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Marriage Application Process: Step 2

- Applications

Your agreement below attests that you have read, understood, and agree to abide by the OLPH Marriage polices.
CHURCH REQUIREMENTS
The Diocese of Fresno calls for a six-month preparation period to enable the couple with the Church's help to prepare spiritually for their wedding and, more importantly, for their married life together.

As part of your preparation, you will be asked to attend a seminar or retreat for engaged couples. This is a special time specifically designed to deepen and enrich your relationship with each other.

It is required to obtain the testimony of four witnesses (relatives or friends of long standing) who can vouch for your freedom to marry.

It will be necessary for the couple to obtain a marriage license from anywhere in the State of California.

All the above information and paperwork is to be completed at least one month prior to your wedding.

NUPTIAL MASS OR WEDDING CEREMONY (TYPES OF CEREMONY)
The norm for practicing Catholics is a Nuptial Mass. For a marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic, a Nuptial Mass is permitted though not recommended, as the non-Catholic party would not be able to receive Holy Communion. However, a Nuptial Mass is never permitted for a marriage between a Catholic and a non-baptized person. You can be assured that whatever type of wedding you have it will be both beautiful and memorable, highlighting the love you have for each other and the prayers and best wishes of your family and friends. Please note that whatever you choose, we will do our best to make any non-Catholic guests feel welcome and comfortable.

WEDDING MUSIC
The U. S. Bishops in their document "Music in Catholic Worship" have stressed the importance of music at wedding liturgies. The document states that the music and its text be appropriate for the wedding liturgy and be used in the proper places. It asks that you look at your music in terms of its power to enable the people who will be present to express their faith.

Only OLPH musicians may be scheduled for the Wedding Mass. Mariachi music is not permitted.

BRIDAL PARTY
Because of the space available in the sanctuary, the maximum number of attendants is 16 (8 bridesmaids, 8 groomsmen), exclusive of the flower girl. We ask that flower girl not drop petals, either real or silk.

Care should be taken in choosing young children for the wedding party, since sometimes a large social gathering such as a wedding may be overwhelming and the child may become upset and not be able to perform his or her duty. It is our experience that children five years and older are best suited for these roles.

Please help us maintain the reverence and dignity of the Lord’s house by informing members of the wedding party to refrain from chewing gum and imbibing alcoholic beverages prior to the wedding ceremony, and to come in proper dress. Anyone coming to the church intoxicated will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony, including the bride and/or groom.

COVID Safetly Protocols

Maximum capacity inside the church is 60 people. Once 60 people have been seated, our ushers will close the doors of the church. Social distancing of six feet radial distance must be observed at all times. Face masks are required at all times for adults and children over 2 years old. Please bring your own mask. Individuals must sanitize their hands before entering the church. Sanitizer will be provided.

Ushers will seat families in an orderly manner to ensure distancing protocols are followed. Family members living in the same household may sit together without the six feet of separation.

A procession with the bridal party is prohibited during this time. Only the bride and her father may process in at the beginning of the Mass. All guests and members of the bridal party will be seated by an usher before Mass begins.

DRESS GUIDELINES FOR BRIDE AND BRIDAL PARTY
Out of respect for the sacredness of the sacrament of Marriage, please choose your wedding dress and bridesmaids’ dresses with the following requirements in mind:
- Dresses must not be low cut.
- Dresses must cover the shoulders.
If the dress style does not meet these requirements, it will be necessary to wear a shawl or covering during the Mass. There are no exceptions allowed. The same dress guidelines apply for the bridesmaids.

There is no bride’s room for the use of the bridal party. Everyone must arrive at the wedding ready to go.

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS AND DECORATIONS
Floral arrangements are to be furnished by the bridal couple and are to be kept simple. Please note that if you do plan your wedding during a special liturgical season such as Advent, Christmas, Easter, the church sanctuary may be enhanced with seasonal arrangements which cannot be altered or removed. No floral arrangments are allowed in the sanctuary during the season of Lent.

All decorations must be removed from the church immediately following the ceremony. This is the responsibility of the wedding party, unless arrangements are made with the florist.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY
To provide a meaningful remembrance of the liturgy and sacred vows, we do allow photographs to be taken in the church. To make sure your marriage liturgy will be a prayerful experience for you and your guests, we ask the following in regard to taking photographs and videography:
- Except during the procession, no flash photography is allowed during the ceremony. Only available light photography is allowed.
- No photography is allowed during the Nuptial Mass from the end of the vows until the end of the Lord’s Prayer.
- Photographers are not allowed within the sanctuary during the ceremony. We ask that all movement be discreet so as not to intrude on or draw attention away from the experience or mood of the ceremony.
- Photographers should be careful not to impede the procession.
- It is the responsibility of the photographer to help the wedding party keep a sense of reverence during picture taking that is in keeping with the respectful atmosphere desired at all times within the church.
- No umbrellas or other lighting equipment or backdrops may be set up for the photographic session.
- Photographers should keep their equipment in an area where it will not be in the way of guests.
- Due to the restrictions of COVID safety protocols, the photographers and videographers are not exempt from social distancing. They must remain stationary during the Mass in the designated positions to ensure the health and safety of all guests.
PHOTOGRAPHY AFTER THE CEREMONY
Other ceremonies or Masses immediately follow our weddings, and in view of this we have initiated the policy of allowing only 15 minutes in the sanctuary immediately following the wedding ceremony. Please work with your wedding photographer ahead of time to decide which shots would be most appropriate for this area.

In addition, in order to facilitate the flow of the picture taking after the ceremony, once the newly married couple arrives at the rear of the church in the recessional, the Wedding Coordinator will escort the bride and groom and the bridal party back to the sanctuary to immediately begin taking photos.

RICE AND BIRDSEED
Throwing rice or birdseed, as well as guests blowing bubbles, is strictly prohibited on Church property for insurance reasons.

FEES
- There is a fee of $500.00 for the church plus $100.00 for each musician. A non-refundable deposit of $200.00 is due before reserving the date of the wedding.
- Payment of the remaining balance must be made no later than one month prior to the wedding date.
WEDDINGS MUST BEGIN ON TIME
Due to the busy schedule of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church as well as out of respect for the professional schedules of the priest and ministries involved, we ask that you make every effort to ensure your bridal party and guests arrive early so that the celebration of your wedding can begin on time. Please follow the wedding coordinator’s guidance regarding arrival time. If you arrive fifteen minutes late and you are scheduled to celebrate your marriage within the Mass, the Mass will no longer be celebrated. Instead the priest will perform the Rite of Marriage outside the Mass.

Out of respect for everyone, there are no exceptions to any of the above-stated policies.
Agreement to the Policies
The maximum number of form submissions has been reached. This form is currently not available.
- Out of respect for everyone, there are no exceptions to any of the above-stated policies.
- Name of Bride and Groom REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
- My phone number REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter valid data.
- Email REQUIRED Please fill out this field. Please enter an email address.
- I have read and understood the parish policies described above, and agree to abide by them.
  I Agree Please select this field.
- I understand that my deposit of $200 is non-refundable if cancelled.
  I Agree Please select this field.
- I understand that changing the date of the Wedding Mass after it has been scheduled would entail a $100 processing fee.
  I Agree Please select this field.
- I understand that these safety protocols may change by the time of the Wedding Mass. They may be more or less restrictive, depending upon the current COVID-19 situation and the state, county, and diocesan guidelines.
  I Agree Please select this field.
- If the guests or court fail to follow the safety protocols, the ceremony will be canceled in order to avoid jeopardizing the health of the other people present. I understand that if this becomes necessary on the day of the Wedding, a refund will not be possible.
  I Agree Please select this field.
- We agree to respect the busy schedule of the church, priest, and ministries involved. If the ceremony starts 15 minutes late, I understand the Mass will no longer be celebrated. Instead, the service will be shortened to a Liturgy of the Word.
  I Agree Please select this field.
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