Marriage Arrangements - The Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist, Edmond, Oklahoma

Fr. John Metzinger

Religious Education

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Annual Events

Marriage Arrangements

TIME OF THE WEDDING
- Weddings may be scheduled at any time during the week.
- Saturday
  - Morning until 3:00pm
  - Evening from 7:30pm on
- NO WEDDINGS ON SUNDAY.

ALTAR SERVERS

Normally, we use young people of our parish. If you have a relative or friend who serves in his/her own parish, he/she may be part of your wedding, but should be at the rehearsal.
USHERS

Your ushers will be directed by the Wedding Consultant.
LECTOR/READERS at the Wedding Ceremony

You may choose family or friends to be lectors at your wedding. We suggest that you choose those who are used to reading in public and are at least in high school or above. Lectors should be present at the rehearsal along with others in the ceremony. If marriage is at Mass, the lector should be a Catholic.

Additional books on planning wedding ceremonies are available from the Pastoral office. If your wedding is at Mass, you may wish to have a basket of food brought forward with the offertory gifts. This is a symbolic gift to the poor and speaks of your commitment to serve others. The food will be given to the poor who come to us for assistance.

MARRIAGE LICENSE

When you apply you will need a recent blood test. The license is valid only for 10 days. If you are underage, there is a waiting period after obtaining a license. Your license can be from any county in Oklahoma.
DRESSING ROOMS

The bride and bridesmaids may dress in the nursery in the Parish Center. It is equipped with blinds for privacy and a full-length mirror for dressing. The groom and groomsmen may dress in the north nursery in the Parish Center. You are responsible for leaving the dressing room picked up before the ceremony and removing all clothing and other items before going to the reception. Valuables SHOULD NOT be left in the church or Parish Center during the ceremony. It is better to lock them in the trunk of your car than to leave them to be the prey of thieves.
AVAILABLE FOR YOUR USE

Unity candle - center candle = 3 3/16" candle 2 side candles = 7/8" candles 2 table top candelabras = 7/8" candles (7 candles each) 2 floor standing candelabras = 7/8" candles (7 candles each) 2 prie-dieux
SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR OUR PARISH

The throwing of rice, bird seed, or confetti is NOT ALLOWED in the church or anywhere on the grounds of our parish. Rice and bird seed underfoot are dangerous to those who come to our church, and accidents in the past make this regulation necessary. AT NO TIME is there to be gum chewing, eating, drinking of alcoholic beverages, smoking or use of illegal drugs inside the Church. During dressing, light refreshments may be consumed in the Parish Center.
Church lighting

While the lights may be dimmed in the body of the Church, the sanctuary lighting will not be dimmed.
INVITATIONS TO REHEARSAL DINNER AND RECEPTION

If you wish to invite the clergy or any of those involved in your wedding to your rehearsal dinner or reception, you should send them a personal invitation as you would any other guest.

Often, couples invite the "Love in Deed" sponsor couple to the wedding or even give them a part, such as being a lector.
FACILITIES AVAILABLE

The Great Hall, Commons, Seton Hall, and Pavilion may be reserved for your wedding reception. To reserve one of these facilities contact Dianne Rose in person or by calling 340-0691 from 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday.
- The "Great Hall" (gymnasium) is the largest space in the facility with 7,500 square feet, which accommodates approximately 600 people. This is 2 1/2 times the size of the Seton Hall (Old Church). The floor is a synthetic multi-purpose type which is nice for dancing. A kitchen is available.
- The "Commons" is a large living room containing 2,000 square feet, which accommodates approximately 200 people. The room is carpeted, there is a fireplace and living room style furniture at the north end adjacent to the fireplace. Church kitchen available.
- Seton Hall (Old Church) is approximately 2,400 square feet, with a hard floor, also nice for dancing. This room accommodates approximately 240 people. There is also a kitchen available.
- The "Pavilion" is located in the Church, is about 1,300 square feet, and will hold approximately 100 people. There is no kitchen available, but a serving area with sink and running water.

There are non-refundable rental fees to use the parish facilities. This fee allows use of the facility and all the furniture therein (tables and chairs) and access to the kitchen sinks, refrigerators and ice maker only. Other equipment and appliances are not to be used. A FIRM RESERVATION OF THE FACILITIES IS PLACED ON OUR CALENDAR WHEN ALL FEES ARE PAID.

There are a large number of tables and multi-colored chairs in the storage closet (northwest corner of Seton Hall), and all are at your disposal. There are round tables and chairs stored in north closet in the Great Hall in the Parish Center. You may use the floor space in the main body of the hall to arrange the tables and chairs to accommodate your party. You are responsible for putting away the tables and chairs you use and for bagging the trash.

NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE ALLOWED IN THE CHURCH OR PAVILION. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY BE SERVED IN THE PARISH CENTER AND SETON HALL. YOU ARE ASKED TO SEE THAT YOUR GUESTS DO NOT ABUSE ALCOHOL. SERVING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IS ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN TO ALL PEOPLE UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE. NO SMOKING IN ANY PARISH FACILITY.

Unscheduled conflicts: In the event an unscheduled event conflicts with your wedding or reception, e.g. funeral or funeral dinner, the parish reserves the right to make the facility available for this use. We will make every effort to work with you so there is ample time for your decorating and set up, etc.

There is a Catering Service offered through a member of the Women's Society, for information call Susie at 348-8642.

WEDDING MUSIC Music Coordinator - Barbara Meiser Office phone 340-0691

The purpose of music in the wedding is to glorify God edify man; it is part of a liturgical and worship service. The dignity and sacred character of worship are enhanced by the kind of music we use. SECULAR MUSIC DOES NOT HAVE A PLACE in worship services. There is a wide range of classical, traditional, and contemporary music that reflects the reverence and dignity of the occasion and intensifies the meaning of it. Our music director will discuss appropriate music with you.

Our parish music director is the coordinator of music for our parish, and she provides music for ALL SERVICES in our church. Should you wish a guest soloist, your guest will work with our director and be assisted and guided by her. Our music director can obtain vocalists and instrumentalists for you. Often friends, unless professionally trained, are not the best persons suited for a church wedding. Discuss this with our director.

You should meet with our music director AT LEAST TWO MONTHS prior to the wedding to plan the music.

We suggest and recommend some congregational music. We have parish hymnals to follow. The music director can provide a cantor (leader of song) for your wedding.

PARISH INSTRUMENTS AND SOUND EQUIPMENT IS OPERATED ONLY BY OUR STAFF OR THOSE DIRECTED BY THEM.
FOR YOUR FLORIST

Flowers add to the festivities of the wedding. They add beauty, warmth, and loveliness. You and your florist are welcome to visit the church to plan for flowers. Following are some of the guidelines to assist your florist in working here at St. John's.
- We ask that the florist have the flowers delivered at least TWO HOURS PRIOR TO THE CEREMONY. If there is an evening wedding on Saturday, we cannot have wedding decorations in the church during the Saturday evening 5:30 p.m. Mass, except the arrangement in the Sanctuary. Your florist can begin arranging decorations after Mass, about 6:45 p.m.
- Florists should clearly MARK THE PERSONAL FLOWER PIECES so that the Wedding Consultant will have a guide in pinning them on.
- After the flowers are delivered, the florist may leave, but must return immediately after the ceremony to pick up aisle cloths, candelabra, etc. If the florist does not return, THERE WILL BE A CHARGE, $25.00, to the florist to cover our staff removing and storing these items.
- When candelabras are to be used from your florist, metal candles only are to be used. If a wax candle is used for the unity candle, place a drop cloth or plastic sheet under the unity candle stand.
- Flowers may be unloaded at the main doors of the church; then all vehicles must be moved for incoming guests.
- When the church is decorated for seasonal events, the decorations, banners, etc. are not removed for weddings. If your wedding takes place during the Christmas or Easter seasons, plan to use the colors and theme of these seasons since the church will generally be decorated.
- CELLOPHANE TAPE MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY OF THE WOOD OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE CHURCH
- Flowers MAY NEVER BE PLACED ON THE ALTAR TABLE ITSELF. Discuss with the Wedding Consultant the best placement for flowers at St. John's.
- Generally, flower arrangements are left in the church after a ceremony as a gift to the Lord and for the parish Eucharistic liturgies.
FOR YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

You will probably want a photographic remembrance of your wedding. We will work with your photographer or video cameraman. We ask that the majority of pictures be taken before the ceremony. Photographers are asked to arrive ONE AND A HALF HOURS BEFORE THE CEREMONY. Picture taking will cease thirty minutes before the ceremony. THERE ARE NO FLASHES DURING THE CEREMONY. No pictures may be taken from the sanctuary nor may the photographer stand anywhere that obstructs the view of the congregation or anywhere that competes with the sacred ceremony as it is taking place.

All photographers, professional or amateur, should discuss appropriate times and places for photographs with the celebrant (priest or deacon). We ask that members of the congregation refrain from picture taking during the ceremony.

The event is a SACRED CEREMONY, a worship service of the Church, and we will strive to maintain this atmosphere of beauty and reverence for your wedding.

Video-taping may be done from the side of the sanctuary, or the back of the church. A zoom lens will make it possible to take fine pictures without intruding on the ceremony.

After the ceremony, if you wish the clergyman to be in your picture, we ask that those pictures be taken first so that he can take off his vestments.

Send email to rshaffer@stjohn-catholic.org with questions or comments about this web site.

TIME OF THE WEDDING

Weddings may be scheduled at any time during the week.

Saturday

Morning until 3:00pm

Evening from 7:30pm on

NO WEDDINGS ON SUNDAY.

ALTAR SERVERS

Normally, we use young people of our parish. If you have a relative or friend who serves in his/her own parish, he/she may be part of your wedding, but should be at the rehearsal.

USHERS

Your ushers will be directed by the Wedding Consultant.

LECTOR/READERS at the Wedding Ceremony

MARRIAGE LICENSE

When you apply you will need a recent blood test. The license is valid only for 10 days. If you are underage, there is a waiting period after obtaining a license. Your license can be from any county in Oklahoma.

DRESSING ROOMS

AVAILABLE FOR YOUR USE

Unity candle - center candle = 3 3/16" candle 2 side candles = 7/8" candles 2 table top candelabras = 7/8" candles (7 candles each) 2 floor standing candelabras = 7/8" candles (7 candles each) 2 prie-dieux

SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR OUR PARISH

Church lighting

While the lights may be dimmed in the body of the Church, the sanctuary lighting will not be dimmed.

INVITATIONS TO REHEARSAL DINNER AND RECEPTION

FACILITIES AVAILABLE

The Great Hall, Commons, Seton Hall, and Pavilion may be reserved for your wedding reception. To reserve one of these facilities contact Dianne Rose in person or by calling 340-0691 from 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday.

The "Great Hall" (gymnasium) is the largest space in the facility with 7,500 square feet, which accommodates approximately 600 people. This is 2 1/2 times the size of the Seton Hall (Old Church). The floor is a synthetic multi-purpose type which is nice for dancing. A kitchen is available.

The "Commons" is a large living room containing 2,000 square feet, which accommodates approximately 200 people. The room is carpeted, there is a fireplace and living room style furniture at the north end adjacent to the fireplace. Church kitchen available.

Seton Hall (Old Church) is approximately 2,400 square feet, with a hard floor, also nice for dancing. This room accommodates approximately 240 people. There is also a kitchen available.

The "Pavilion" is located in the Church, is about 1,300 square feet, and will hold approximately 100 people. There is no kitchen available, but a serving area with sink and running water.

FOR YOUR FLORIST Flowers add to the festivities of the wedding. They add beauty, warmth, and loveliness. You and your florist are welcome to visit the church to plan for flowers. Following are some of the guidelines to assist your florist in working here at St. John's.

Florists should clearly MARK THE PERSONAL FLOWER PIECES so that the Wedding Consultant will have a guide in pinning them on.

After the flowers are delivered, the florist may leave, but must return immediately after the ceremony to pick up aisle cloths, candelabra, etc. If the florist does not return, THERE WILL BE A CHARGE, $25.00, to the florist to cover our staff removing and storing these items.

When candelabras are to be used from your florist, metal candles only are to be used. If a wax candle is used for the unity candle, place a drop cloth or plastic sheet under the unity candle stand.

Flowers may be unloaded at the main doors of the church; then all vehicles must be moved for incoming guests.

When the church is decorated for seasonal events, the decorations, banners, etc. are not removed for weddings. If your wedding takes place during the Christmas or Easter seasons, plan to use the colors and theme of these seasons since the church will generally be decorated.

CELLOPHANE TAPE MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY OF THE WOOD OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE CHURCH

Flowers MAY NEVER BE PLACED ON THE ALTAR TABLE ITSELF. Discuss with the Wedding Consultant the best placement for flowers at St. John's.

Generally, flower arrangements are left in the church after a ceremony as a gift to the Lord and for the parish Eucharistic liturgies.

FOR YOUR FLORIST

Flowers add to the festivities of the wedding. They add beauty, warmth, and loveliness. You and your florist are welcome to visit the church to plan for flowers. Following are some of the guidelines to assist your florist in working here at St. John's.