We are blessed to share our wedding day with each of you! We have chosen to celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony within Holy Mass because of our Catholic faith and our desire to begin our marriage in the presence of Christ. Through this sacred celebration, we will receive God's grace to live out our vocation as husband and wife.

We understand that some of our guests may be unfamiliar with the Mass, so we want to provide an outline of what to expect. While the Catholic Church welcomes all to worship with us, we also respect the sacred nature of our traditions and beliefs.

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After the wedding party's procession, all will stand when the Bride comes down the aisle (and remains standing). The Mass begins with the Sign of the Cross, followed by the Gloria (a hymn of praise), and the Opening Prayer.

During this part of the Mass, we listen to Sacred Scripture proclaimed and reflect on God's eternal plan for marriage. This includes a reading from the Old Testament, a Responsorial Psalm, and a reading from the New Testament.

The reader concludes each reading with "The Word of the Lord," to which the congregation traditionally responds "Thanks be to God."

We then stand for the Gospel, the priest's proclamation of Christ's words. The priest concludes with "The Gospel of the Lord," to which the congregation traditionally responds "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ."

The priest will then deliver a homily on the Scripture readings and the Sacrament of Matrimony.

In this sacred rite, we will express our free consent to enter into a permanent, faithful, and fruitful marriage as understood by the Catholic Church. The priest will bless our rings and then we will exchange our vows and rings as visible signs of our lifelong covenant.

This is the heart of the Mass, where bread and wine are transformed into the true Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. This is not merely symbolic – it is a miraculous transformation that makes present Christ's sacrifice on Calvary. Through the Eucharist, we participate in Christ's wedding feast with His Church.

During the Eucharistic Prayer, the congregation kneels in reverence. We then stand for the Lord's Prayer, Nuptial Blessing, and the Sign of Peace. This part of the Mass will end with the Universal Prayer/Prayer of the Faithful.

The reception of Holy Communion is a profound expression of Catholic faith and unity with the Church. Catholics who are properly disposed (in a state of grace) may receive the Eucharist. We respectfully ask that those who are not Catholic, or Catholics not properly disposed, remain in their pews in prayerful reflection or come forward with arms crossed over their chest to receive a blessing.

The liturgy concludes with a solemn blessing prayed over the couple by the priest. These are short prayers where the assembly will respond “Amen.”

We are grateful for your presence as we receive this beautiful Sacrament.