Our Lady of Peace Church

Two Shall Become One

You are about to make a life-long commitment of love for one another—a decision which you should approach with great seriousness, as well as joyful hearts. Marriage--the union of two individuals for life--is regarded as a sacrament in the Catholic Church and as with all sacraments, some preparation is needed by both the bride and the groom. This page serves as an overview to help you prepare appropriately.

In general, please allow AT LEAST SIX MONTHS in advance of the wedding date for preparation. If one or both of you are under the age of 19, please allow for an additional month or so for professional evaluation. A check list is provided below to plan ahead.

Getting Started

Call the Rectory to arrange an interview with a priest (both bride and groom must attend). Assuming no problems are anticipated, the priest will set your wedding date (see checklist for what to bring), at which time a deposit is required (see Fees) and confirm what other preparation is required.

Once a date has been set, please contact our Wedding Coordinator, Barbara Wilkinson, to schedule participation in Marriage Preparation Classes and Natural Family Planning Classes. A nominal fee is charged for each class and both must be completed prior to the wedding. Once you have your classes scheduled, please contact our Music Director, Bernadette Arnold, to coordinate your music. It is extremely important that you coordinate all aspects of your ceremony with Our Lady of Peace in order to comply with church policy and ensure a successful wedding ceremony.

Planning Your Ceremony

Couples may make their ceremony as personal as possible within the guidelines of the Church. It is important to remember the presence of Christ and the Blessed Sacrament in the church. Therefore, the music before, during and after the ceremony should be liturgical (see music), and all members of the wedding party, including the bride, should plan for modest attire (no strapless or off the shoulder gowns or revealing necklines are allowed). To maintain liturgical reverence, please coordinate all arrangements for music, organist, vocalist, video, photography and church flowers in advance with our coordinator and music director (see check list).

Music

The main consultant regarding music selection and musicians is our music director, Bernadette Arnold. It is required that our church organist and cantors be contracted for your wedding ceremony. We can also provide you with a choir and violinist. We do not allow CD's or popular music to be played or sung in the ceremony. Be advised that a fee is required for each contracted liturgical musician. Should you contract other musicians (vocalist or instrumentalist), it is required that our music director meet with you to approve music selections and provide rehearsals to help things run smoothly.

Decoration

Rice, flowers, birdseeds, or any other material is not allowed to be thrown. If decorating pews, keep in mind that tape is NOT allowed. Flowers are to be secured with clamps provided by a florist. Runners are allowed and are available through most florists.

If the bride wishes to carry out the colors of the wedding party, she may purchase the arrangements for the Blessed Sacrament Altar from the Altar Society, but those flowers must then remain on the altar. The couple may desire to make additional arrangements for flowers with the Altar Society as desired. Please place the order one or two months before the date of the wedding.

Rehearsal

Please call the rectory to schedule the wedding rehearsal date. During rehearsal, you will need to bring your Marriage License, Unity Candle, and Runner (if used). Any fees not previously collected would be due that same evening.

Check List

Six Months Prior to Desired Wedding Date

Schedule Interview Appointment with a priest.

Bring recent (within six months) copy of baptismal certificate to Rectory.
DO NOT RESERVE A HALL FOR THE RECEPTION UNTIL YOUR WEDDING DATE IS SCHEDULED BY A PRIEST.
Follow priests instructions for follow up actions required (e.g. confession, 2nd interview, letter from home parish, etc.)

Weddings are scheduled for Saturdays only at 10am, 12noon, or 2pm

This allows for ½ hour for preparation and ½ hour for photography following the ceremony.
Donations are appreciated to offset church expenses. Fifty percent is due at the time of scheduling (see insert for suggested donations).

Call the Wedding Coordinator to schedule your mandatory classes for:

Marriage Preparation (reservations are required well in advance to secure a spot in the class)
Natural Family Planning

Call the Music Director to plan Music (see Music).

The fees for vocalist and organist are payable in advance as directed.
Video: by arrangement (fees negotiated directly with Our Lady of Peace approved vendor)
Photography (Family & Engagement Portraits): Huelar Galleria Portraits, by arrangement

Once a wedding date is confirmed, you may reserve a hall for your reception. We are not liable for any cancellation fees if the desired wedding date is not available or possible.
When ordering/planning your wedding attire (and attire of wedding party) keep in mind that it should be modest in design--no strapless or spaghetti-strapped or revealing gowns will be permitted without some type of covering while in the church

Two Months Prior to Confirmed Wedding Date

Confirm reservations with Rectory for scheduled wedding date.
Confirm final music plans (selections, musicians, fees paid, etc.) with Music Director.
Follow up with vendor scheduled for video or photography (as approved by Our Lady of Peace).
Remind wedding party of church's policy of appropriate attire in the church.
Notify friends and family as appropriate of policy regarding no rice or bird seed being thrown after the wedding and pew decorating restrictions (no tape).
Call the Altar Society to order flowers for the altar (if desired) and review fees required.
Obtain a county-issued Marriage License from the County Clerk’s office, 170 Park Center Plaza, San Jose at 408-299-5664, 9am – 4pm Mon. - Fri.
Purchase a Unity Candle and holder for use during the ceremony (and runner if desired)
Call Wedding coordinator to confirm you both attended the Marriage Preparation and Natural Family Planning Classes. Schedule a rehearsal date.
Notify wedding party of date/time of rehearsal.
Verify transportation & reception plans/reservations.

One Month Prior to Confirmed Wedding Date

Pay cleaning fee to Altar Society (see insert for fee).
Deliver balance of Church Donation to coordinator.
Call wedding coordinator to confirm all final plans. Deliver a copy of your marriage license to wedding coordinator.
If desired, wedding programs may be published. Wedding coordinator may be able to suggest ideas.

Wedding Fees/Suggested Donations

We are honored you have chosen to celebrate this blessed sacrament of Marriage at Our Lady of Peace. If you've "shopped" around, you'll find that we make every effort to keep your wedding affordable--however some fees are required for selected services and we do offer suggestions for a nominal donation to the church and officiating priest. For your convenience in budgetary planning, following is a check list of potential fees or suggested donations. Please reference the check list for when fees are due, but they may be paid in advance.

Required Services:

Church	$300.00	Make check payable to Our Lady of Peace Church ($150 of which is required at time of booking).
Celebrant	$100.00	(if non-IVE priest). Make check payable to the priest(s) on day of wedding.
Cleaning Fee	$50.00	Make check payable to Our Lady of Peace Altar Society
Organist	$150.00	Make check payable to Our Lady of Peace. If you have a qualified friend or family member who sings, make arrangements with the Music Director for approval, rehearsal, and music selection.
Vocalist	$150.00 (approx.)
Marriage Prep	$125.00	This two-day class must be attended by both prospective bride and groom. Fees include meals and materials. Make check payable to Our Lady of Peace and send with your registration form to the Wedding Coordinator.
Natural Family Planning	$75 .00	This 4-hour class must be attended by both prospective bride and groom. Fees include a planning kit. Make check payable to Couple to Couple League (CCL) and send with your registration form as directed.
Unity Candle/Holder	Please bring your own candle & holder to rehearsal (available in our gift shop).

Optional Services

Organ Use	$25.00	For the on-going maintenance of the organ, an additional donation is appreciated.
Violinist	$150.00	Make check payable to Our Lady of Peace. If you have a qualified friend or family member that you would like to sing, please make arrangements with the Music Director for approval, rehearsal, and music selection
Choir Ensemble	--	Contact Music Director for options.
Blessed Sacrament Altar Flowers	$100.00	This includes two arrangements on the Blessed Sacrament Altar. Make check payable to Our Lady of Peace Altar Society. (note: these flowers must remain on the altar after the ceremony).
Mass Altar Flowers	$120.00	This includes two arrangements with stands to be placed beside the Mass Altar.
Video, Photography, Decor, Runners		As arranged