Information you will need to know

1. Your Wedding Ceremony
You have chosen St Patrick's Church for your wedding. The present St Patrick's was built in 1914 to replace the much smaller St Patrick's which had been blessed in October 1845 - the first Catholic Church within the City of Adelaide. The site of that first Church, west of the present one, is within the grounds of Archbishop's House, also built in 1845. The information in this booklet will assist you as you prepare for your wedding ceremony.

Two ceremonies are available :

1. the wedding ceremony within the celebration of the Eucharist (often called a Nuptial Mass). Where both parties are Catholic they usually choose the Nuptial Mass.


2. the wedding ceremony within a celebration of God's Word. This ceremony does not include Holy Communion and is most often chosen by couples of different Christian traditions or mixed faith.

Please discuss with the Priest officiating at your wedding which is the more appropriate ceremony for your situation. He will also assist you in selecting the Scripture Readings, Prayers and Vows for your wedding.

2. Marriage Preparation
All couples getting married at St Patrick's are encouraged to participate in a Marriage Preparation Course. The enclosed leaflet gives details of those provided through our Catholic Family Services - Centacare - at 33 Wakefield Street, Adelaide.

3. The Celebrant of Your Wedding
Over 100 couples marry in St Patrick's Church and St Francis Xavier's Cathedral each year. It is normally the responsibility of the Parish Priest of the parish you reside in, to prepare and marry you. Please contact your local Parish Priest. If he is unable to marry you, please ask him to arrange for another priest for you. Where one of the couple lives within the actual City of Adelaide or regularly attends the Cathedral, one of the priests of the Adelaide Parish will be available.

4. Costs
As you would appreciate, the running and maintenance of St Patrick's, the Cathedral and Parish is very costly - over $1000 a day. Money for this work is primarily borne by those who worship at the Cathedral. To give added and essential support it is necessary to make certain charges for the use of St Patrick's for Weddings.

By Church tradition the Archbishop sets a uniform stipend (or offering) for all weddings in the Archdiocese which forms part of a central fund to support the priests.

The bond money is to ensure the Church and grounds are left in an appropriate condition and to ensure the requirements set out here are met.

Nothing at all is to be thrown inside or outside church grounds after the wedding ceremony ie no confetti, no flower petals, no rice, no sugar almonds or similar tokens.

The throwing of anything at all within the church grounds will result in the bond being forfeited. It is your responsibility to ensure your guests are informed of this condition .

The bond money will also be forfeited if the ceremony is more than 15 minutes late starting or the wedding party has not left the grounds 90 minutes after scheduled starting time.

If you as a couple are having difficulties in meeting these costs please speak to the Administrator or Assistant Administrator.

5. Times of Weddings
To ensure that each wedding can be celebrated with dignity and without undue haste the following times are available:

Noon
2.00 pm
4.00 pm

It is essential that your wedding start on time. This is because

1. Saturday is always a busy day at St Patrick's and


2. people involved in your wedding - Priest, Organist, Singers, can themselves be on a tight schedule.

We recommend that the bride arrive 5-10 minutes before the start of your wedding ceremony, allowing unhurried time for photographs. Your co-operation in this matter is most important.

6. Music For Your Wedding
Music and song will greatly enhance the dignity and celebration of your wedding ceremony and add to its spirit of prayer. What you choose needs to be respectful of the fact that your wedding is a religious ceremony. Popular love songs etc are more appropriate for your Reception. Your choice of hymns will need the approval of the priest or deacon officiating at your wedding.

The Cathedral Parish is fortunate to enjoy the services of talented musicians and singers.

Organist: Bookings are made through our Organist Mr Ashleigh Tobin. Ring him on 8232 8688. He will assist you in the selection of your music and hymns. It is essential that you observe the legal requirements associated with copyright. Please discuss the organist's fees with Mr Tobin.

Because of the value of the pipe organ only accredited St Patrick's Church Organists may play the pipe organ.

Singer If you require a singer at your wedding this can be arranged through resident organist Mr Ashleigh Tobin 8232 8688. Please discuss the singer's fees with Mr Tobin.

Choir The Cathedral Choir is available to sing at weddings at St Patrick's. This is arranged through Mr Ashleigh Tobin. Ring him on 8431 5459. Please discuss appropriate fees with Mr Tobin.

Other Musicians Some couples choose string quartets for their wedding. This is quite acceptable. Please inform the Parish Office in advance.

Recorded Music The use of recorded music, CDs, tapes etc is not permitted for weddings in St Patrick's.

7. Copyright
The Laws of Australia concerning copyright place upon us all legal and moral obligations. It is imperative that everyone who prepares booklets for liturgies in St Patrick's, including for Weddings, observes these laws.

Video Recordings If any music is played or hymns sung which are still under copyright then a license must be purchased for making a video which includes such music or hymns. This license is to be organized by the makers of the video. The organization to approach is Australian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society Association. Tel. 02 9954 3655 Fax 02 9954 3664. Playing of the video, even in a private home, constitutes a public performance.

8. Decoration of St Patrick's
Flowers Floral arrangements can be delivered to St Patrick's one hour before your wedding. The Sacristan will advise the florist where to place them. No arrangements are placed directly on the floor or on/in front of the altar itself.

Candelabra Candelabra fitted with oil or gas (i.e no wax) fired candles may be included in the decoration of the Sanctuary in the area behind the altar.

Occupational Health and Safety regulations forbid the placing of candelabra or floral arrangements between the pews or along the aisle.

Pew Decorations Decorations on the centre aisle ends of the pews are permitted. They are to be attached by elastic or tying. No drawing pins, masking tape etc are to be used. There are 25 pews on each side of the centre aisle.

9. Photographs and Video
Knowing that every couple wishes to keep a photographic (and often video) record of their wedding, photographers and video camera persons are permitted in St Patrick's. However, we would ask you to remind those responsible to respect the sanctity of your wedding ceremony and to be discreet at all times. Photographers and camera people are not permitted within the sanctuary (the stepped area around the altar) at any stage during the ceremony. They may enter when you are signing the marriage documents.

It is important that you also discuss this matter with the priest officiating at your wedding.

10. Rehearsal
Most couples find it helpful for the bridal party to have a short rehearsal. Within reason, we will make St Patrick's available for rehearsals but please understand that we have a shortage of staff.

Arrangements for rehearsals are made through the Parish Office Only. It will be necessary for someone to be responsible for collecting the key to the Church from the Parish Office, locking the Church after the rehearsal and returning the key to the Parish Office. The Parish Secretary will make the appropriate arrangements with you. A $20 fee is required when the key is picked up which is returned on the return of the key the following day.

11. Car Parking
Ample car parking is provided within the grounds on the western side of the Church. Parking is permitted on the tennis courts. Entry by a left hand turn only from Grote Street is permitted by law.

12. Toilets
Toilets are situated alongside the sacristy behind the altar area. Entry is via the back western side door, or if that is locked, quietly by the door alongside the pulpit from within the Church.

If you wish to clarify any matters contained in this booklet,
please contact the Parish Secretary, Mrs Marie London,
Monday to Friday 8.30 am - 4 pm
on 8232 8688
All correspondence to The Parish Secretary,
GPO Box 1364, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001

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