Who may marry at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church?

Holy Trinity Parish welcomes couples who understand Christian Marriage to be a sacrament and would therefore wish to have their Marriage celebrated according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church. At least one of the parties should be a committed Catholic. Both parties should be free to marry in accord with the norms of Canon Law; i.e., neither party should have been married before. However, if one or both have been in prior Marriages, those Marriages need to have been declared null and void by a Church Tribunal.

How is a wedding date scheduled?

In order not to be disappointed, it is highly recommended that you confirm your wedding date with the church before confirming your venue.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River asks couples to schedule the wedding date at least six months in advance (but not earlier than one year in advance) in order that ample time is allowed for the completion of all paperwork, and for proper preparation prior to the celebration of the sacrament of Marriage. Please complete the Wedding Information Form after
you have called to pencil in a date.

When are weddings celebrated?

Weddings at Holy Trinity may be scheduled on:

• Fridays between 3 and 5PM
• Saturdays between 1 and 2PM
• Sundays at 3PM (Word Service Only)
  (Only one Wedding per day may be scheduled.)

The administrative assistant of the parish is able to pencil in a date that will not become official until the couple is able to meet with a priest who will ascertain that both parties are indeed free to marry in accord with Church Law.

Priority in scheduling weddings must be given to those families who have a home within the parish boundaries and who are registered, contributing members of the parish. Those who are not registered or not living within the parish boundaries can request specific dates, depending upon availability. The church offering is $1,500, and all confirmed dates require a
deposit of 50% of that offering.

What are the requirements for Marriage preparation?

The couple will meet with a priest or a deacon at Holy Trinity and discuss the necessity for further meetings for instruction and completion of required paperwork. Participation in a formal program of Marriage preparation sponsored by a Roman Catholic diocese or parish is required. Couples who do not live locally should consult with their local parish to identify and register for such a program in their area. A certificate of completion should be obtained and sent to Holy Trinity Church.

Please refer to the Office of Faith Formation for the Fall River Diocese for the schedule of Marriage Preparation Classes.

IF A VISITING PRIEST DOES THE PAPERWORK, HE MUST SEND A LETTER STATING SUCH TO HOLY TRINITY.

What documents are required in order to complete paperwork?

• Baptism and Confirmation records: Roman Catholics are required to obtain a recent (not older than one year) copy of the record of their Baptism and of their Confirmation from the parish in which they were baptized and confirmed. Those baptized and/or confirmed in other Christian denominations should also present documentation of their baptism and/or confirmation, if it is available.
• Declaration of Nullity: Those who have been in prior Marriages must provide a Declaration of Nullity for each of the prior bonds of Marriage, even those that were only civil in nature.
• Letter of Permission: Those who are not members of Holy Trinity Parish must obtain a letter of permission from their pastor to be married in this parish.

​How will we arrange music for our wedding?

Because a wedding is a liturgy of the Church, appropriate liturgical music is required for its proper celebration. The services of a parish organist and cantor who are well-prepared to understand all aspects of the Church’s liturgy and the place of music within it are therefore required, and their stipends are included in the offering to the church. Please be aware that secular music, which often overemphasizes romantic notions of love, is generally not appropriate for the celebration of a sacrament that commits a couple to grow in the love that has been modeled for us by Jesus Christ, one that is self sacrificing and unconditional. Please refer to the Wedding Music Suggestions.

If you desire to have instrumentation such as trumpet or violin or harp in addition to the church organ, the Music Director at Holy Trinity Church will obtain the musician for you. Fees for additional instruments are not included in the fee for Holy Trinity Church. Please contact Alex Paige, the Director of Music, at [email protected] if you wish to have additional instruments or if you have any questions.

How long are rehearsals?

Specific times are available for rehearsals. Rehearsals are conducted by the parish wedding coordinators and usually require about 45 minutes.

Who should attend the wedding rehearsal?

A rehearsal is simply that: a practice for those who will play principle
parts in the wedding liturgy:
~ Parents
~ Grandparents (and others who will be formally escorted into the church for the ceremony)
~ Attendants and all who will be in the wedding procession.
~ Those who will proclaim the scripture readings
~ Those who will take part in the offertory procession
For the good order of the rehearsal and maintenance of the respectful deportment that is appropriate within a church, other friends and relatives who may be attending a social gathering after the rehearsal should not be encouraged to attend the rehearsal itself.

What sort of decorations may be used for our wedding?

*Floral arrangements for the sanctuary are customary for weddings. However, any floral arrangements placed in the sanctuary to enhance the liturgy are more than a temporary decoration but instead must be considered an offering to God through the church and should not be removed after the wedding.
*Other decorations such as pew bows and arrangements may be used so long as the means of attaching these to the pews does no damage to the finish.
*Under no circumstances can anything breakable or containing liquids be affixed to the pews.
**IF ANY SUCH ITEMS ARE AFFIXED TO THE PEWS, THEY WILL BE REMOVED.  Please understand this is a safety issue.
*Any pew decorations must be removed after the wedding by relatives or friends designated by the couple, or by specific arrangement with the parish wedding coordinators.
* No rice, flower petals, confetti, or bubbles may be used on the inside or the outside of the church.
*Aisle runners are not allowed for the safety of you and your guests.
*Please understand that these are not capricious rules.  Anything that is attached to the end of a pew is very easily knocked off.   Water, rice, bubbles, confetti, aisle runners and flower petals are slip hazards and shards of glass are very dangerous.

Are there restrictions on photography during the wedding?

Photographers and videographers are welcome to create a record of this important day in your lives. That being said, all professional photographers should consult with the celebrant prior to the wedding in order to be clear about how this might be done in a way that is unobtrusive and does not interfere in any way with the wedding liturgy.

Photography in the church after the wedding is not encouraged and, if inclement weather prohibits outdoor photography, a very limited number of shots may be arranged in the sanctuary, but only with the express permission of the celebrant and within the time constraints of the church’s schedule. Photographs on the parish property are allowed for a reasonable time after the wedding, but arrangements should be made in advance to be sure that access to the church is not obstructed for liturgies
that may be taking place after your wedding.