Because of the serious nature of the life-long decision involved, marriage preparation is very important. As a result, the Archdiocese has set in place a process of marriage preparation. This process includes filing the necessary paperwork, attending a pre-marriage seminar, completing a couple inventory and reviewing the results. This can be a lengthy process; therefore, couples should begin this process at least 12 months in advance of their desired wedding date.

The community of Immaculate Heart of Mary is happy to help you prepare to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage whether you are celebrating your wedding here at IHM or elsewhere. Couples will be able to work with our liturgist to prepare for their marriage ceremony.

For those who have been married before or who are concerned their marriage may not be recognized by the Catholic Church, please contact Fr. John Bauer, Parochial Administrator.

Policies for the Celebration of Marriage
 
Immaculate Heart of Mary Office:
952-935-1432
Fax Number: 952-935-0474
 
 
The staff at Immaculate Heart of Mary rejoices with you both in your love, and we congratulate you on your decision to celebrate your marriage in the presence of Christ and His Church.
 
The following directives are meant to assist you in making this a very happy day in your lives. 

YOUR INITIAL ARRANGEMENTS WILL CONSIST OF FIVE PARTS:
 
1. Please contact the Parish Office as soon as possible. The office will gather the necessary information, reserve your wedding date if the pastor is available and review policies. Please do this at least ten to twelve months in advance of your wedding date.
2. About ten to twelve months before your wedding, when you call the office, an appointment with the pastor of the parish should be made. At your first meeting the Archdiocesan Prenuptial Questionnaire will be filled out. Please bring a copy of your Baptism certificate to that meeting. If you have had a previous marriage, additional paperwork may be required.
3. Also, at your first meeting with the priest you will take the Archdiocesan Pre-Marriage Inventory. This inventory is a series of 140 questions prescribed to help couples talk about important aspects of marriage. It is confidentially discussed at a later meeting.
4. You are also required to participate in an Archdiocesan Pre-Marriage Workshop. The parish secretary will provide you with necessary information. You must arrange for the program registration and payment on your own.
5. Lastly, music for your wedding must be arranged with the parish organist. The staff organist, will be playing for your wedding. If, for some  reason, he cannot play, he will advise you of that and will arrange a substitute for you. All music used in your wedding at Immaculate Heart of Mary must be chosen in consultation with and approved by our staff musician.
 
FEES CONNECTED WITH YOUR WEDDING 
 
1. The stipend for a wedding at Immaculate Heart of Mary is $250.                                  
This does not include the fees for priest or musicians.
2. Honorarium to priest - $125.
3. Organist/pianist - $300* This fee includes meeting with the wedding couple, one practice and playing for the wedding--The fee may vary if additional practice (due to cantor/music selection/additional instrumentalist) is necessary.
4. Cantor/Soloist - $175 
 
***Envelopes for the church, priest, organist & canto should be dropped off with the marriage license one week before the wedding.
 
DOCUMENTS NEEDED:
 
· You will be asked to provide Baptismal information for each of you. For Catholics, this must be a certified copy of your Baptismal Certificate issued within the past six months. This can be obtained by calling the parish at which you were baptized. For baptized non-Catholics, a photocopy or fax of the Baptismal Certificate is acceptable.
· You must obtain a Marriage License at a local courthouse. Please bring the license to the parish office one week prior to the wedding. Marriage licenses can be obtained at the County Court Administrator’s Office (Section of Vital Statistics) at the County Courthouse. A license obtained in any county is valid for the entire State of Minnesota. The license is valid for six months from the date of issuance. Note: There is a seven-day waiting period after you apply. There is a fee for the Marriage License. Call the Courthouse for current fees.
· Before you contact the county for a marriage license, the parish secretary will give you a letter to apply for a discount on the license. The Pre-Marital Education Bill passed by the Sate of Minnesota provides for a reduction of the license fees if the couple has had 12 hours of marital education. The Pre-Marriage Retreat and Prepare sessions satisfy this requirement.
· In cases where one or both of the parties had been previously married, further documents will be required, including copies of marriage certificates, divorce decrees or death certificates and annulment decrees, where necessary. The priest with whom you are working will be able to tell you what further documentation is required. He can also help you solve problems where documents are, for some reason, unobtainable.
 
NUPTIAL MASS OR CEREMONY:
 
When both the bride and groom are committed Roman Catholic Christians, weddings should be celebrated within the context of the Mass. There may be situations in which it is best not to celebrate the Mass even though both bride and groom are Catholic. The priest will discuss various options with you. In any case, the length of time for a wedding should not be the determining factor.
 
Normally, a Mass is not celebrated when there is to be an inter-faith marriage.                
nter-communion is not yet possible in the Roman Catholic Church and for that reason
it is more respectful of your non-Catholic guests to not exclude them from receiving                       communion.
 
PRESIDER:
 
The parish priest will normally be involved in the preparation for marriage and will officiate at the wedding. A priest friend or relative of the couple may also be given permission by the Pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary to officiate. A priest from outside the parish who is  going to witness the marriage should be present for the wedding rehearsal.
 
Any visiting priest will require a letter from his Bishop stating he is in good standing. A letter from the local Chancery in St. Paul will give the pastor delegation to allow the visiting priest to officiate.
 
If an inter-faith marriage is to be celebrated in another Christian church, the pastor or minister of that church will officiate after the appropriate dispensation has been received from our church. A Catholic priest is not required to be present in such a case. A priest can be requested by the Catholic party to be present to witness the wedding. In this case, it is customary for the minister to send a letter of invitation to the priest inviting him to participate. The same invitation is required when a member of the clergy of another denomination is to be involved here at Immaculate Heart of Mary.
 
WITNESSES:
 
At least one of the witnesses (best man or maid of honor) should be Catholic. By state law the witnesses must be at least 16 years of age. They are required to sign the Marriage License.

TIME:
 
Weddings may be on Friday evening at 5:00 p.m. or later. During the summer, weddings may be at 4:00 p.m. or later. Weddings on Saturday may be no later than 2:00 p.m. because of the Reconciliation and Mass schedule.
 
Weddings are not scheduled on Sundays, Holy Days of Obligation or Major Liturgical Feasts
i.e.: Christmas & Easter) or during special parish events. Since the season of Lent is
traditionally a season of fast, penitence and preparation, weddings are normally not
scheduled during the season.
 
REHEARSAL:
 
The wedding rehearsal is arranged with the priest. Rehearsal is normally the day before the wedding. It can begin anytime between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. All participants in the
wedding should be present.
 
The rehearsal usually lasts 45 minutes.
 
Please bring your unity candle and program to the rehearsal.
 
Musicians are not needed at the rehearsal.
 
MUSIC:
 
As stated earlier in this booklet, all music for your wedding at Immaculate Heart of Mary will need to be approved.
 
When you have your music consultation with the organist, he will help you choose music. He will contact a cantor. One of our Immaculate Heart of Mary cantors must be hired to sing at your wedding if there is a Mass. Our musicians are familiar with the acoustics, musical standards and the equipment in the church. If you are having a ceremony without a Mass a cantor is not required but encouraged to sing any solos, Responsorial Psalm and Alleluia. Recorded music is not permitted.
 
If you desire additional instruments such as trumpet, flute, harp, etc., please discuss that at your meeting. Caution should be exercised when musicians from outside the parish are requested, particularly family members or friends who would like to sing at the wedding. The best intentions often lead to embarrassing situations.
 
We have some very specific policies regarding music at your wedding:
 
The music during the Mass/ceremony must be liturgical (sacred/religious).
However, the preludes and postludes may be secular.
 
The Lord’s Prayer (“Our Father”) is a prayer to be said or sung by all present.
It is not to be sung by a soloist.
 
Because the lighting of the Unity Candle is so brief, we suggest only instrumental music at that point or a brief vocal solo.
 
All service music during Mass is sung at Immaculate Heart of Mary.
For this reason, a cantor (soloist) is required to sing the Psalm and Mass parts
(Alleluia; Holy, Holy; Acclamations; Lamb of God).
 
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WEDDING MUSIC:
 
PRELUDE: Organ plays selections, ending with an optional vocal or instrumental solo, if desired.
 
PROCESSIONAL:  “Cannon in D” by Pachelbel
                              “Trumpet Voluntary” by Clarke
                              “Processional” by Handel
                              “Trumpet Tune” by Purcell
 
OPENING HYMN:    W525 “Joyful, Joyful We Adore You”
                                W743 “Within Your House, O God, Today”
                                G631 “God, in the Planning”
                                W744 “O Father, All-creating”
 
PSALM:                  G111 “Blest Are Those Who Love You”
                               G89 “The Lord is Kind and Merciful”
                               G37 “The Lord is My Light”
                               G72 “Happy Are They”
 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia
 
UNITY CANDLE OR SIGNING OF DOCUMENTS:
An instrumental (organ or otherwise) or
A brief vocal solo (such as G628“When Love is Found”)
 
RECESSIONAL:     “Honrpipe” by Handel
                               “Joyful, Joyful” by Beethoven
This list is simply used as a suggestion. The organist has more selections appropriate to the occasion.
                               
UNITY CANDLE:
 
The unity candle ritual is a popular, but optional observance.
You will need to provide your own unity candle.

FLOWERS:
 
Couples can make whatever arrangements they prefer regarding flowers with a florist.
Flowers may be placed on the side or front of the free - standing altar. Flowers may not be placed on the altar itself. We do not allow the flower girl to scatter flower petals in the aisle during the procession.
 
There are times when the Church will be set up with flowers and other decorations to
highlight the season. These decorations remain in their places for all sacramental
celebrations including weddings.
 
PICTURES:
 
The photographer is asked not to move anything in the Sanctuary and nothing is to be place on the Altar. Video recording is allowed provided it is done without distraction.
Pictures should stop one-half hour before the wedding begins.
 
ALTAR SERVERS:
 
If you have relatives who are altar servers, they may serve at your wedding.
 
READERS - GIFT BEARERS - EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS:
 
Couples who are celebrating their wedding in the context of the Mass will want to choose two people to present the bread and wine. Also, if there is someone who is an approved Eucharistic Minister, his or her help will be appreciated.
 
Couples are encouraged to choose one or two people to do the scripture readings at the wedding. Please take care to choose people who will be both comfortable and capable for this public speaking role. All readings will be taken from the liturgical resource book the parish will provide you with.
 
SEATING:
 
The Bride and Groom are seated in the front of the altar. All other attendants are seated in the first row of pews until they come forward for the exchange of vows and rings.
Parents are seated in the second pew.
 
AFTER THE WEDDING:
 
Ushers are asked to see that the Church is cleaned up after the wedding. This includes
programs, decorations on the pews, etc. Please see that no purses, wallets or other
valuables are left unguarded in the Church. IHM is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
 
PROGRAMS:
 
Before you print your program, please let the priest review it for correct order of worship, spelling, etc. A sample of the order of worship is included in the back of this folder.
 
 
PARISH POLICIES:
 
The wedding party is asked to please respect the decorum of the Church both at the
rehearsal and the day of the wedding.
 
The use of drugs or alcoholic beverages is not permitted in the Church or on Church
property the day of the rehearsal or the day of the wedding. If you choose to ignore this
policy we reserve the right to cancel the wedding.
 
The throwing of rice, bird seed, confetti, shredded paper, etc. is not permitted in the Church or on Church property.
 
For your convenience we have provided you with an outline of the Nuptial Mass Wedding ceremony which you can follow in making the program for your wedding.
 
OUTLINE OF THE NUPTIAL MASS/WEDDING CEREMONY:
 
Prelude (Usually instrumental/solos)
Seating of parents
Processional (Entrance of the wedding party)
Gathering Hymn (Optional)
Opening Prayer
First Reading (Generally from the Old Testament)
Responsorial Psalm (Sung or recited)
Second Reading (Generally from the New Testament)
Gospel Acclamation
The Holy Gospel
Marriage Vows
Blessing and Exchange of Rings
Unity Candle Ritual (Optional)
Signing of the Marriage License
Prayers of the Faithful
*Preparation of the Gifts
*Eucharistic Prayer
  Lord’s Prayer
*Communion
*Post-Communion meditation/Marian Devotion
Nuptial Blessing/Final Blessing
Recessional
 
*Element of the Nuptial Mass not included in the Wedding Ceremony
 
NOTES:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________