Arranging a wedding at the Cathedral
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Clear guidelines for marriage in the church are important, for it is a time when many folks who have no active association with a parish seek the service of the church. No membership requirement is necessary to be married at the Cathedral, but a couple will be discouraged from the casual use of the church for a wedding. Regular church attendance and active participation in and support of parish life for a period leading up to the marriage is expected. As a part of the worship of the Church, weddings are subject to the Canons of the Episcopal Church and the customs of the Cathedral.
To be married in the Episcopal Church, a couple must fulfill the following Canonical requirements:
- at least one of the persons must have been baptized, although not necessarily in the Episcopal Church;
- the priest must be given at least sixty days notice of the intended wedding;
- the couple must have interviews with the priest in which (s)he instructs them in the Church's understanding of Holy Matrimony;
- the couple must obtain a marriage license in the State of Maine; and
- there must be two witnesses to the marriage.
Before any dates or plans are committed, the couple must consult with one of the clergy concerning the requirements and customs of the church. Divorced persons may only be married with the permission of the Bishop. This must be done prior to establishing a date on the Cathedral calendar. Guidelines for Weddings at St. Luke's will be given to each couple when the decision has been made by clergy to perform the ceremony. These guidelines contain necessary information about flowers, photographs, fees, and music. The Cathedral Musician is ultimately responsible for all decisions about music for weddings. The bride and groom should meet with clergy well in advance of the wedding, preferably at least six months prior to the ceremony.
