Marriage

Sacrament of Holy Matrimony

ST. ANNE CATHOLIC CHURCH
1111 S. Cherry St., Tomball, TX. 77375-6627
Church 28l-251-8106 --281-351-8142 (fax)
School 281-351-0093—281-357-1905(fax)
Parish office open:Mon-Thurs 9:00 to 4:00 closed during lunch 12:00-1:00
Appointment preferred.

WEDDING GUIDELINES

       

• The Catholic Church teaches that Christian marriage is the union of a baptized man and woman who freely enter into a covenant of love with each other in Christ for the purpose of giving and receiving love, and the procreation and education of Children.  Married couples live their sacrament by the way they care for one another, love one another, and are enthusiastic for one another as husband and wife.  In their daily love for each other, their children, and the larger community, they become a living sign (a sacrament) for all; of how much Jesus loves us and how Jesus wishes to embrace us as his brothers and sisters.   As they work their way through marital family crises and struggles, they witness the power of the Holy Spirit at work in their lives.

• Weddings are typically celebrated on Saturdays at 10:00am or 1:00 pm.
• Weddings cannot be scheduled on a Holy Day or during Lent.
• Currently our priest is pleased to preside at wedding mass of registered Parishioners in English.  We can ask assistance of a Spanish deacon that helps in the parish to preside over Spanish nuptials.
• A visiting priest or deacon must receive delegation from the Pastor of St. Anne; clergy from outside of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston must have a testimonial of suitability for ministry from his own religious superior or Bishop. Visiting Clergy should bring their own vestments.

• Contact the Church at least 6 to 9 months prior to the anticipated wedding date, the couple should come to the parish office and fill out the initial intake form before we can arrange a meeting with the marriage coordinator and/or priest.    
• Be a registered active member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church for at least 3 months.
• Attend mass regularly.
• Meet with the Director of Music concerning all music, cantors, & Fees.
• Participate in Sponsor Couple Sessions or Engaged Encounter Weekend or Prepare & Enrich marriage prep. Programs, before a we can confirm a marriage date at the meeting with the priest!
• Furnish an annulment decree if either the bride or groom has been previously married.
  • Pay church deposit and fees :See fee schedule
• Inform church of the names of Best Man and Maid of Honor, so the church marriage certificate can be created for Wedding Day.
• Affidavits of freedom to marry – you will both be asked to name two people who know you (at least 5 years); parents or siblings preferred. (we will provide you with the form)

• Parish Registration – if not a registered member of St. Anne, please obtain a letter from the pastor church stating that 1)you are a registered parishioner and 2) the pastor of the church gives you permission to be married at St. Anne Catholic Church , Tomball,TX.
•  Furnish Baptismal Certificate needs to be current issued by the church within 6 months of the wedding date.
• A Texas marriage license is not valid for 72 hrs from the time of issuance and becomes invalid if the marriage does not occur within 90 days of purchase.( must have 2 wks before wedding no license no wedding)
• After the wedding, the cleric will sign the license; the parish will record the information, and the couple will mail the completed license to the County Clerk’s Office.  Once the wedding has been recorded by the state, the original license will be mailed to the couple.
• For additional information, contact www.cclerk.hctx.net.

• Pre-nuptial meeting with the priest
• Couple to couple approach; for a series of 5 sessions. Here at St. Anne, these meetings may be with Sponsor couples and workbooks are required ($50.00 per set).
• Prepare & Enrich – online option
• Retreats thru the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston (archgh.org) which is your responsibility to make the reservation, attend and secure signatures for your registration form.

• The Church capacity is 500 people; parish hall is 85 people.
• No food or drink, except bottled water, is allowed in church premises. *NO GUM*
• No alcohol or illegal drugs are allowed on the parish grounds.
• Smoking is not permitted anywhere in parish buildings.
• Please turn off all electronic devices inside the sanctuary.
• The bride & attendants are asked to be mindful of modesty of dress for reverent respect of the church and the liturgy. Short dresses, low-cut or revealing gowns are not appropriate during the ceremony. (Remember you are in a Sacred Place and presence of a priest)
• Please leave all the facilities as you found them.  All trash must disposed of properly in dumpster in the back of buildings.
• Clean up must be concluded by 30 minutes after the ceremony.
• For Safety and security reasons, please designate a family member or friend to care for you personal belongings.  The church will not be responsible.

• Arrangements must not block any area where the priest stand or walk. (only fresh flowers can be used)
• Flowers and other objects may not be placed on the altar itself.
• Flowers are provided by the wedding party:  notify staff if you wish to leave flowers for weekend mass in honor of your wedding.
• Do not remove any Church furnishings/pedestals/plants from the building. Do not remove or change any liturgical decorations.
• All refuse should be removed from the church, dumpster in the back of building.
• Flower girls may not throw flowers in the aisle for safety reasons

• N0 TAPE, STAPLES OR TICKY-TACK are to be used; ribbons and ties may be used.
• Bows or flowers used as pew decorations cannot block access to the center aisle.
• Due to safety concerns, aisle runner or aisle candles (with flames) may not be used.
• All decorations must be removed from the church immediately after the ceremony.

• Due to safety hazards, these items are NOT allowed inside or outside the church.

• You may have a guest book in the Narthex, but guests signing the book must not delay start of ceremony (tip: take it to the reception for those who miss it at the wedding).

• The Unity Candle, Sand Ceremony and Unity Cross are not part of the celebration of marriage.  These can be used at other times such as rehearsal or reception.
• The Blessing and Giving of the Arras(coins) and the Blessing and Placing of the Lazo(cord, garland) or the Veil are permitted during the celebration of marriage.
• Entry procession options:

• Pictures may be taken one hour before the ceremony starts.
• Picture may be taken during the wedding as long as photographer(s) are respectful of the sacredness of the ceremony and DO NOT use a flash.
• Immediately after the ceremony, pictures/videos may be taken in the church using flash and lighting.  All photography must be completed 30 minutes after the ceremony.  Please be mindful if your wedding is in the afternoon that the church will be used for regular Mass and everything must be completed and finalized by 3:30pm.
• We ask that if the photography involves the priest those photos must be taken first as common courtesy to the Priest who has to prepare for regular mass that day.
• No additional microphones are allowed on or near the altar area.

• Couples will plan music for their ceremony with our St. Anne Music Director, (281-205-1179).  The Director will guide you through your selections, offer suggestions, and answer questions. Please enter your

• A wedding is first and foremost a sacred celebration; St. Anne music director must ensure that the integrity and dignity of the Roman Catholic liturgy is respected and maintained.

• Fees for music should be discussed with the Music Director and how they are due and paid.

• Ushers have an important responsibility in the wedding celebration.  They set the atmosphere of hospitality by the way they meet the guests at the church entrance; welcome the guest; and escort them to their seats. * NO CHEWING GUM*
• Ushers should know where the restrooms are located; be mindful of handicap or elderly who require special seating and bewae of guests with special seating instructions made by wedding couple.
•  1  usher per every 50 guests is recommended.
• Ushers are asked to maintain reverence in the Church building.

• The time for the wedding rehearsal must be reserved on the Church Calendar. ( call parish office to schedule)
• The rehearsal itself is not the time for deciding how people will line up, who will do readings etc.  These items need to be fully agreed upon before the rehearsal.
• The rehearsal will begin promptly at the time scheduled and should last no longer than 1 hour.
• All members of the wedding party must attend the rehearsal.  It is important that your readers; gift bearers & ushers also attend.
• IMPORTANT:  Bring your Marriage License to Rehearsal.
• No food or drink is allowed inside the church and appropriate dress.

• Ushers & Wedding Party should arrive at the church at least one hour before the wedding.
• Make sure St.Anne facilities coordinator has copy of your complete Wedding Worksheet.
• The men should be dressed; they can use the cry room as a waiting area.   The Bride and her attendants should arrive with make-up and hair done.  The bridal dressing area is located in the Parish Hall.
• Please do not leave valuables in cars or anypremises, the parish cannot be held responsible for lost or stolen items.
• Please leave the areas clean and in good order. Designate a friend or family member to oversee these matters.
• Reminder if you have an afternoon wedding it must be finished by 3:30pm, so St. Anne parish may prepare for our regular mass schedule.
• Be on Time!
  FEES
     WEDDING DONATIONS, GIFTS AND FEES
  
           Registered            Non-
           Parishioners              Parishioners
  
  Church Rental           $800                    $1300 Wedding
  (500 capacity).         $300                                $300 Security deposit       
  
  Materials Fee $100 $100
  Wedding Facilities   $100             $100
  (Coordinator)
  
  Musician Fees             (Meet directly with Music Director)
  
  Florals          (Provided by wedding party)
  
  Parish Hall      $200             $400 per event
  Rental           $100             $100 Security deposit
  (85 capacity)         
  
  
• Down Payment and Security Deposit are due at the time the wedding is booked and the balance of rental fees 4 weeks prior to ceremony.

• Wedding music planning is done jointly by the couple and music director, and the fees are paid directly to the cantor and musician.

• When a priest or deacon preside at your wedding, it is customary to offer a gift of at least $100-150.  Please submit this payment the Parish Office in an envelope.

Convalidation Ceremony
 

• May be done after daily Mass, or anytime outside of

• If you want to have a private Mass, you will have to pay the fee as normal wedding ceremony that is stated in the wedding guidelines. (see website)

• Cannon Law requires proper preparation for the entering the Sacrament of Matrimony and the same is true for Con validation as it is being done to create a valid Catholic marriage.  Therefore, Marriage preparation will be treated as you have just been married for the first time. It is a ceremony of validation by the catholic church of a legal marriage where at least the bride of the groom is Catholic and the couple’s wedding took place outside of the catholic church (Justice Peace, courthouse, non-Catholic church venue) This is necessary for the marital union to be formally recognized by the Catholic church.
  
  Contact Rosemary Perry at (281) 205-1177 or email rperry@stanne-tomball.org for additional information.