Thank you for considering the possibility of being married at St. James Cathedral. We want to support and assist you in the best way possible as you embark on this very important commitment in your lives. This page is intended to answer a few of the questions which are most likely on your mind at this time. It may also help you to raise some questions which haven’t yet occurred to you but which will be important for you to consider as you make plans for your wedding. Who can be married at St. James Cathedral? Normally, those who are registered parishioners* of the Cathedral Parish. The Catholic Church has a long tradition of celebrating the sacraments within one’s own community of faith. There can be exceptions to this, however. For example, couples belonging to other parishes of the Archdiocese might wish to celebrate their wedding in the Cathedral with a priest or deacon from their home parish officiating. Who is able to officiate at weddings in the cathedral?
The Pastor, Father Ryan, normally officiates at
the weddings of Cathedral parishioners*. But permission can be given for a priest or deacon friend
to officiate. And, as indicated above, if you belong to another parish in the
Archdiocese, your pastor will be the appropriate person to approach in this
matter. Father Ryan is only able to preside at the weddings of Cathedral
parishioners*.
Are people who are not of the Catholic
faith able to be married at St. James Cathedral?*A parishioner is a Catholic who has been registered at St. James Cathedral for AT LEAST SIX MONTHS prior to calling to schedule their wedding.
They are, if they are marrying a Catholic.
Are people who have been married before able to be married in the Catholic Church?
Normally speaking, the answer to this question is
no. That is because the Catholic Church regards marriage as a permanent
commitment. However, because there are exceptions and extenuating circumstances,
you would be well advised to discuss it as soon as possible with the priest or
deacon whom you approach about officiating at your wedding. Is some sort of preparation needed for couples wishing to be married?
Yes. Since marriage in the Catholic Church is a
sacrament and a lifetime commitment, one of the ways we value and honor it is by
taking time to help couples prepare. All Cathedral parishioners begin this
process by completing a comprehensive Pre-Marriage Inventory or questionnaire,
followed by an interview with a member of the marriage preparation team. This
takes place before the wedding date is finalized on the cathedral calendar.
Afterwards, couples are required to participate in a marriage preparation
program, a number of which are approved by the Cathedral. Couples who are not
cathedral parishioners deal directly in this matter with the priest or deacon
who will officiate at their wedding.
Click here for more
information about marriage preparation.
When may weddings take place at the
Cathedral?
Saturday is the usual day for weddings to be celebrated.
They are never celebrated on Sundays. Also, the Church discourages celebration
of weddings during the season of Lent. Is the cathedral chapel available for weddings?
Yes. If you are anticipating a small wedding, (i.e., fewer
than 80 people) you may wish to discuss this possibility with the wedding
coordinator. Do Catholic weddings always take place during Mass?
No. Wedding can be celebrated either during the celebration
of Mass or during a Liturgy of the Word. Normally, weddings are celebrated
during Mass only when both parties are of the Catholic faith. Does the cathedral have policies regarding the content of the wedding service, the music to be used, etc?
Yes. The content of the service is set forth in the
Church’s official Ritual Book for weddings. However, the couple being married is
encouraged to engage in helping to plan the wedding service by choosing the
Scripture readings that will be used during it. There are certain other options
for the service, too, which will be explained to you. The cathedral also has
standards and policies regarding the music to be used at a wedding. There are
set forth in some detail in the
Wedding Policies and
Procedures for St. James Cathedral
which is given to all couples who are going to be married in the cathedral. How does a Cathedral parishioner arrange to get a wedding on the cathedral calendar?
If you have been a regular and contributing parishioner
of St. James Cathedral for at least six months, you may begin scheduling a wedding by calling the
cathedral wedding coordinator up to 14 months (and no less than 9 months) before
your desired wedding date. She will discuss with you your preference regarding a
date and time for your wedding. After she clears a tentative date on the
cathedral calendar, she will call you back and arrange for you to come in and
take the standard Pre-Marriage Inventory. Your date will remain tentative until
the inventory has been completed, and the results discussed with you and shared
with Father Ryan by a member of the parish’s marriage preparation team. This
process is normally completed within two months. At this point, which could be
as much as one year before your desired wedding date, your date will be able to
be confirmed.
How does a someone who is NOT a
Cathedral parishioner arrange to get a wedding on the cathedral calendar?
It is necessary first of all for you to have a
priest or deacon who is willing to preside at your wedding. Normally, of course,
this would be a priest or deacon from your own parish. It could also be a
relative or a close friend. Once you have identified the priest – or
deacon -presider, the Cathedral wedding coordinator will work with you to find an
agreeable date for your wedding. This date will remain tentative until the
priest or deacon has requested and received permission for the marriage from the
Cathedral pastor. The priest or deacon obtains permission by filling out the
“delegation form” provided by the wedding coordinator.
Someone who is not a Cathedral parishioner may begin this scheduling process by calling the Cathedral wedding coordinator as early as 12 months before the desired wedding date.
Is there a fee involved for a cathedral
wedding?
Yes. The fee assigned to your wedding helps defray
the costs of the services of the wedding coordinator, the organist, the
sacristan, the custodians, the business office, as well as the cost of
utilities, such as heat and electricity.
Fees for weddings* *This fee schedule is in effect as of 1/1/2018. No parishioner of St. James Cathedral is ever turned away because of an inability to pay the fee. A non-refundable security deposit is required: If you want to be married at the cathedral...
Please contact
Yanti Kapoyos, Pastoral
Assistant for Weddings and Funerals,
206-382-4288, to discuss your
wedding plans and to obtain the necessary information and forms.
 804 Ninth Avenue Seattle, Washington 98104 Phone 206.622.3559 Fax 206.622.5303 |
