Children in the Wedding
It is strongly recommended that children must be at least 7 years of age in order to participate in the wedding party. For your own benefit, and from experience, we discourage the use of younger children in the wedding party.
It is strongly recommended that children must be at least 7 years of age in order to participate in the wedding party. For your own benefit, and from experience, we discourage the use of younger children in the wedding party.
Alcoholic beverages, drugs or firearms.
Alcoholic beverages, drugs and firearms are not permitted anywhere on Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Parish Church property. Their use/presence is entirely inappropriate. It is the responsibility of the couple to inform the wedding party, family members, friends and the limousine service of this restriction. The Cathedral campus is a smoke-free environment. Please observe this no-smoking policy.
Bridal Room
Blessed Sacrament Cathedral has a room where brides may prepare for the wedding ceremony.
This room is located in the Cathedral Hall adjacent to the ladies restroom. This room will be open approximately one hour prior to the wedding. Also, the wedding party will have access to the far end of the church hall of the Cathedral Hall closest to the bride's room one hour prior to the wedding; this can be arranged with the wedding coordinator. Following the liturgy, please remove all hangers, garment bags, flowers, boxes, etc. Blessed Sacrament Cathedral and the Diocese of Greensburg assume no liability for any and all items left in the dressing room, church or hall at any time.
Photographs and Video
The taking of pictures and videos in the church during the ceremony is permitted as long as the photographer and or videographer respect the sacredness of the ceremony and do not disturb the prayerful movement of the liturgy. Special areas are designated for the photographer and videographer. The parish wedding coordinator will supervise this aspect of the wedding.
Download the Photography and Videography Guidelines
There is a two-hour time limit from the scheduled start of the wedding in which the wedding party must be out of the church (i.e., for a 2 p.m. wedding, the wedding party must be out of the church by 4 p.m.).
Music
The couple must meet with the Director of Liturgy and Music, J. Christopher Pardini, to finalize the choice of music, Scripture readings and other details of the wedding liturgy. The appropriate time frame for the meeting is between six months to one month prior to the wedding date. Please contact Mr. Pardini at 724-834-3710 ext. 21 to schedule an appointment. Only the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Parish organist or his designate is to play the organ for weddings at the Cathedral church. Other instrumentalists and vocalists are able to participate in the Wedding Liturgy once approved by the Director of Music Ministry.
All music used for the ceremony must be approved. Secular music such as popular songs, Broadway tunes and love ballads are not permitted as part of the wedding liturgy.
A Catholic wedding is a liturgical celebration and therefore a communal event. The guests are present not as spectators, but as worshippers. They should be drawn into active participation through prayer and song, so that they may share fully in the sacramental encounter with Christ the Lord. If present, the cantor will lead the assembly in song.
Musical texts must always be consistent with Catholic teaching; indeed they should be drawn chiefly from holy Scripture and from liturgical sources. The use of pre-recorded music is not permitted during the liturgy.
Music which promotes performance over participation is not permitted. The music selected must express the prayer of the Church. Individual preference is not, of itself, a sufficient principle for the choice of music in the Liturgy.
Rehearsal
The Wedding rehearsal is usually scheduled for the evening before the wedding between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. All participating in the ceremony must attend. The couple is to remind their wedding party that proper dress and conduct is required at the rehearsal. Rehearsals will begin on time as there may be other events scheduled in the church. The presider and wedding coordinator may also have other events scheduled following your rehearsal. The sacrament of reconciliation will be offered immediately following the rehearsal for all Catholics in the wedding party.
Wedding Coordinator
Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Parish provides a wedding coordinator to help with various aspects of the wedding liturgy. The wedding coordinator will contact the couple the week prior to the wedding to finalize details and will attend the rehearsal and wedding to assist the wedding party and priest.
Altar Servers
Two altar servers will be provided by the parish unless you notify us otherwise.