Holy Family Church Weddings

Weddings at Holy Family Parish

There are many different understandings of marriage common in the world. Roman Catholic tradition values marriage as a sacrament --a unique and intense revelation of God’s love and saving presence in the world. We hold that all human love is a reflection of the love that God has for creation, so great a love that God sent his Son to live and die among us and rise for our salvation.

In the gospel of Jesus, where unconditional love is the norm of Christian life, the sacredness and permanence of marriage is reaffirmed. This bond of love becomes in itself a sign of holiness in the Christian life. In the sacrament of marriage, a man and a woman promise to show forth and make present the living love of Christ for each other. In the course of living out the mystery of their love, they become a source and a sign of God’s presence for each other and the community in which they live.

Procedures for Weddings at Holy Family Parish:

You must meet with the Pastoral Assistant for Marriage Preparation 6 months prior to the intended date for your wedding. She will assist you in making plans for completing your marriage preparation program. All preparations should be completed 4-6 weeks before your wedding. Holy Family does not perform weddings during Advent (the 4 weeks before Christmas) and Lent (the six weeks before Easter).

The couple is asked to participate in planning their wedding ceremony. When you meet with the Pastoral Assistant for Marriage Preparation you will receive materials to help in this planning. The couple should meet with the priest before their wedding day.

Among the many signs and symbols used by the church to celebrate its faith, music is of preeminent importance. Sacramental celebrations are significant moments in an individual’s life, but just as important they are constitutive events of the community’s life in Christ. The musical selections must express the prayer of those who celebrate while at the same time guarding against the imposition of private meaning on a public rite. Individual preference is not, of itself, sufficient principal for choice of music in liturgy. It must be balanced with liturgical and musical judgment and with the community’s need. If you would like to have one of the Holy Family choirs present at your wedding, you need to contact the parish office well in advance to determine availablilty. Should you be having a Mass at the ceremony you will need a cantor who is familiar with Catholic Mass and who is able to lead the Assembly.

A rehearsal time and date will be scheduled when you arrange your wedding date. The rehearsal allows the immediate wedding party to become acquainted with the environment of our building and, more importantly, their role in the liturgy. The rehearsal is generally one hour in length, It is important to begin on time as there may be other services scheduled on that day.

A Baptismal Certificate for the Catholic party or parties is needed. The copy should be current, issued within the last six months. This may be obtained by writing to the church of your baptism. The sacrament of Confirmation is also required of the Catholic party.

It is the responsibility of the couple to secure the civil license to marry. Application must be made at King County Administration Building, 4th floor, Room 403. You should allow 3 working days for the license to be issued. It is valid for 60 days. No blood test is required in this state. PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING THE MARRIAGE LICENSE PACKET TO THE WEDDING REHEARSAL.

For Catholics a wedding is not simply a ceremony, but is a worship service; whether one chooses to have a full Mass or not. The liturgy is a communal prayer addressed to God by the gathered assembly. In the marriage liturgy, we celebrate the love commitment of the couple in the context of our faith tradition and celebrate the beginning of their new vocation.