Other Wedding Resources

Catholic Wedding Checklist

Old Saint Mary's is the perfect church for your Catholic wedding in San Francisco. We are located near downtown and the Embarcadero, on a cable car line and near many hotels and venues! Call us at 415-288-3800 or come visit us today.

Remember, the Catholic Church requires at least 6 months for wedding preparation. Here's our checklist to help you prepare for your wedding day.

 

6 Months Or More Before Your Wedding:

  1. Arrange for an interview with the priest or deacon at Old Saint Mary's Cathedral + Chinese Mission.

  2. For Catholics, contact the parish of baptism and obtain a recently issued copy of your baptism certificate with sacrament annotations. For non-Catholic Christians, any copy of your baptism certificate or a note from someone who was present stating the date, church and location.

  3. Set a wedding date with the church

  4. Confirm where you will do your marriage preparation

  5. Sign up for our  Saturday For the Engaged or an Engaged Encounter Weekend or Catholic marriage preparation program

  6. It is recommended to take an introductory class to Natural Family Planning. The SF Archdiocese recommends www.nfpbasics.com

 

5 Months Or More Before Your Wedding:

  1. Make an appointment with your local parish or Old Saint Mary's Cathedral + Chinese Mission to complete Form A

  2. Ask 2 close relatives or lifelong friends to complete Form B

  3. Arrange a date to complete FOCCUS premarital inventory

 

4 Months Or More Before Your Wedding:

  1. Begin FOCCUS follow-up session(s) with priest or pastoral associate

  2. If you plan to have a visiting presider, confirm with Old Saint Mary's

 

3 Months Or More Before Your Wedding:

  1. Meet with the marriage coordinator to discuss options for the wedding liturgy

  2. Review and select the Scriptures, prayers and music for the service

 

2 Months Or More Before Your Wedding:

  1. Finalize the details of the wedding liturgy

  2. Be sure all documentation is completed and sent to Old Saint Mary's

  3. Ask persons with the necessary skills and training to be liturgical

  4. Select ministers - readers, communion ministers, etc.

  5. Call the florist to order floral arrangements for the church

  6. Purchase a unity candle (and tapers) if you plan to use one

 

1 Month Or More Before Your Wedding:

  1. Get the worship aid or program (if you plan to have one) prepared, reviewed and printed.

  2. Discuss parish guidelines with photographers and videographers

  3. Send the final payment for use of the church to Old Saint Mary's

  4. Get your marriage license from any county clerk’s office in California. Both parties must appear together. The license if good for 90 days from the time of issue.

 

1 Week Before Your Wedding:

  1. Remind the wedding party, family and ministers to be on time for the rehearsal

 

Bring To The Rehearsal

  1. The marriage license

  2. The unity candle if you plan to use one

  3. Offering envelopes for the presider and any others who will receive a gift or stipend

 

Bring To The Wedding:

  1. The rings