with you and a non-refundable deposit of $500 which is required to reserve the date for the wedding. See below for the complete fee schedule.
- Weddings will be planned between the engaged couple and the priest. There is no need for wedding planners or other family members to be a part of this planning.
- Weddings are typically scheduled for Fridays at 2:00 pm or 4:00 pm and Saturdays at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm or 3:00 pm. Sundays and other days of the week are also available for weddings. Due to certain observances throughout the year, especially Holy Days of Obligation and Ordinations, some days may not be available for weddings in the Cathedral Basilica.
- You may have your wedding in the Cathedral Basilica or the Cathedral Chapel.
- No requests for appointments will be taken before the wedding book opens for the subsequent year.
OFFERINGS AND FEES:
- Cathedral Basilica offering: $2,500 ($500 deposit + $2000 balance due)
- Cathedral Chapel offering: $1,500 ($500 deposit + $1,000 balance due)
- Music fee for organist and cantor: $600 (not included in the wedding offering)
Liturgical musicians serving at your wedding must be from the Cathedral Music Department. The Cathedral employs both a Principal and an Associate Organist and maintains a roster of professional singers. No outside musicians are permitted to perform during Cathedral weddings. Your music fee includes an organist and one singer.
REQUEST A MEETING:
Once you have read and understand these initial guidelines for having a wedding at the Cathedral Basilica, you are welcome to request a meeting with a priest of the Cathedral Parish. To do so, please fill out the form at the link below.
Wedding Request Form
For questions regarding weddings at the Cathedral Basilica, please contact Karl Heck at [email protected]
If you are looking for more Marriage Formation (optional), please go to: https://themarriagegroup.com/
We look forward to planning and preparing for your wedding at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
Scheduled Weddings at the Cathedral
The information below is for couples who have already scheduled a wedding with one of the Cathedral Parish Priests
- Marriage Preparation Information
- Documents, certificates, wedding Mass or Ceremony, and other important information.
- Liturgical Music Policy
- Wedding Photography & Videography Protocol
- Marriage Preparation Sessions
- For a schedule of Marriage Preparation Sessions offered by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia visit PhillyCatholicMarriagePrep.com or call 610-873-2017.
- (Optional) – Online course can be found at https://ascensionpress.com/products/joy-filled-marriage-self-paced-online-course-with-live-guided-discussion
- Liturgical Preparation
- These files can be used to help with the selection of readings for the wedding liturgy and with the preparation of the universal prayer. Please consult with the Cathedral Parish Priest responsible for your wedding before making any selections: