Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish
Dedham, MA
781.326.0550
www.stmarysdedham.org

Congratulations on your engagement!  

All of us at Saint Mary’s Parish congratulate you and promise our prayers and support. It is an honor to assist you in planning the celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.  If you have not already done so, please make an appointment to meet with one of our parish priests by calling the Parish Center at 781.326.0550, at least six months prior to your wedding. 

In order to confirm a wedding date and time, it is necessary to meet with the priest first; we cannot schedule wedding dates over the phone. The priest and parish pastoral staff will assist you as a couple during your time of marriage preparation. There are many details with which you will be busy; this is a special time of preparation and coordination. It is our hope that the parish can support you and invite you as a couple to prepare for marriage in order to grow in your relationship by praying together and especially by joining in the celebration of Sunday Mass.  I also invite you to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession regularly, especially prior to your wedding day.  All the sacraments will help you to grow into a deeper relationship with and trust in our Lord and also with one another. 

Enclosed please find the answers to many commonly asked questions.  If there is anything that I or any member of our staff can do to provide additional support, please contact us at the Parish Center or feel free to speak with one of the priests before or after any of the parish Masses.               

Please kindly remember me in your prayers and be most assured of my prayers for you.  I ask our Blessed Mother to intercede for you and those you love during this time of preparation.  May the Lord bless and protect you both.  With warmest best wishes, I remain

Sincerely yours in Christ, 

Fr. Wayne L. Belschner, Pastor

Further Tips for Planning Your Wedding

So what do we need to get?
A newly issued parish record of your Baptism and Confirmation must be requested and provided to complete the application form and for the necessary recording in our parish sacramental register.  These are available at the parish location where you received your Baptism and Confirmation.  They must be mailed directly from the parish that has the records to St. Mary’s Parish, not to the persons being married. (Xeroxed copies of original baptismal and confirmation certificates are not necessary or sufficient.)  Also, within a month of your wedding day, you are required to go to a City or Town Hall and complete an application for a wedding license and any and all civil requirements for the Commonwealth. This license must be given to the priest, deacon or wedding coordinator on or before the wedding rehearsal.  Without it, by law, the wedding cannot take place.  

How do I Schedule a Wedding Rehearsal?
Your wedding rehearsal may be scheduled when you meet with the priest or by calling the parish secretary at the Parish Center.  Each couple is assigned to our trained parish wedding coordinator. The coordinator spends adequate time with each couple at the rehearsal to assure that the format of the liturgy is explained and rehearsed and to make sure you and your guests are comfortable and at ease. She will also be present at the wedding for set up, to help the procession run smoothly, and to make sure the Church is back in order after the celebration.  If for any reason your wedding plans change after a date has been scheduled, please notify the priest with whom you have been working.  Please bring the following to the wedding rehearsal:  The completed selection sheet or program booklet for your ceremony, your Massachusetts marriage license, and any donation you wish to the Church. (Also, if you are having the optional “Unity Candle” at the wedding, please bring it to the rehearsal).  Finally, the “Wedding Banns” (announcement of your marriage) will automatically appear in our bulletin for the three consecutive Sundays prior to your wedding day.

What about a Marriage Preparation program?
Generally, the priest meets with the couple 3-4 times. You are also asked to participate in a certified marriage preparation/Pre-Cana/Engaged Encounter program of your choosing.  You, as a couple, can consult with the priest to find the best and most appropriate certified program for marriage preparation. You can check the Archdiocese of Boston's Marriage Preparation Program online at www.bostoncatholic.org. We particularly recommend the “Transformed in Love” program offered by the Archdiocesan Office for Marriage and Family Life.  Also, please take a look at the 20 minute video www.ForYourMarriage.org

Photographer and Videographer
Please have your photographer and videographer check with the celebrant (the priest or deacon) prior to the start of the Mass or ceremony.  

Altar Servers
St. Mary’s Parish has a dedicated team of altar servers.  We normally assign two servers for your Mass or ceremony.  If you have trained family members or friends who are altar servers, they are welcome to serve.  Albs are available for visiting servers.  

Flowers and Carpet
Florists are typically accustomed to the set-up and delivery of flowers for your wedding. We welcome all appropriate displays; however, during Advent and Lent, please bear in mind the more simple nature of these liturgical seasons.  During Christmas and Easter the church is decorated seasonally.  Even so, you may add particular appropriate additions with permission.  There are 36 rows on each side of the main aisle.  Please remind your florist that there is a 4:00PM Mass on Saturdays.  Some couples leave their flowers in the church following the wedding ceremony for the weekend Masses, you are welcomed to do so if you wish. 
The florist or your own wedding assistants can help you in making arrangements for a wedding runner.  If you plan to have a runner, please note that the center aisle is 96 feet long. Please be mindful that the Church building is a sacred space.  We ask you to make sure that your wedding party or guests do not throw anything - including flowers, rice, birdseed, bubbles or confetti, either inside or outside of the Church or grounds. This is also for safety reasons.  

Music
Music is an important part of any celebration, no less so in our celebration of the sacraments. St. Mary’s Parish is blessed to have a fine staff of musicians.  All music must be approved by the Pastor and Music Director.  All music played at Mass must be appropriate Church music.  Although other types of music may have special meaning for you, these would best be used more appropriately at the reception or other gathering times and places. Our Music Director will assist you in choosing your music. Under normal circumstances, the music director and parish cantors sing at all weddings.  Sometimes couples have family members or friends who wish to share their talents.  All guest musicians and/or cantors are to be approved by the Pastor and Music Director.  Also, please note that, because weddings are figured into the salary of our organist/music director, he would receive full compensation even if you bring in your own organist.   For questions or clarification, please contact your priest.  When your wedding date is confirmed with the priest, please contact our Music Director, Mr. Anthony Brown, to schedule your wedding with him and to begin conversation about the music. He can be reached at anthonysbrown@gmail.com.

Fees and Donations
The sacraments are a free gift given to us by our Lord and His Church.  There is no fee for a sacrament, however, it is customary when celebrating a sacrament, to make an offering to the Church and parish. This offering supports the staff who are involved in preparation for your wedding, as well as Church maintenance needs and electricity costs.  

A suggested donation is as follows:

•	Offering for the Parish/Church:  donations range from $100.00 to $500.00
•	Music Director/Organist: (Anthony Brown): $250.00
•	Cantor: $225.00 
•	Wedding Coordinator: (Maureen Stack): $100.00
•	Altar Servers: $20.00 (there are usually two scheduled per ceremony)

One check should be made out to “St. Mary’s Parish” and one check each to the music director, cantor, wedding coordinator, etc…These should be submitted no later than the wedding rehearsal.
 
The Sacrament of Matrimony is joyful and powerful- a holy vocation in which God helps you to find happiness and fulfillment in a life of love.  God bless you during this beautiful time as you prepare to join your lives together in the presence of God’s Church.  If there is anything we can do, please let us know. 

Revised August, 2016