"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one." Ephesians 5:31

Celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage

We at St. Jude welcome you and offer our prayers and best wishes as you get ready to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage. You are preparing to make a public commitment before God, not just for one day, but for a whole lifetime together as part of a faith community. The clergy and staff at St. Jude are happy to help you plan your wedding liturgy as a solemn and joyous celebration of this commitment.

You have chosen to exchange your marriage vows within the context of a Catholic Liturgical Celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony. In doing so, you are expressing that as Christians, you see in the union of husband and wife the presence of God with His people. You believe, as the Church prays, that the love of man and woman is a mirror of God’s everlasting love, and that the union of husband and wife is so holy a mystery that it symbolizes the marriage of Christ and His Church.

A Catholic marriage is sacramental, not just legal; a sacred privilege, rather than merely secular; public, as well as personal. The couple signifies and shares in the mystery of that unity and love which exists between Christ and His Church. So it is indeed a happy occasion to celebrate. But this celebration is not only for the bride and groom, family and friends, but also for the whole Christian community in which the marriage takes place.  This is the reason that a Catholic marriage will always take place within a church.

Careful planning in advance will allow you to have a very happy, memorable wedding day. The following information and regulations will help you in planning your special ceremony. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call us at (225)-766-2431.

1. SETTING A DATE: The initial interview with a priest, deacon, or marriage preparation couple must be scheduled at least 6 months and no more than 18 months prior to the date of the wedding by calling the Parish Office at (225)-766-2431. This is necessary so that you may have adequate time for Marriage Preparation. The wedding date cannot be finalized on the phone, but we look forward to meeting you to set the date.  Please obtain a new copy of your Baptismal Certificate, issued within 6 months prior to the wedding.  Please bring this to the Parish Office during the first month of wedding preparation.

2. MARRIAGE PREPARATION:  The following are needed to complete Marriage Preparation:

A.  To prepare for marriage and enrich their relationship, the couple will fill out a marriage assessment instrument (PMI/Focus/Prepare & Enrich)

B.  The couple is strongly encouraged to attend an Engaged Encounter Weekend.

C.  The couple is encouraged to attend an NFP (Natural Family Planning) training session offered throughout the diocese.

The dates and times of these programs can be obtained by calling the Parish Office at (225)-766-2431.

3. WEDDING DATES AND TIMES: In consideration of our regular schedule of services, weddings on Monday through Friday should be no later than 7 pm.

On Saturday, weddings should be scheduled at 10 am, 11 am, or 12 noon. Weddings will be scheduled two hours apart.

There are no Saturday afternoon or evening weddings.

There are no weddings scheduled during the seasons of Advent or Lent in order to maintain the Penitential Seasons.

Weddings are usually celebrated in the home parish church of the bride or the groom. A wedding may take place in some other parish church with the permission of the pastor of either the bride or the groom and the pastor of the church in which the wedding will take place. According to the norms of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, weddings may not be celebrated out-of-doors, in private homes, in commercial halls, or in other secular facilities.  A couple wishing to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage outside of St. Jude Church should contact a priest of their choice.

4. WEDDING PARTY: We ask that the couple seriously consider limiting the number of people in the bridal party (maximum 5 maids/groomsmen plus maid or matron of honor/best man for a total of six of each). This takes into consideration the space available in the sanctuary of St. Jude Church.  The size of the wedding party does not enhance the sacramental quality of the service. The quality of the service is affected by the reverent commitment of the wedding party.

If you use a junior couple, they must be 5 years old or older.

The wedding party, including the bride, should arrive at the church at least 15 minutes prior to the ceremony, as weddings will begin on time.

The wedding procession may be done in any of the following ways:

1. Groomsmen meeting the bridesmaids halfway down the main aisle.
2. Groomsmen and bridesmaids walking together from the back.
3. Groomsmen standing up front near the first pew with the groom and the celebrant.

The St. Michael Room (Parish Hall) is available as a bride’s room for dressing and remaining until the wedding begins.  The key must be obtained from the Parish Office at least 36 hours prior to the ceremony.

5. WEDDING FEE: The regular donation to the Parish is $200.  At the time of reserving the church, a $100 deposit fee is required.

6. OUT OF PARISH FEE: Where neither member of the couple is a parishioner of St. Jude, the donation of $450 is required. $250 of the fee will be required as a deposit at the time of reserving the church.

Couples from outside the parish are required to provide their own priest for the marriage preparation and the ceremony.

7.  WEDDING REHEARSAL COORDINATOR:  All couples must use the St. Jude Parish Wedding Rehearsal Coordinator, Kendall Hebert (225-205-4284 (cell)).  The fee for the Wedding Rehearsal Coordinator is $150 ($75 for the rehearsal and $75 for the ceremony).

8. VISITING PRIESTS OR DEACONS: The couple may ask any priest or deacon to witness their wedding, provided the priest or deacon is in good standing with the Catholic Church.

All interviews and the Prenuptial Questionnaire are to be conducted by the priest, deacon, or one of the parish wedding preparation couples.

Visiting priests and deacons will witness the wedding ceremony according to the guidelines of St. Jude.

Permission for a visiting priest or deacon must be granted at the first interview.

9. MUSIC: Arrangements for Music/Fees must be made with our Music Director.  Call Mrs. Lori Layman at 642-2922 (home) or 335-4485 (cell).  If some other person will provide the music for the wedding, you still must work all musical arrangements through the Music Director. There is a $50 charge for this service. The Music Director co-ordinates all musical arrangements, set-up, and details with the person who will actually be providing the music for your wedding.

Choice of songs must be given to the priest and Music Director before the wedding for approval.

Once the ceremony begins, all music must be of an appropriate religious nature. The traditional civic wedding march is not allowed in church.

10. FLOWERS: No flowers are to be placed on the altar (table).

No floral arrangement should obstruct the view of the altar or interfere with the ceremony.  The lectern and the readers should be clearly visible from all parts of the congregation out of respect for the Liturgy of the Word.  If there is any question about placement of flowers, please consult the presider (for a priest or deacon from St. Jude) or the chairman of Art & Environment, Patricia Moroney, pmoroney3@cox.net (if using a guest priest or deacon) at least 2 weeks prior to the wedding.

Candles are permitted provided great care is taken for wax spillage. They must be enclosed by globes to collect drippings. The florist or the couple is responsible to have any wax spillage removed or pay for the cost of the church having it removed.

All church plants and seasonal decorations that are in the sanctuary are not to be moved or rearranged.  Typical seasonal church decorations are illustrated here.  Please call the Parish Office at 766-2431 if there are any questions.

The following are not permitted unless authorized by the church parish:

Floor runners

Flower petals, rice, bird seed or confetti inside or outside the church or Parish Hall

Balloons or archways

Unity Candles

Couples are responsible for the removal of all candles and decorations from the church immediately after the ceremony except Memorial Flowers left for the Sunday liturgy.

11. PHOTOGRAPHERS AND VIDEOS: Your photographer may take pictures of the memorable ceremony within reason and in keeping with the sacred celebration.

Please have him/her check with the priest, deacon, or Wedding Rehearsal Coordinator before the celebration.

The photographer is not to walk or stand behind the altar at any time and is not to stand before the couple during Communion.

All video recorders should be stationary during the ceremony. Audio recorders should be checked with the celebrant prior to the ceremony as they may interfere with other devices.

Anyone beside the photographer wishing to take pictures is asked to take them from their pews.

12. REHEARSAL: The rehearsal can be scheduled on any day and time except Sunday and as long as there is no conflict with other programs that are using the church.

Please have everyone in the wedding party on time for the rehearsal.  Alcohol use prior to the rehearsal and/or wedding will not be permitted. 

Please have your Marriage License and the balance of the Church Donation available in the Parish Office at least 3 days before the rehearsal.

13. DOCUMENTS FOR THE STATE: A Marriage License and Marriage Certificate, issued not more than 30 days and not less than 72 hours before the day of the wedding.  You may obtain these from the Clerk of Courts Office (link to Marriage License information from Clerk of Court) by presenting a certified copy of your birth certificate (with state and signature of official).

The parish requests that you bring the Marriage License and Marriage Certificate to the Parish Office at least 4 days prior to the service.

14. DOCUMENTS FOR THE CHURCH: New copy of your Baptismal Certificate, issued within 6 months prior to the wedding.  Please bring this to the Parish Office during the first month of wedding preparation.

Certificate from Marriage Preparation Program

Parent’s consent (if under 18 years of age)

If the couple is from another parish, written permission must be given from their Parish Priest.

Marriage of under-aged and/or pregnancy usually requires an Evaluation from the Office of Family Life of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

Photographs by Chipper Hatter

It is our privilege at St. Jude to join in the joy and sacredness of a couple’s marriage before the presence of our loving God.  Let us remember: a wedding is a day; a marriage is a lifetime.