A Sacred Place to Begin Your Marriage Journey
We are honored that you are considering Saint Vincent Basilica Parish for your wedding ceremony! Whether you are a parishioner, Saint Vincent College alum, or non-parishioner, we are excited to help you celebrate this beautiful beginning to your life together in faith.
Please review the information below to ensure your wedding aligns with our Catholic traditions and facility guidelines. When you’re ready, contact us to start planning your special day!
Facility Guidelines
Getting Married at the Basilica
Saint Vincent Basilica offers a stunning and sacred space for your wedding ceremony. As you prepare for this joyous occasion, there are specific guidelines to follow to ensure your wedding reflects the reverence and beauty of this holy place.
- Eucharist at the Center: Weddings at the Basilica are more than ceremonies—they are sacred celebrations of faith, centered on Christ.
- Preparation Period: We require at least six (6) months’ notice to allow ample time for preparation.
- Guidelines: From decor to liturgical practices, our wedding guidelines ensure your ceremony is both meaningful and seamless.
Catholic Marriage Guidelines
Having a Catholic Wedding
Saint Vincent Basilica Parish celebrates only Catholic weddings. To have your ceremony here, the following requirements must be met:
- Sacrament of Marriage: Weddings at the Basilica must adhere to Catholic sacramental guidelines.
- Marriage Preparation: All couples are required to complete marriage preparation, including meetings with clergy and pre-marital counseling, to help you grow together in faith.
Basilica Guidelines
Organist and Musicians
Only Saint Vincent organists are permitted to play the organ for Basilica weddings. Please contact John Szalewicz, Music Director, at (724) 539-8629, ext. 21 to discuss the wedding music and fees. Even if organ music is not utilized at your wedding, all instrumentalists, vocalists and music selections must be approved by the Parish Music Director. The Bridal Chorus from the opera ·Lohengrin’ (‘Here Comes the Bride”) is not approved for use at wedding liturgies in the Basilica. Days and times for music rehearsal must be scheduled with the Parish Music Director. Musicians are not present at the wedding rehearsal.
Wedding Coordinator
The Parish Wedding Coordinator will attend the rehearsal and ceremony to assist the wedding party and clergy. A stipend for her services is collected at the time of the wedding rehearsal. While couples are free to employ a wedding planner for other aspects of their wedding day, such wedding planners have no authority on the grounds of Saint Vincent, and may not be involved with any aspect of the ceremony or rehearsal.
Scheduling Your Priest
Couples who are parish members may contact our Pastor, Fr. Killian Loch, O.S.B. to find out his availability. Couples who are not parish members must supply a priest. Other priests are welcome to celebrate the marriage service, but according to Canon Law, they must send us a letter of good standing from their home diocese.
Photography & Video
The taking of photographs or videos is permitted in the Basilica. However, photographers and videographers are not permitted to use the galleries and may not enter the sanctuary during the Liturgy. Couples are expected to share this information with their photographer and/or videographer. Because other liturgical celebrations are scheduled in the Basilica, the following schedule is to be strictly observed:
For a 12:30 p.m. wedding, bridal parties may have access to the Basilica beginning at 12:00 noon, and must vacate the premises no later than 2:00 p.m. For a 2:30 p.m. wedding, bridal parties may have access to the Basilica beginning at 2:00 p.m., and must vacate the premises no later than 4:00 p.m. Bridal parties do not have access to the Parish Assembly Room or the Crypt. Those taking pictures or videotaping are asked to keep in mind that people have gathered to pray. The church is a house of prayer, not a photography studio.
Wedding Rehearsal
It is the responsibility of the bridal couple to schedule the rehearsal time. Times for rehearsal are 6:00 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Rehearsals are held the evening before the wedding. Please be on time for the rehearsal, otherwise your rehearsal time will be forfeited. Forty-five minutes are allotted for the rehearsal.
Flowers, Bows/Crash, Unity Candles
Live floral decorations may be placed in bobeches around the candles at the altar and/or an arrangement may be placed in front of the lectern. No flowers may be placed on the altar itself. All floral decorations become the property of Saint Vincent Basilica Parish, and remain In the Basilica for Sunday Mass without exception. None of the Basilica’s seasonal decor may be removed. Artificial flowers are not permitted to be used in the Basilica.
Bows may not be used to decorate/reserve pews in the nave of the Basilica. The use of a crash or aisle runner is not permitted in the Basilica.
The Unity Candle is not a part of the Liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church. If a couple wishes to use a unity candle, the church will provide a stand. The candle will be placed on a stand in the sanctuary, but not on the altar itself. Couples are advised that the Unity Candle consists of two (2) tapers and a pillar candle. Couples using a Unity Candle in the wedding ceremony are required to bring the three candles to the wedding rehearsal.
Rice, Confetti, etc.
Flower petals, rice, confetti, birdseed, balloons, bubbles and similar items such as props (little red wagons, arches, etc.), may not be used in the Basilica or on Saint Vincent premises. Living creatures, including birds or butterflies, may not be released in the Basilica or on Saint Vincent premises, nor may pets and/or other animals serve any role in the wedding.
Marian Devotions - Chapel of the Immaculate Conception
Private devotions are normally celebrated outside of the Church’s liturgy. If both parties hold a special devotion to Mary, a presentation of flowers may be considered. For those who would like to place flowers before a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception is located to the right of the vestibule.
Contact Us
We are here to support you as you prepare for your wedding day and the beautiful sacrament of marriage. If you have any questions or are ready to book your ceremony, please reach out. We are keeping you in prayer as you take this important step together.