Weddings at Saint Bonaventure
The Sacrament of Marriage
Congratulations to those who are newly engaged!
Marriage is a sacred partnership established by God. Matrimony is a sacrament, a visible sign of God’s grace, spoken in a mutual promise between bride and groom to live in accordance with their nuptial vows. A marriage is made strong through sharing a lifelong love; nourishing children and raising them to be active Christians; and ministering to each other and to the community.
Sacrament of Marriage - Vatican
Sacrament of Marriage - U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Congratulations to those who are newly engaged!
Marriage is a sacred partnership established by God. Matrimony is a sacrament, a visible sign of God’s grace, spoken in a mutual promise between bride and groom to live in accordance with their nuptial vows. A marriage is made strong through sharing a lifelong love; nourishing children and raising them to be active Christians; and ministering to each other and to the community.
Sacrament of Marriage - Vatican
Sacrament of Marriage - U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Marriage Preparation at Saint Bonaventure
- Begin the Marriage Preparation Process: At least six months before your wedding, meet with Fr. James to begin the marriage preparation process.
- Schedule Your Wedding: At the meeting with the pastor, you will set your wedding date and time. Also, notify Karen, our music and liturgy director, and any additional musicians when you book the wedding date to get on their calendars.
- Pre-Marriage Preparation: At least four months before your wedding, begin the process with your sponsor couple and select a retreat.
- Pre-Marriage Visit: Once completing your pre-marriage preparation, meet with Fr. James, who will preside at your wedding.
- Marriage License: Once completing your pre-marriage preparation, Fr. James will give you a Reduced-Fee Educator's Statement for a reduced-rate marriage license. *Apply for your Minnesota marriage license no sooner than six months and no less than one month before your wedding date.
- Wedding Coordinator: At least three months before your wedding, meet with Emily, our wedding coordinator, who will guide you through the planning process and be your primary resource for questions you might have.
- Music and Liturgy Planning: At least two months before your wedding, meet with our music and liturgy director for planning.
- Rehearsal: One or two days before your wedding, there will be a rehearsal facilitated by your presider and the wedding coordinator.
- Wedding: Get married and celebrate!
Begin the Marriage Preparation Process
At least six months before you plan to marry, couples arrange a visit with Fr. James, [email protected], or 952-297-8415.
At your meeting with the pastor, you will:
At least six months before you plan to marry, couples arrange a visit with Fr. James, [email protected], or 952-297-8415.
At your meeting with the pastor, you will:
- Complete the forms required by the Archdiocese and our parish for marriage.
- Receive the Together for Life book to help you choose readings and prayers for the ceremony.
- If necessary, the bride and groom may need to have a family member or someone who knows them well fill out a Freedom to Marry Witness Form with a priest or deacon witnessing the signing. The same person may not witness for both bride and groom.
- Set the wedding date and time - this can happen anytime after your initial meeting with the pastor.
Schedule Your Wedding
Notify our music and liturgy director and any additional musicians when you book the wedding date to get on their calendars. (See Music and Liturgy Planning below for more detail about musician needs.)
A wedding can be celebrated within a Mass or a Scripture Service. A Mass is appropriate when the majority of those attending are Catholic. A Scripture Service is recommended when many of those attending are not Catholic. Holy Communion is not offered during a Scripture Service. Please note: All weddings performed in our archdiocese must take place inside a church; no weddings may take place outdoors.
Weddings are typically scheduled at the following times at Saint Bonaventure:
Notify our music and liturgy director and any additional musicians when you book the wedding date to get on their calendars. (See Music and Liturgy Planning below for more detail about musician needs.)
A wedding can be celebrated within a Mass or a Scripture Service. A Mass is appropriate when the majority of those attending are Catholic. A Scripture Service is recommended when many of those attending are not Catholic. Holy Communion is not offered during a Scripture Service. Please note: All weddings performed in our archdiocese must take place inside a church; no weddings may take place outdoors.
Weddings are typically scheduled at the following times at Saint Bonaventure:
- Friday evenings
- Saturday afternoons at 2 p.m.
Pre-Marriage Preparation
At least four months before your wedding, start your pre-marriage preparation. This process helps couples talk about issues that may not have been explored while dating, such as finances, raising children, household responsibilities, family backgrounds, conflict resolution, and spiritual practices. These programs supply couples with a foundation for communication and strategies for overcoming conflicts that may arise. Ideally, pre-marriage preparation is completed three months before your wedding.
At least four months before your wedding, start your pre-marriage preparation. This process helps couples talk about issues that may not have been explored while dating, such as finances, raising children, household responsibilities, family backgrounds, conflict resolution, and spiritual practices. These programs supply couples with a foundation for communication and strategies for overcoming conflicts that may arise. Ideally, pre-marriage preparation is completed three months before your wedding.
- Complete the pre-marriage inventory for the Fully Engaged program. You will complete this inventory at a sponsor couple's home; they will reach out to you to set this up. Please note: there is a fee for the inventory that is payable at the time you register for it online.
- Meet with your sponsor couple. They will reach out and guide you through the Fully Engaged program. You and your sponsor couple will work together to set a schedule and location that works for both of you. On average, it takes three to four, two-hour meetings to work through the program. Once you've completed the program, your sponsor couple will submit evidence of your education hours to your priest or deacon.
- Attend a retreat for engaged couples. Fr. James will provide brochures at your initial meeting. All arrangements are made directly with the retreat you select. You will receive a document at the end of the retreat that you will need to give to your priest or deacon.
Pre-Marriage Visit
Once completing your pre-marriage preparation, meet with Fr. James. At that visit, you will discuss your pre-marriage preparation and the scriptures you have selected for your Mass or Scripture Service.
Once completing your pre-marriage preparation, meet with Fr. James. At that visit, you will discuss your pre-marriage preparation and the scriptures you have selected for your Mass or Scripture Service.
Marriage License
A marriage license authorizes a marriage to take place in the state of Minnesota. The couple must apply for a marriage license in person at a County Registrar's office. *Apply for your Minnesota marriage license no sooner than six months and no less than one month before your wedding date. Marriage licenses are valid for six months from the issue date and have a five-day statutory waiting period after applying.
The regular fee for a marriage license is $115, and this fee is reduced to $40 for couples completing at least 12 hours of premarital education. Once completing your pre-marriage preparation, Fr. James will give you a Reduced-Fee Educator's Statement for the County Registrar when you apply for the license. The names of the couple shown in the educator's statement must be identical to the legal names of the parties as they appear in the license application.
Bring your marriage license to the rehearsal. The legal witnesses to the marriage (usually the Best Man and Maid/Matron of Honor) must be at least 16 years of age, according to Minnesota state law. They must be available to sign the license on the day of the wedding. Within five days after the marriage ceremony, the official who performed the marriage will file the marriage license with the county.
A marriage license authorizes a marriage to take place in the state of Minnesota. The couple must apply for a marriage license in person at a County Registrar's office. *Apply for your Minnesota marriage license no sooner than six months and no less than one month before your wedding date. Marriage licenses are valid for six months from the issue date and have a five-day statutory waiting period after applying.
The regular fee for a marriage license is $115, and this fee is reduced to $40 for couples completing at least 12 hours of premarital education. Once completing your pre-marriage preparation, Fr. James will give you a Reduced-Fee Educator's Statement for the County Registrar when you apply for the license. The names of the couple shown in the educator's statement must be identical to the legal names of the parties as they appear in the license application.
Bring your marriage license to the rehearsal. The legal witnesses to the marriage (usually the Best Man and Maid/Matron of Honor) must be at least 16 years of age, according to Minnesota state law. They must be available to sign the license on the day of the wedding. Within five days after the marriage ceremony, the official who performed the marriage will file the marriage license with the county.
Wedding Coordinator
At least three months before your wedding, meet with Emily, our wedding coordinator, who will guide you through the planning process and be your primary resource for questions you might have.
The wedding coordinator will:
Readers and Liturgical Ministers
Spaces and Expectations
The wedding coordinator will show you dressing rooms available for your use on the day of the wedding. All rooms used by the wedding party are to be left in good condition. Trash should be cleaned up and disposed of properly before the wedding party leaves the building. Ushers or other helpers (there should be two) will be needed to clean up the men’s and women’s dressing rooms, church, and vestibule after the wedding. Smoking is prohibited inside the church building. The use of alcohol or drugs is prohibited anywhere on church property.
Fees and Stipends
At least three months before your wedding, meet with Emily, our wedding coordinator, who will guide you through the planning process and be your primary resource for questions you might have.
The wedding coordinator will:
- Provide the Together for Life book to help you choose the readings and prayers for the ceremony.
- Work with you in selecting your readers and other liturgical ministers for the wedding.
- Show you the spaces available on your wedding day and help you understand the expectations.
- Facilitate your rehearsal and collect the fees and stipends to distribute to the appropriate parties.
- Keep things running smoothly on your wedding day.
Readers and Liturgical Ministers
- Readers proclaim the Old and New Testament readings and the Prayer of the Faithful. Readers should be chosen for their public reading ability and respect for the Sacred Scriptures.
- In a wedding Mass, gift bearers bring bread and wine to the priest at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Generally, two people present the gifts at the altar; however, sometimes a whole family (including children) will serve as gift bearers.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist the priest in administering the Sacraments of Holy Communion, the Sacred Body, and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ask the priest who will preside at your wedding whether you may invite friends or family to serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. If the assembly is small, the presider usually fulfills this role himself. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must be baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church.
Spaces and Expectations
The wedding coordinator will show you dressing rooms available for your use on the day of the wedding. All rooms used by the wedding party are to be left in good condition. Trash should be cleaned up and disposed of properly before the wedding party leaves the building. Ushers or other helpers (there should be two) will be needed to clean up the men’s and women’s dressing rooms, church, and vestibule after the wedding. Smoking is prohibited inside the church building. The use of alcohol or drugs is prohibited anywhere on church property.
Fees and Stipends
- Church Fee - $400
- Music and Liturgy Director Stipend - $200
- Singer/Instrumentalists (per musician) - $100-200
- Wedding Coordinator Stipend - $100
- There is not a set stipend for the presider, you may give as you feel comfortable.
Music and Liturgy Planning
Notify our music and liturgy director at 952-297-8421, and any additional musicians, when you book the wedding date to get on their calendars. It is recommended that you book singers and musicians well in advance of the wedding, usually six months ahead.
At least two months before your wedding, meet with our music and liturgy director for planning. All wedding services or Masses have several pieces of music that must be sung. Singers may be hired from our parish cantors or from outside the parish. They must understand they are expected to lead the music for all vocal selections for the wedding ceremony or Mass.
The music and liturgy director will also create and approve the layout of wedding programs. At least one month before your wedding, submit final music, scripture, liturgy selections, and the information for your program. Or if creating your program, submit the final layout for approval at least one week prior, so there is sufficient time to have them printed.
Notify our music and liturgy director at 952-297-8421, and any additional musicians, when you book the wedding date to get on their calendars. It is recommended that you book singers and musicians well in advance of the wedding, usually six months ahead.
At least two months before your wedding, meet with our music and liturgy director for planning. All wedding services or Masses have several pieces of music that must be sung. Singers may be hired from our parish cantors or from outside the parish. They must understand they are expected to lead the music for all vocal selections for the wedding ceremony or Mass.
The music and liturgy director will also create and approve the layout of wedding programs. At least one month before your wedding, submit final music, scripture, liturgy selections, and the information for your program. Or if creating your program, submit the final layout for approval at least one week prior, so there is sufficient time to have them printed.
Rehearsal
Rehearsals normally take place the day before the wedding and will be facilitated by the wedding coordinator and priest or deacon that will be presiding. It is essential that all members of your wedding party be present and on time including parents, ushers, and greeters.
Rehearsals normally take place the day before the wedding and will be facilitated by the wedding coordinator and priest or deacon that will be presiding. It is essential that all members of your wedding party be present and on time including parents, ushers, and greeters.
Decorations
The church is decorated according to the various church seasons. Flowers and other items such as a unity candle may be added temporarily for your wedding Mass or service. Please consult our wedding coordinator for specific questions.
Flowers and Plants:
Other Items:
Please do NOT:
The church is decorated according to the various church seasons. Flowers and other items such as a unity candle may be added temporarily for your wedding Mass or service. Please consult our wedding coordinator for specific questions.
Flowers and Plants:
- Flowers and plants may be placed in many places in the sanctuary, but should not be taller than furniture it adorns.
- On the floor in front of the altar or raised platform, and should be under 3' tall. *Flowers may NOT be placed on the altar or on stands beside the altar, as they would interfere with movement in the sanctuary area.
- The ambo (or lectern) is where the scripture readings are proclaimed. Flowers and plants may be placed in any configuration in front of or on the sides and should be under 4' tall and 2 ½ 'wide.
- Our church is decorated with live plants, and you may incorporate these plants into your wedding arrangements. However, please consider how easily the décor can be set back to the way it was.
- Floral arrangements or bows may be used to adorn the edges of the pews. The bows or arrangements may be secured with large rubber bands, clips, ribbon, or twist ties. *Please take care not to scratch the wood finish, and no tape is allowed on the pews.
- During the season of Lent, no flowers or plants of any kind may be used in the church.
Other Items:
- Candles may only be used in the sanctuary or with our special glass-protected candle-stands for the aisles.
- A Unity Candle or Sand Ceremony vessel should not be placed on the altar; a small table will be available. Couples must supply their own Unity Candle, side candles, and the holders or the vessels for a Sand Ceremony.
- The center aisle of the church is 50 feet long if you would like to use a runner.
Please do NOT:
- Move our altar linens, candles, or other liturgical fixtures.
- Bring outdoor decorative elements like arches or rocks.
- Use birdseed and rice.
Photography and Videography
These guidelines apply to all liturgical celebrations at our parish. Share these with your photographer and videographer at the time you hire them. Please make certain they are willing to abide by our guidelines to avoid any misunderstandings on the day of the wedding. Please ask our wedding coordinator for more detailed information.
Photos
These guidelines apply to all liturgical celebrations at our parish. Share these with your photographer and videographer at the time you hire them. Please make certain they are willing to abide by our guidelines to avoid any misunderstandings on the day of the wedding. Please ask our wedding coordinator for more detailed information.
Photos
- You are encouraged to take as many pictures as possible before the ceremony begins and end 20 minutes prior to the beginning of the wedding to allow for the seating of the guests.
- Flash photography is prohibited during the ceremony, except during the processional and recessional.
- Movement throughout the church should be kept to a minimum. Movement into the sanctuary (altar area level) is prohibited.
- The photographer is not allowed to come any closer to the altar area than the closest pew of guest seating. The photographer is allowed to take photos from the balcony, but they must not block the sightlines of the musicians. Please avoid the area by the railing.
- Inform our wedding coordinator if you would like to have the priest in any wedding photos. If so, take these photos immediately prior or following the service while the priest is still vested.
- It is expected that video equipment will be stationary; movement of equipment is not encouraged because of space limitations and distraction levels.
- Video equipment is allowed in the balcony, video equipment may NOT block sight lines for guests, musicians or clergy.
- The use of flood lights is prohibited. There is sufficient natural and electrical lighting in place.
- No microphones may be taped to any of our furniture or pews.