We are delighted that you have chosen the Cathedral of the Incarnation as the Church in which to celebrate your marriage. Your marriage is, first of all a sacrament; it is one of the most significant spiritual events of your life. In meeting the schedule of a busy parish, the Cathedral is available for weddings on Saturdays at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM.

We are giving you these guidelines to assist you in making your wedding everything that it should be. For the sake of harmony, please do not ask for exceptions to the guidelines.

Preliminary Preparations

It is a diocesan regulation that arrangements for your wedding must be initiated a priest or deacon of your choice at least four months before the desired date of the ceremony. Please contact an ordained minister before setting the date for your wedding ceremony. His agreement and name must be supplied before the Cathedral will reserve the date.

Pre-marriage counseling is most important. The priest or deacon who will witness your marriage is responsible for your marriage preparation. In order to meet his responsibilities he will ask for a Baptismal Certificate from each baptized party and a Marriage License from the State of Tennessee. He will assist you in completing the Pre-Nuptial Questionnaire and instruct you on how to register for an Engaged Couples Retreat.

Decorations

Flowers

Flowers used for the wedding are left at the Church for ceremonies during the following days. The only place that flowers and greenery may be placed is on the reredos (the marble crucifixion scene in the apse of the Church). 

No flowers, palms or other greenery may be placed on the altar of sacrifice or on the floors of the sanctuary.

Only fresh flowers are allowed on the altar; no silk or artificial flowers are allowed in altar arrangements. No asparagus type fern is allowed inside the Church in any arrangement. Other greenery is permissible.

The Cathedral's brass vases are available for your use. The florist will make use of a large saucer to fit on the top of the vase. All arrangements are to be prepared by the florist before they are brought to the Church.

Greenery or ribbons may be used as pew markers, provided that they do not mar the pews.

Please tell your florist to confer with the Church secretary about the time of day to decorate for your wedding; this will avoid conflicts with other ceremonies. The florist should also be asked to leave the Church as neat as he/she found it, removing his/her equipment as soon as the ceremony is concluded.

Candles

A unity candle may be used in the ceremony, but must be placed on the marble floor, not on the carpet. The Cathedral's unity candle stand is available for your convenience. Nuptial Candles may be obtained at St. Mary's Bookstore.

The only other candles allowed are the ones presently in the sanctuary which will be lighted for the ceremony. No additional candelabra or candles of any type may be used in the aisles. 

No rice, seed, confetti or similar missile is to be thrown any where on the Church premises, before, during, or after the wedding.

Music

The Staff of the Cathedral's Music Department is ready to assist you in planning music appropriate for your celebration. All music plans are to be coordinated with them. Please contact them as soon as the date is set.

The Parish organist is Mrs. Rebecca Horton. She can be contacted by calling 327-2330 extension 311. Call the parish office at 327-2003 for Vocal information.

The Ceremony

The rehearsal, which is scheduled for the evening before the wedding, ordinarily lasts less than one hour. The priest or deacon who witnesses your marriage, not the florist or wedding consultant, will direct the rehearsal.

A Bride's Room for the women in the bridal party is available for your use. This room serves as the Vesting Room for liturgical ministers on Saturday evenings and Sundays. Because of this, those celebrating a wedding at 7:30 on Saturday cannot make use of the Bride's Room until 5:40 PM. Bride's with a 2:00 PM wedding may have access to the Bride's Room at 11:30 AM. 

As this room is used by others, please dispose of all trash in a proper manner.

No food or drink, only bottled water is allowed in the Bride's Room.

It is customary for the men in the wedding party to dress before coming to the church.

The Cathedral event coordinator will contact the bride the week of the wedding to go over last minute details.

On the day of the wedding two members of the Cathedral parish will be present to set up and assist the ministers and the bridal party. They will also assist with security issues and ensure that the bridal party is lined up and ready for the start of the ceremony.

Photography

In order to preserve the solemnity and prevent misunderstandings, please ask your photographer to consult with the priest or deacon about pictures during the ceremony.

For your benefit and ours, photography, at the conclusion of the ceremony, should be limited to one-half hour or less. This session should be completed before moving to the reception.

No Church furniture or appointments are to be moved by the photographer, florist or any member of the wedding party.

Reception

Although the Cathedral is available for two weddings each Saturday we are able to accommodate only one reception in our Social Hall. It is booked on a first request basis.

The Social Hall in the Rev. William J. Fleming Center will be cleaned and ready when you reserve it for your wedding. Please be sure that your caterer is aware that he/she is responsible for leaving the hall in good condition.

Limited kitchen facilities, banquet tables and folding chairs are available. However, your caterer must furnish dishes, glassware, silver, tablecloths and other amenities.

No decorations of any kind may be taped to the walls in the Rev. William J. Fleming Center.

If you intend to serve alcoholic beverages, we ask that you use our beer cooler and tap and mobile bar. Our beer dispenser holds pony size kegs. No bottles or cans of beer are permitted.

The Rev. William J. Fleming Center is equipped with audio/visual equipment including sound, video, CD/DVD, cable connection as well as connections for computer presentations. Only the parish technician is allowed to operate the equipment. His services, and fee of $100.00, is scheduled through the Facility Scheduler.

Fees

Insurance Liability coverage is now covered in the prices below.

PARISHIONER (Persons who have been officially registered for at least one year, and have been contributing to the mission of the parish through time, talent or treasure).

We will do our best to ensure that things go smoothly on the biggest day of your life. Thank you for your cooperation.