Marriage

As the mother church of the archdiocese, not only parishioners of the cathedral but of any parish throughout the archdiocese may celebrate their marriage here. Those residing outside the archdiocese may contact the parish office to explore the possibility of celebrating your marriage at the cathedral. If you are not familiar with the cathedral, please come to one of our weekend liturgies. This will help you to become familiar with the space. You will be sure to agree that the cathedral is an extraordinary and holy place.​

One of the priests assigned to the cathedral will officiate weddings of cathedral parishioners. They are also available for other couples if their schedule permits. In addition, permission can be given for another priest or deacon in good standing to officiate.

They are, if they are marrying a Catholic.

People must be “free to marry.” You must speak first with a priest or deacon regarding past marriages to ascertain this freedom. It might be necessary to apply for an annulment or decree of invalidity before a date can be placed on the cathedral schedule. ​

Yes. Since marriage in the Catholic Church is both a Sacrament and a lifetime commitment, one of the ways we value the integrity of this commitment is by requiring proper preparation. Couples who are parishioners of the cathedral will meet with one of the cathedral priests. Other couples will generally deal directly with the priest or deacon who will officiate at their wedding.​

Saturday weddings are celebrated throughout the day between 10:30am and 6:00pm; Friday or weekday weddings are also permitted. Sunday afternoon weddings are permitted. The Church discourages the Sacrament of Marriage to be celebrated during Lent. Please be on time for both the rehearsal and the wedding. It is rude to both the cathedral staff and your guests to be late.

You must schedule an appointment with one of the cathedral priests in order to arrange for a date. At this initial meeting with the priest, you will establish your freedom to marry within the Church, verify who will officiate at your ceremony, and learn of the necessary documents needed and review the entire process. Once these requirements are fulfilled, the date can be secured. The steps listed above should be followed before you finalize any arrangements regarding the place of your reception.​

It is necessary for you to contact us immediately if your plans change and you decide not to celebrate your wedding at the cathedral. We receive many requests for dates and need to keep our calendar current.

Yes, the fee helps defray the cost of the services of marriage preparation, rehearsal, clergy, organist, cantor, sacristan, custodian and security, as well as the cost of utilities such as heat, air-conditioning and electricity. The donation is $1,125. No parishioner of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph is ever turned away because of the inability to pay. Livestreaming is also available at an extra charge. Fees must be paid in full at the wedding rehearsal.

Every marriage solemnized in the State of Connecticut requires a marriage license. The marriage license must be obtained from the City of Hartford. Consult the website or call the city hall for more information. This license must be brought to the wedding rehearsal. No license, no rehearsal!

It is recommended that you duplicate this brochure for the wedding consultant’s information. It is good to keep in mind that a person from the cathedral staff will be conducting the rehearsal and officiating at the ceremony under the advisement of the bride and groom ONLY.​

The front entrance to the cathedral is located at 140 Farmington Avenue. There is limited street parking available. Handicapped parking and elevator access are available from Asylum Avenue. Directions can be found on the cathedral website. Parking is also available in the clearly marked Cathedral/Archdiocese of Hartford parking lot on Farmington Avenue (between Webster Bank and the Chancery).

Please be sure that all members of the wedding party have been properly notified of the time, place, etc. and have been given directions to the cathedral. Again, please make sure the entire wedding party is on time since many times there are other events that same evening. ​

Any furniture or liturgical decorations (plants, banners, altar cloths) already present in the sanctuary may not be disturbed in any way. Certainly nothing should be moved or rearranged without consultation with the cathedral staff.​

The cathedral is much larger than most people think. Too few, too low, or too small of an arrangement will look out of place. The cathedral has an onsite florist that can be employed. Please discuss this option with the cathedral staff.

If you opt to utilize a florist outside the cathedral, please encourage your florist to examine the space in person since a normal size arrangement will generally not be adequate for the desired effect.

• Flowers are not to be placed directly on the altar, but they are permitted in the sanctuary.
• Florists may deliver arrangements to the cathedral before the ceremony begins. They must call the rectory to make sure the cathedral is unlocked.
• Floral arrangements must never obstruct the view of the assembly. The assembly must always be able to see the altar, the lector, the cantor and the presider.
• Only bows or flowers are allowed on the pews. They must be attached with ribbons, rubber bands, or felt-covered wire only. No tacks, nails or duct tape may be used anywhere in the building.
• After the wedding, you should designate someone to take these to the reception, or they will be removed and discarded.
• Floral arrangements should be left in the cathedral to enhance the beauty of our weekend liturgies.
• The season of Lent is a penitential season of the Church year, and flowers should be limited and reflect the spirit of the season.

• Photographers are asked not to interfere with the movement of the procession or recessional by having couples stop in the aisle.
• Photographs taken during the ceremony must not interfere with the reverence, dignity, sacredness of the Sacrament of Marriage.
• Photography/Videography is allowed to be taken from the choir loft.
• It is necessary for the photographer/videographer to speak with the priest or deacon officiating at the wedding before the ceremony.

No. The scattering of fresh flower petals is damaging to the cathedral floor. Flower girls are welcome to carry a basket of arranged flowers to enhance the beauty of your ceremony. As a matter of course, nothing should be scattered in the cathedral.​

Out of respect for the church building, which is sacred, and out of respect for others who will be using this space after the wedding, we ask that no rice, birdseed, confetti, or balloons be used inside the cathedral or on the cathedral plaza. No beverages of any kind are to be brought into the cathedral. Chewing gum is not permitted during the rehearsal or ceremony. Dress and behavior should likewise be respectful.​

The cathedral does not prepare wedding programs. If you choose to prepare a program booklet to be distributed to your guests, please consult the cathedral staff. The music department may also assist you with the program.​

The Cathedral of Saint Joseph does employ a security guard who will be on duty during your rehearsal and ceremony. However, we would advise that you attend to any personal belongings while on the cathedral grounds. Vehicles are to be locked at all times. The cathedral does not take responsibility for lost or stolen articles.​

These regulations are in place to protect the sanctity of the building and to maintain a level of organization with the thousands of people who visit the cathedral each year. The cathedral staff has collective experience with what will work within our worship space and what will not work. Although the guidelines may seem overwhelming and restricting, in the long run, they will assure you a wedding ceremony that will be breathtaking and unforgettable. It is the responsibility of the bride and groom to communicate all policies to those who will be involved in the wedding ceremony.​

Introduction
The Cathedral Music Ministry will help make the liturgical celebration of your marriage a beautiful, prayerful, and joyful event. We guide you in planning and we provide the musicians who will lead the singing and play instruments at your wedding. We look forward to meeting with you to assist in the selection of music appropriate to the sacramental nature of the liturgical celebration of marriage.

Planning
We ask that all couples being married in the cathedral call the Music Office (860-249-8431) to schedule a wedding music consultation appointment with our music director, Dr. Gabriel Löfvall. Note the selections you would like and bring the list to the planning meeting. It is also helpful if you have reviewed and chosen your scripture readings, especially the responsorial psalm.

Organist
Either the cathedral organist, Jacob Dowgewicz, or our music director, Dr. Gabriel Löfvall, must play for all weddings. As your advisor, Dr. Löfvall will guide you through the music selection process. Any questions regarding the suitability of wedding music selections will be decided by him. His fee is included in the wedding offering.

Vocalists
It is our policy that a cathedral cantor be engaged for each wedding. The fee is included in the wedding offering. The cantor is the vocal soloist and leads the congregational singing. The music director will secure the services of a cathedral cantor for your wedding. It is important that a cathedral cantor participate in your wedding because of their high level of skill, familiarity with cathedral liturgy, experience in the vast cathedral space, and ongoing working relationship with cathedral staff.

Instrumentalists
Additional instrumentalists (trumpet, violin, etc.) are often desired as part of the wedding music. After your wedding music planning meeting, the music director can engage the services of professional instrumentalists who are superbly skilled and experienced in working in the cathedral. It is cathedral policy that instrumentalists must be arranged through the music director. Additional instrumentalists are not included in the wedding offering.

Choir
A quartet, octet, large choir or any other combination of cathedral singers may be contracted for your wedding. The music director can help you with this at the wedding music planning meeting. Additional choir/singers are not included in the wedding offering.

Non-Cathedral Musicians
For the reasons given above, the use of non-cathedral musicians for weddings is strongly discouraged. In the event, however, that you wish to employ a non-cathedral musician at your wedding, the following information applies: An audio recording of the musician must be submitted to the music director at least one week before your wedding music planning meeting. The music director will use the tape to determine the musician’s ability to competently fulfill their musical role in the liturgy. This is done to ensure the quality of musical and liturgical prayer at your wedding. Most qualified musicians will have a suitable tape/CD available.

In the case of qualified non-cathedral singers, they will be permitted to sing one or two solos as decided by the music director. Please note that even in cases where a non-cathedral singer is permitted, a cathedral cantor must be present to lead the liturgical music.

Rehearsal time with the non-cathedral musician and the music director must be arranged. Please note that this rehearsal will require an extra fee. The music director will inform you of the exact amount of music fees at your meeting. These fees may be given to the priest or deacon of the cathedral at the time of the wedding rehearsal.

Pre-Recorded Music
The use of pre-recorded music is not permitted in cathedral liturgy.

Suggested Wedding Music
This list is only a sampling of music commonly used for weddings; we encourage you to bring you own ideas.

Processionals and Recessionals

• Air (from Suite No. 3) – J. S. Bach
• Canon in D – Pachelbel
• The Rejoicing – Handel
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – J. S. Bach
• Ode to Joy – Beethoven
• Psalm 19 – Marcello
• Rondeau – Mouret
• Toccata in F – Widor
• Trumpet Tune – Purcell
• Trumpet Voluntary – Clarke
• Hornpipe (from Water Music) – Handel
• Air (from Water Music) – Handel
• Wedding March – Mozart

Vocal Solos

• Alleluia – Mozart
• Gift of Love – Hopson
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – J. S. Bach
• Laudate Dominum – Mozart
• Let the Bright Seraphim – Handel
• Love is Patient – Powell
• Love is the Sunlight – Traditional Gaelic
• Panis Angelicus – Franck
• The Call – Vaughan Williams
• Thy Perfect Love – Rutter
• Wedding Song – Peeters

Music for the Unity Candle Ceremony

• A Unity Candle Song (Vocal solo) – Haan
• La Grace (Instrumental) – Telemann

Music for Marian Devotion

• Ave Maria – Bach/Gounod
• Ave Maria – Dupré
• Ave Maria – Saint-Saens
• Ave Maria – Schubert