St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish - Message from the

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish

Diocese of Austin The Catholic Church of Central Texas

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Wedding and Marriage Planning Guide

Contents Welcome from the Pastor ............................................................................................................................. 3

Planning Checklist ......................................................................................................................................... 4

Six to twelve months before your wedding… ....................................................................................... 4

Three to four months before your wedding at St. Thomas Aquinas… ................................................. 4

One month before your wedding at St. Thomas Aquinas… .................................................................. 4

Required Documents .................................................................................................................................... 6

Required Marriage Preparation Programs .................................................................................................... 7

General Wedding Reminders ........................................................................................................................ 8

Guidelines for Use of Church ........................................................................................................................ 9

Guidelines for Florists and Decorators ....................................................................................................... 10

Guidelines for Photographers and Videographers ..................................................................................... 11

Guidelines for Liturgy and Music ................................................................................................................ 12

Overview of Music at the Wedding Liturgy ........................................................................................ 12

A Walk-Through of the Wedding Liturgy ............................................................................................ 12

Wedding Music Policies and Procedures ............................................................................................ 13

Explanation of Fees ..................................................................................................................................... 19



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Welcome from the Pastor Dear Engaged Couple, On behalf of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish, please let me extend our congratulations to you on

your engagement and upcoming wedding. We are honored that you have chosen to celebrate this

wonderful sacrament with our parish family. Many efforts have been made to ensure that this

wonderful time in your life will be one of great joy and celebration.

At St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish, we offer a comprehensive program to properly prepare you for

marriage. This program meets the requirements of marriage preparation set by the Catholic Church. As

you begin this exciting process, we ask you to contemplate daily the importance of this holy Sacrament.

How does your love reflect Christ’s love for his Church? Whether you are getting married here at St.

Thomas Aquinas or elsewhere, we are pleased to assist you in your preparation, and we look forward to

helping you delve into God’s love for us and your love for each other.

We ask that you give us a picture of both of you as soon as possible so that we can include the

photograph in your wedding file. In order to assist you in planning your wedding ceremony, we have

included some helpful information for the planning process, a list of guidelines for planning your

wedding liturgy, and other recommendations that were put into place to help maintain the sanctity of

your ceremony. You can find additional information on our website at www.stabcs.org. Please do not

hesitate to contact me or a member of my staff if we can be of further assistance.

In Christ,

Fr. Edwin Kagoo Rev. Fr. Edwin Kagoo Pastor, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish

http://www.stabcs.org/



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Planning Checklist Contact must be made with the church a minimum of six months in advance, but it is suggested to begin

preparations as soon as possible. Other timelines listed here are minimum suggestions to ensure stress-

free planning, but many activities can be done ahead of this schedule.

Six to twelve months before your wedding…

Please read the St. Thomas Aquinas Wedding and Marriage Planning Guide. If you are just

completing marriage preparation with us, read only the section on Required Marriage

Preparation Programs.

Call St. Thomas Aquinas to schedule an appointment with a Priest or Deacon.

o Complete the Pre-Nuptial Questionnaire.

o Sign Acknowledgement of Receipt.

o If the wedding will be celebrated at St. Thomas Aquinas, a date will then be set.

Weddings are not scheduled during Advent or Lent. A date and time for the rehearsal

will also be set at this time.

o Determine if the wedding will take place within or outside the Holy Sacrifice of the

Mass. Receive a Together for Life book and review planning pages at back of book. The

planning pages will need to be completed and returned to the celebrant and Music

Director at least two weeks prior to wedding.

o Pay $200 deposit towards church rental. This fee is non-refundable.

If your wedding will be celebrated at St. Thomas Aquinas:

o Review St. Thomas Aquinas General Wedding Reminders and Guidelines for Use of the

Church.

o Review the Facilities Use Policy and reserve additional St. Thomas Aquinas reception

facilities (if desired).

o Meet with the St. Thomas Aquinas Music Director to begin the liturgy planning process.

o Meet with the St. Thomas Aquinas Wedding Coordinator to discuss the wedding

ceremony.

Three to four months before your wedding at St. Thomas Aquinas…

Ensure that Church has received all required documents and any other optional documents.

Complete all required marriage preparation programs at St. Thomas Aquinas or submit

documentation of completion elsewhere to Priest or Deacon.

Meet with the Priest or Deacon to finalize the marriage preparation process and to ensure that

all documentation has been completed.

Review Guidelines for Florists and Decorators and Guidelines for Photographers and

Videographers and provide copies to the appropriate parties.

One month before your wedding at St. Thomas Aquinas…

Ensure that all fees for use of the church have been paid. Contact the Priest, Deacon, or Parish

Business Administrator with any questions you may have regarding payment.



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Schedule a final meeting with Priest or Deacon who will celebrate your liturgy. Turn in your

finalized liturgy planner to the Priest/Deacon and Music Director.

Obtain the marriage license from the County Courthouse.

o The license is good for thirty days, but the ceremony cannot take place until three days

after the license has been issued.

o Provide the marriage license to the celebrant at the rehearsal.



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Required Documents Completed and signed Prenuptial Questionnaire, which is completed during the initial meeting

with the pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas.

Updated copies of Baptismal Certificates

o Catholics need to request, as soon as possible, an updated copy of their baptismal

certificate from the parish where they were baptized. The original copy is insufficient.

You can do this by writing to the parish (addresses and phone numbers for all Catholic

parishes in the United States are available in our office) and informing it that you are

participating in marriage preparation and need an updated copy of your baptismal

record. Please provide the parish with your full name, date and place of birth, father’s

name, mother’s name (maiden) and date of baptism (if possible).

o In the event that there are absolutely no baptismal documents available, the Priest or

Deacon can help you obtain an Affidavit of Baptism. Baptized non-Catholic Christians are

requested to bring any information or documentation they might have regarding the

date and place of their Baptism.

Signed copies of Affidavit of Free Status

o Each party is to have some close friend(s) or relative(s) (usually the parents) fill out the

Affidavit of Free Status.

o This document will be given to you during your interview with the Priest or Deacon and

will need to be returned to the parish.

If one of the parties is not Catholic, then a dispensation for mixed religion or disparity of

worship is necessary.

Converts need a copy of Professions of Faith Certificate

Marriage License

o Contact the county courthouse for documentation required as soon as possible so that

there are no last minute delays.

o Marriage License is good for thirty days, but the ceremony cannot take place until 72

hours after the license has been issued.



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Required Marriage Preparation Programs There are three required programs and a fourth refection weekend that constitute the Marriage

Preparation Program at St. Thomas Aquinas. A fee of $150 is charged for these programs to offset

expenses incurred by the parish. This fee is due no later than the first night of the reflection weekend.

We encourage you to complete all marriage preparation requirements 60 to 90 days before the

wedding.

FOCCUS, Individual Marriage Preparation Inventory: This will be administered on the second

Saturday of each month (except December) at 9:00 AM in Rooms 44-46 of the Parish Activity

Center.

Sponsor Couple Program, “For Better and Forever”: The bride and groom will be matched with

a sponsor couple. There will be five meetings between the couple and their sponsors and one

meeting with engaged couple and the Priest or Deacon witnessing the marriage.

Natural Family Planning: One and one-half hour introduction class to the different models of

natural family planning. The classes are on Sundays from 1:00-2:30 PM in Rooms 44-46 of the RE

Wing.

Reflection Weekend, “Together in God’s Image”: Diocesan Marriage Preparation Program

starting on Friday evenings from 6:00-9:00 PM and ending on Saturday evening. Saturday

sessions begin at 8:00 AM and include Mass at 5:30PM and dinner at 7 PM. Sessions will be in

Rooms 44-46 of the Parish Activity Center and dinner will be in Zurek Hall.

For a detailed explanation of each of these marriage preparation programs, please visit

http://www.stabcs.org/weddingprep. A schedule of these events is available from the parish office.



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General Wedding Reminders No date for a wedding can be set until the couple has completed the initial interview with the pastor.

Weddings are not scheduled during Advent or Lent.

If you are completing marriage preparation outside of our parish, please send us proof of completion of

the preparation program.

Rehearsals are usually scheduled for the day before the wedding is to take place. A rehearsal for the

wedding is conducted to familiarize all participants with the liturgy and their involvement in it. We ask

that all are prompt and ready to begin the rehearsal at the scheduled time.

At least one of the parties must be a Roman Catholic who is regularly practicing the Catholic faith. Also,

we hope that couples who wish to be married at St. Thomas Aquinas have a connection to the parish.

When both of you are Catholic, we highly encourage the celebration of marriage during the Holy

Sacrifice of the Mass. If the Rite of Marriage will take place during Mass, then all Catholics present may

receive Communion. As Catholics, we believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of our

oneness in faith, life and worship. Members of churches with whom we are not yet fully united are

therefore not ordinarily invited to participate in Holy Communion. (see

http://www.nccbuscc.org/liturgy/q&a/mass/communion.shtml).

For marriages between a Catholic and a baptized Christian of another denomination or a non-baptized

person, the rite of marriage usually takes place within a service of the Liturgy of the Word without

Communion.

Remember you may freely discuss your marriage liturgy with the Priest, Deacon, or Music Director. If

you wish to personalize your ceremony in a way that is liturgically acceptable, we will be glad to work

with you in doing so. Some couples prefer to have their families play a more integral part in the

ceremony by being Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, or by participating in the

wedding procession. Have your thoughts and questions ready when you come to meet with the parish

staff.

If you have hired a wedding coordinator, you must still make any decisions regarding the liturgy with a

member of the parish staff.

All arrangements for weddings are made only through the couple themselves. Parents, relatives, and

friends are not to make the arrangements in place of the couple.



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Guidelines for Use of Church Our church has been consecrated to the service of God. We ask all who use it respect it as a place of

prayer and encounter with God. Our maintenance staff is very limited, so please help us in taking proper

care of God’s house.

Modest dress by all (the wedding party, family, and guests) is expected at both the wedding

rehearsal and the wedding ceremony. We appreciate your willingness to uphold the sanctity of

our church and your wedding liturgy.

$200 is due at the time of your initial meeting with the Priest or Deacon to reserve a date for the

wedding. The remaining $400 for church use and $100 for wedding coordinator must be paid to

the parish office in full no later than two weeks prior to your wedding date. See Explanation of

Fees.

The scheduled times for weddings at St. Thomas Aquinas are Saturdays at 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM,

or 7:30 PM. Any other dates and times will be considered after discussion with the Pastor.

The church will be opened to the wedding party two hours prior to the ceremony with the

exception of the Saturday 7:30 PM wedding time. Due to the Saturday 5:30 PM Mass, the

wedding party will have access to the church only at 6:30 PM. No one, under any circumstances,

will be admitted to the church prior to 6:30 PM. We thank you for your reverence toward our

parish’s regularly scheduled worship.

There are no drinks (except bottled water), tobacco, food, or chewing gum allowed in any rooms

of the church at any time. All cellular phones and pagers need to be switched off prior to

entering the church. Also, we encourage the use of prelude music before the wedding begins to

keep the amount of conversation in the church to a minimum.

Only the bride is allowed to dress at the parish. All other participants are to dress prior to

arriving at the church. No one is to use the other parish facilities, including restrooms in the

Parish Activity Center, Zurek Hall, or other locations, to dress.

We have a room available in which the groom and his groomsmen can gather; this, too, is not a

dressing room. Again, no food, drink, tobacco, or chewing gum is allowed in this room. This

room is connected to the church and the groom and his attendants should behave accordingly.

If the Rite of Marriage takes place during Mass, a kneeler is provided in the sanctuary for the

bride and groom. We can also provide a table and a stand for a guest books and/or worship aids.

Someone from the bridal party, the family, or the florist is to be appointed before the wedding

by the couple to remove flowers, candles, bows, empty floral boxes, trash, and wrappings after

the ceremony. The parish is not responsible for anything that is left after the wedding.



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Guidelines for Florists and Decorators Flower arrangements can add to the overall joyous and celebratory atmosphere in the church on your

wedding day. However, in order to respect the holy nature of the church, guidelines have been created

in order to assist your florist.

During the liturgical seasons of Christmas and Easter, the decorations and the colors (primarily

white) used in the church are to be considered permanent. No church furnishings or décor may

be moved or removed.

At other times of the liturgical year, flowers may be placed in the sanctuary (elevated altar area)

of the church. Any arrangement placed in the sanctuary must not obstruct the view of the

Tabernacle, the celebrant, or the other participants in the liturgy. Flower arrangements are not

allowed on top of the Tabernacle or on top of the altar.

The altar candles will be lit for your wedding. Unity candles are an optional, not integral, part of

any wedding. If you choose to light a unity candle, St. Thomas Aquinas does not provide a unity

candle; you must provide your own candle.

Additional candles are allowed. However, you must place sheets of plastic underneath the

candles to catch dripping wax. This is required even if the candles are advertised as drip-less

candles.

Tape, tacks, and staples are not allowed when attaching decorations to pews. Pew decorations

are easily attached by ribbons or plastic hooks.

After the wedding or reception, we would certainly appreciate you leaving us your floral

arrangements for the weekend Masses in the church. Please contact the parish office if you wish

to do so.

If your florist has any questions regarding whether certain arrangements are permissible, please

have your florist contact the parish office at (979) 693-6994.

Please provide a copy of this sheet to your florist and/or decorator for his or her reference.



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Guidelines for Photographers and Videographers While photographs or videotapes of a wedding can bring back memories for many years to come, they

can also serve as a distraction if the photographer or videographer does not observe proper etiquette.

We ask that photographers and videographers take care to not interfere with the sacred nature of the

ceremony.

Photographs can usually be taken before the wedding; contact the office to see if there is

anything scheduled in the space prior to your wedding.

Only the official photographer may use flash.

Photographers and videographers may not enter the sanctuary (elevated altar area) at any time.

There is nothing more distracting than a photographer or videographer who constantly moves

throughout the church building. Please keep movement to a minimum to prevent any

unnecessary distractions.

At no time should a photographer or videographer climb on the pews, benches, chairs, altar, or

tabernacle.

Thirty minutes are allotted for photography after the wedding liturgy has concluded.

If a videographer wants to use the parish’s sound equipment to record sound from our ambo,

celebrants, musicians, etc., he or she must contact the Music Director. The Music Director will

normally allow for auxiliary sends five and six to be used for recording purposes. Any use of the

parish’s sound equipment must be set up before the wedding day.

Please provide a copy of this sheet to your photographer and/or videographer for his or her reference.



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Guidelines for Liturgy and Music

Overview of Music at the Wedding Liturgy

At least three months before your wedding, please contact the Music Director to begin the planning

process for music at your wedding liturgy.

If you would like assistance in choosing music, please contact the Music Director to arrange a meeting.

The Wedding Hymns and Songs Sampler includes selections from our hymnals (Gather first edition,

Worship third edition, and the Seasonal Missalette) and is available from the Music Director. While the

contents of the Sampler are commonly used here at St. Thomas Aquinas, you are not limited to them.

You may also borrow a set of our hymnals for a two-week period. Please review these prior to meeting

with us. All resources must be returned at the conclusion of the planning process.

Respect for the liturgy requires that popular songs, music from musicals, and other secular music be

reserved for the reception.

Instrumental and vocal music for preludes, processionals, and recessionals should be chosen by you and

those whom you have hired to play and sing. You might wish to purchase a wedding music sampler

album. We strongly discourage the use of Richard Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” from Lohengrin, and Felix

Mendelssohn(-Bartholdy)’s “Wedding March” from the incidental score to A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

A Walk-Through of the Wedding Liturgy

Before the liturgy, prelude music may be played and/or sung. Musicians (instrumentalists and vocalists)

will typically provide twenty minutes of music before the ceremony. These selections may be chosen by

you, the musicians, or both.

The processions begin the wedding liturgy and typically include the seating of the mothers, entrance of

the attendants, and entrance of the bride. There may be one, two, or three music selections. Ordinarily,

the bride enters to a new selection.

The Liturgy of the Word follows the Opening Prayer. It consists of Scripture selections from the Old

Testament, the Book of Psalms, the New Testament, and the Gospels, as well as a Homily. Together for

Life provides all the options from the Lectionary for Scripture passages. We suggest that you choose first

the Gospel reading, then the Old Testament reading, then the Psalm, and finally a New Testament

reading. The Music Office also recommends that you choose the readings prior to choosing the music. If

there is a cantor at your wedding, the Responsorial Psalm must be sung. Before the Gospel reading, an

acclamation is sung; if there is no singing, the acclamation is omitted.

After the Homily, the Rite of Marriage takes place. It is described in detail in Together for Life. If you

choose to light a Unity Candle, the lighting occurs immediately after the Blessing and Exchange of Rings.

A short hymn or song may be played or sung during the Lighting of the Unity Candle. The Prayer of the

Faithful concludes the Rite of Marriage and the Liturgy of the Word.



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(If you are not having Mass, please skip this paragraph.) The Sacrifice of the Mass resumes its typical

form with the Liturgy of the Eucharist. During the Presentation of the Gifts, an Offertory hymn or song

may be sung. This is an appropriate moment for either congregational singing or an instrumental or

vocal solo. You are encouraged to sing the parts of the Ordinary of the Mass (Holy, Holy, Holy,

Memorial Acclamation, the Amen, and the Lamb of God), especially if you anticipate that much of the

congregation will be Catholic. Several popular settings are available and widely known. As it is common

to our brothers and sisters in Christ, the Lord’s Prayer should be recited by all. This is followed by a

Nuptial Blessing over the newly married couple. The distribution of Holy Communion is accompanied by

a Eucharistic congregational hymn or song. After Communion, a meditation hymn, song, or solo may be

sung. This may accompany an optional presentation of flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A final blessing is given over the couple before all are sent forth by God’s blessing. Before or during the

recessional, a congregational hymn or song may be sung. More frequently, the recessional is

accompanied by instrumental music.

Wedding Music Policies and Procedures

The Music Office at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish will help guide you through the music planning

process. The Office is also responsible for the final approval of music selections. If you have hired

musicians and/or wedding coordinators from outside of the parish, the Music Office must still approve

your selections. After the planning is completed, any changes must be reported to the Music Office in a

timely manner.

We do not allow recorded music at St. Thomas Aquinas. Our Music Ministry includes many accomplished

musicians available for hire. We also welcome musicians from outside of the parish, including friends

whom you want to share their musical gifts at your wedding. If you elect to have a friend sing at the

wedding, he or she must be available for rehearsing before the day of the wedding. A list of quality

cantors, accompanists, and instrumentalists from our parish and the surrounding area is available from

the Music Director.

Typically, the pianist/organist/accompanist will attend the wedding rehearsal. This is to allow those who

process to hear the music that will accompany their entrances and exits. Vocalists do not ordinarily

attend the rehearsal. When possible, musicians’ rehearsals with each other should be arranged and

accomplished in advance of the wedding. If you have hired musicians from outside the parish, please

instruct them to contact the Music Director to discuss what equipment and music they will use and to

arrange access to the parish instruments and space for rehearsal.

Wedding planning assistance is a service provided by the Music Ministry of the parish; there is no fee for

meeting with the Music Director. Musicians are hired and remunerated directly by the couple to be

married. Each musician sets his or her own fees. These fees are not covered by the rental fees for the

church. We recommend that payment be made to all musicians before the day of the wedding.

To comply with copyright law, please contact the Music Director if you plan to include printed words

and/or music in worship aids for the liturgy. Additionally, if you have borrowed the Wedding Hymns and



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Songs Sampler and/or hymnals, they must be returned promptly for judicious compliance with licensing

requirements.



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Basic Information

Bride’s Name:

Groom’s Name:

Wedding Date and Time:

Rehearsal Date and Time:

Presider:

Deacon (if applicable):

Rite of Marriage outside of Mass

Prelude Music:

PROCESSIONS AND INTRODUCTORY RITES

Family Procession: Grandparents:

Parents:

Attendant’s Procession: Bridesmaids: Groomsmen:

Flowergirls: Ringbearers:

Bridal Procession:

Opening Prayer: A -

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading: B - Read by:

Responsorial Psalm and Setting: C - Sung/Read by:

Second Reading: D - Read by:

Gospel Acclamation Setting:

Gospel Acclamation Verse: E -

Gospel Reading: F -



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RITE OF MARRIAGE

Introduction: G - 1

Consent: H -

Blessing/Exchange of Rings: I -

Prayer of the Faithful: J - Read by:

Lord’s Prayer: (recited by all)

Nuptial Blessing: M -

CONCLUDING RITES

Final Blessing: O -

Recessional Music:

Postlude Music:



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Basic Information

Bride’s Name:

Groom’s Name:

Wedding Date and Time:

Rehearsal Date and Time:

Presider:

Deacon (if applicable):

Rite of Marriage during Mass

Prelude Music:

PROCESSIONS AND INTRODUCTORY RITES

Family Procession:

Grandparents:

Parents:

Attendant’s Procession: Bridesmaids: Groomsmen:

Flowergirls: Ringbearers:

Bridal Procession:

Opening Prayer: A -

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading: B - Read by:

Responsorial Psalm and Setting C - Sung/Read by:

Second Reading: D - Read by:

Gospel Acclamation:

Gospel Acclamation Verse: E -

Gospel Reading: F -



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RITE OF MARRIAGE

Introduction: G - 1

Consent: H -

Blessing/Exchange of Rings: I -

Prayer of the Faithful: J - Read by:

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Presentation of the Gifts:

Prayer over the Gifts: K -

Preface: L -

Sanctus Setting:

Memorial Acclamation Setting:

Amen Setting:

COMMUNION RITES

Lord’s Prayer: (recited by all)

Nuptial Blessing: M -

Agnus Dei Setting:

Communion Processional One:

Communion Processional Two:

Prayer after Communion: N -

CONCLUDING RITES

Final Blessing: O -

Recessional Music:

Postlude Music:



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Explanation of Fees Marriage Preparation ($200.00 per couple): This fee covers all of the required marriage

preparation courses including FOCCUS, Together in God’s Image, Natural Family Planning,

Sponsor Couple Program, etc., and helps offset the expense of providing materials, books,

meals, utilities, etc. This fee must be paid in full no later than the first night of the Together in

God’s Image Weekend.

Church Rental ($ 600.00): $200 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of your initial meeting

with the Priest or Deacon and a date for your wedding has been reserved. The remaining $400

must be paid to the church office in full no later than two weeks prior to your wedding date.

This fee helps offset the expenses involved in making the church available for weddings. The fee

will cover the cost of utilities for the church. The air conditioning / heat will be turned on in the

church no later than two hours prior to your wedding. This provides a comfortable environment

for the ceremony.

Wedding Coordinator ($100.00): This fee provides for a Parish Wedding Coordinator who is

present at both the rehearsal and the wedding in order to ensure compliance with our

guidelines. This fee must be paid in full no later than two weeks prior to your wedding date.

Reception Facilities (available to registered parishioners only): Please read the Receptions Use

Policy and Rental Agreement, available from the parish office.

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