A wedding is a Sacrament instituted by Christ as a sign of unconditional love and permanent fidelity, in imitation of God's life-giving love for his people. 

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Parishioners:

1. Call to meet with Rosa Jimenez, our Marriage Coordinator (212) 226-8075. She will provide you with a marriage preparation form.
2. When you have completed the preparation form, give it to our pastor, Father Graebe, after one of the Sunday Masses. He looks forward to meeting you and assisting you in this process.
3. Obtain your sacramental records for Rosa.
4. Sign up for a Pre-Cana marriage preparation program.
5. Secure a wedding date (a minimum of six months from the time you set the date)
6. Meet with priest again to plan the wedding ceremony and complete the pre-marriage inquiry.
7. Deliver the marriage license to Rosa before the rehearsal date.
8. Wedding rehearsal.

Notes:

- If either of you is not Catholic, an application for dispensation form must be completed. 

- After meeting with the pastor, Rosa will review all the steps you need to take. For instance, you need to obtain sacramental records and a marriage license. At this time, you may secure a date for your wedding with a non-refundable deposit towards the total amount due prior to the wedding.    

- When Rosa has received all the required documents and you have completed the Pre-Cana program, Rosa will schedule a second meeting for you to meet with the priest. At this meeting you will complete the Pre-Marriage Inquiry affirming that you understand Christian marriage as a solemn and lifelong covenant. You will also review the wedding ceremony so that you will be prepared for the wedding rehearsal, usually scheduled the day before the wedding.

- Rosa must receive your marriage license before the rehearsal date. It will be signed by bride and groom as well as two witnesses at the rehearsal.

- If there is a visiting priest to witness your marriage, he must contact the pastor of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral well in advance of the ceremony.
 

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Non-Parishioners:

1. Obtain the Letter of Freedom from your Parish
2. Meet with Rosa Jimenez, Wedding Coordinator (212) 226-8075
3. Obtain your sacramental records for Rosa
4. Sign up for Pre-Cana
5. Secure a wedding date (a minimum of six months from the time you set the date)
6. Meet with your parish priest for Pre-Marriage Inquiry and dispensations (if necessary)
7. Meet with a priest at St. Patrick’s to plan wedding ceremony
8. Deliver the marriage license to Rosa before the rehearsal date
9. Wedding rehearsal

Notes:

- Before we set a date for your wedding, you need to acquire a Letter of Freedom from your parish priest stating that he understands that you will be married here. Once Rosa receives that letter she will meet with you so that she can describe your next steps. For instance, you need to obtain sacramental records and a marriage license. You also need to attend a Pre-Cana Course . 

- Non-refundable deposit towards the total amount due prior to the wedding. 

- After you have completed the Pre-Cana Course, Rosa will provide you with a copy of Together for Life, a booklet that contains all you need to know about the Rite of Marriage.

- You will need to make an appointment with a priest from your home parish in order for him to sign a statement – The Pre-Marriage Inquiry – affirming that you understand Christian marriage as a solemn and unconditional covenant. If either of you is non-Catholic, an application for dispensation form is be signed at this time.

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Parishioners getting married elsewhere

1. Call to meet with Rosa Jimenez, our Marriage Coordinator (212) 226-8075
2. Meet with a priest from St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral
3. Obtain your sacramental records for Rosa
4. Sign up for Pre-Cana
5. Secure a wedding date from your church (a minimum of six months from the time you set the date)
6. Meet with a priest from St. Patrick’s to sign the Pre-Marriage Inquiry and apply for dispensations (if necessary)
7.  Pastor of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral will write the Letter of Freedom
8. Rosa will send all relevant documents to church where the wedding will occur.

Notes:

- If either of you is non-Catholic, an application for dispensation form is to be signed at this time. 

- After meeting with the priest, Rosa will review all the steps you need to take. She will be gathering all the documents you need for the church where the wedding will be celebrated. It is important, obviously, that you secure a date at the church for your wedding. 

- The Pastor of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral will write a Letter of Freedom to be sent to the church.
When Rosa has received all the required documents and you have completed Pre-Cana, Rosa will schedule a second meeting for you to meet with the priest. At this meeting the priest will ask you ask you to sign a statement - The Pre-Marriage Inquiry - affirming that you understand Christian marriage as a solemn and unconditional covenant. 

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Wedding Day

Your wedding should be secured at least six months in advance.      

Weddings may be scheduled:
- Any weekday
- Saturdays, between 10:00AM and 3:00PM
- Sundays between 2:30PM and 5:00PM 
(NB: Weddings on a Sunday may only be a ceremony, not a nuptial Mass. Weddings may be scheduled during Lent but not during Holy Week).

A date is secured for a wedding only after we have received a non-refundable deposit.

Ceremony

A booklet entitled Together for Life will be very helpful to you in planning your ceremony.

The most basic decision about your wedding is whether or not it will be celebrated with a Nuptial Mass or with a Nuptial Ceremony.
 
Nuptial Ceremony
 
The Nuptial Ceremony is a beautiful rite that celebrates the sacred union of the couple through the exchange of vows in the presence of the Church. The ceremony includes:

• Welcome and Opening Prayer
• Readings from of Sacred Scripture
• Homily (sermon) given by the presiding priest
• The Declaration of Consent & Vows
• The Blessing & Exchange of Rings
• The Prayers of the Faithful
• The Our Father
• The Nuptial & Final Blessing

Nuptial Mass
 
The second option for your wedding is the Nuptial Mass. It contains the same parts as the Nuptial Ceremony described above but also includes the Eucharistic Prayer and the reception of Holy Communion. We offer the Nuptial Mass only when both spouses are Catholic and most of their guests attend Mass regularly.

If you are uncertain about choosing a Nuptial Ceremony or a Nuptial Mass, please speak with one of our priests.
 
Participation of Family and Friends  
Music

Soon after you secure your wedding date, contact the Basilica’s Director of Music and Organist.  He will send you the Basilica’s Wedding Music Guidelines.

Keep in mind that all music within the liturgy must be sacred. Also, please note that music fees are in addition to the offering to the church, and must be paid in full in advance of the wedding date.

Pre-Cana

Couples must attend a Pre-Cana course approved by the Archdiocese of New York (or your home diocese). You may ask Rosa for a brochure that provides the dates and locations where the courses are held, or find that information here. A Certificate of Completion must be sent to Rosa before the rehearsal is scheduled.