The Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament is a Roman Catholic Chapel.  Only  
Roman Catholic marriages will be celebrated.  A six-month period of marriage
preparation is required according to the Provincial Guidelines for Marriage Preparation
(1999) adopted by the Bishops of Michigan.  This program can be completed in your
own parish or through one of the marriage preparation programs recommended by the
Cathedral staff.


The procedure to schedule a wedding date and begin the marriage preparation program
is outlined below.

1.  BAPTIZED, ROMAN CATHOLIC: One of the engaged couple has to be a baptized,
practicing Roman Catholic.  If the Catholic party is not registered in a parish, they must
become registered.

2. NOTIFY THE CATHOLIC PARTY’S PRIEST: Speak with your priest & let him know that
you wish to be married at the Cathedral. Not all parishes will give consent to be married
outside your own parish.  You would then not be able to celebrate your ceremony at the
Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

3.  REGISTRATION: To begin the process to be married in the Cathedral, you must
complete the registration form included in this packet and return it to the Cathedral in
order to establish a wedding file.  The form can be found on this site (under forms tab).

4. REQUEST THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION:

  A.   Letter Of Permission From Parish Priest:

  If your priest agrees for you to be married at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed   
  Sacrament we must have our permission form letter completed by your priest and
  returned to us.  The form letter is included on this site (under forms tab).

  The letter must be returned to:       

  Msgr. Michael LeFevre
  9844 Woodward Ave.
  Detroit, MI  48202
  
  IF BOTH PARTIES ARE CATHOLIC, WE NEED PERMISSION FROM ONLY ONE OF    
  THE PARISHES.

  B. Marriage Preparation Program:

      i.  If your priest consents to your being married at the Cathedral of
          the Most Blessed Sacrament, you and he must decide how to handle your
          marriage preparation:  either in your own parish or through one of the  
          programs recommended by the Cathedral staff.

       ii. Please let the Cathedral staff know when you register where you will be
           completing your marriage preparation program. Documentation of
           completion of the marriage preparation program must be forwarded to the
           Cathedral to complete your wedding file.

      iii. The cathedral Marriage Preparation Program includes:

                 a. Initial interview with a member of the Cathedral Staff.

                 b. Participation in the PREPARE process.  PREPARE is a relationship
                     evaluation tool which is designed to aid a couple in examining the
                     personal and interpersonal issues which may comprise the
                     strengths or perhaps areas of growth needed in their relationship.

              PREPARE is a two-step process. First, the couple completes a         
              multiple-choice questionnaire. Second, at a later date, they will meet
              with a designated certified pastoral pre-marriage counselor to
              review the computerized profile.  This review costs $180 paid directly
              to the counselor.  

                 c.  Couples retreat weekend or other Archdiocesan approved pre-
                      marriage program.  Documentation of attendance must be provided
                      to Cathedral staff.   

  C.        Baptismal Records:  

        i.  The Catholic party must obtain a newly issued baptismal record from the
         parish where the Catholic party was baptized.  THESE ARE NOT COPIES
         OF WHAT YOU MAY HAVE AT HOME.  They must be newly issued directly
         from the parish to us.

     ii. The Non-Catholic party must provide a copy of their baptismal record to us
         if the Non-Catholic party was baptized.

5.  SECURING A WEDDING DATE:

When we receive your registration form, baptismal records, and your priest's permission
letter, the Cathedral staff will contact you to set up an appointment for your pre-marital
interview.  That interview begins your required six-month marriage preparation program
and, if everything is in order, that is when you secure your wedding date.  According to
the Provincial Guidelines for Marriage Preparation (1999) adopted by the Bishops of
Michigan, we are not able to schedule your wedding date or hold a wedding date for you
until we have ascertained that you are free to marry in the church.  This is done at your
pre-marital interview.

If at any time during the process you change your mind and decide to marry elsewhere,
please inform us so that your file can be closed.

Payment to the Cathedral to secure your wedding date is due at the introductory
meeting. The Cathedral Wedding Fee is $1250. $500 of the fee is tax deductible. The fee
includes the use of the Cathedral for two hours – one hour for the ceremony, ½ hour
before and after the scheduled time of the ceremony -- organist, cantor, wedding
coordinators for the rehearsal and the day of your wedding, use of a bridal room for one
hour before the ceremony, and security. Should you choose to cancel your wedding at
the Cathedral, $100 is non-refundable.

6.  MUSIC IN THE LITURGY:

When choosing wedding music, the key word is prayer.  Whether instrumental or sung,
each musical selection must reflect the church’s prayerful attitude toward marriage
liturgy.  Even though the bride and groom may have their favorite musical selections,
some may be more appropriate for the reception, than at the liturgical celebration itself.  

Because music is an integral part of liturgy, it must satisfy certain ritual and ceremonial
expectations.  Therefore, any music or musicians used in a wedding Mass or ceremony
must be approved by the Cathedral Music Minister.  A wedding is like any other liturgical
gathering of the Catholic Church.  

You will receive samples of musical selections from which to choose with your liturgy
planning materials. If there are any questions regarding the musical selections, the
couple should contact the Cathedral Music Minister by calling the Parish Office at 313-
865-6300, extension 227 or by email at bscweddings@yahoo.com (put “Cathedral Music
Minister” in the subject line.)

7.  LITURGICAL ENVIRONMENT:

Decorating the worship space for a wedding celebration is no different than decorating
for Sunday Mass.  Every liturgy of the Church takes place within the context of the
liturgical year.  The seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time each
have their own décor and color.  Therefore, any wedding taking place at the Cathedral
will have the parish’s liturgical environment as part of the wedding environment.

CANDLES – The candles in place next to the altar and ambo must remain in place and
cannot be moved.  The use of Unity Candles will be addressed in the next section.  Any
other candles, whether in the sanctuary or in the aisles is not permitted for reasons of
safety and visibility.

UNITY CANDLES – Unity candles are not permitted at the Cathedral.

CUT FLOWERS AND PLANTS – these may brought to the Cathedral one hour before
your ceremony.  They can be placed in front of the altar and ambo.  Flowers remaining
after a wedding are most welcome, and add to the weekend liturgies.  

AISLE RUNNERS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED FOR INSURANCE REASONS.

BOWS ON THE END OF PEWS –These are optional.  However, they must be tied on or
attached with rubber bands.  NO wire, tape of ANY kind, tacks, staples are allowed!

THROWING OR DROPPING ANYTHING IS NOT PERMITTED – No rice, confetti, flower
petals, or birdseed.  NOTHING!

8. PHOTO/VIDEOGRAPHY:

Weddings are special times for a couple, their families and friends to record with video
and photographs.  At the same time, it must be remembered that the Cathedral is a
house of prayer and not a photographic or recording studio.  The wedding liturgy is, first
and foremost, a time of prayer.  For this reason, we require   photo/videographers to
adhere to the following guidelines so that the dignity of the liturgy will not be
compromised.  

•  Photographers and videographers are not permitted to be in the sanctuary during the
liturgy.

•  Videographers are not permitted to move around the Cathedral during the liturgy.  
Video cameras must be mounted on a tripod and left in a stationary position.  

•  A photographer’s placement plan during the liturgy must be reviewed with the presider
before the ceremony.  It is requested that photographers/videographers introduce
themselves to the wedding presider as soon as they arrive in order to seek any
clarifications of this policy.  

•  Only available light may be used during the liturgy.  Additional lighting may be used for
photographs before or after the liturgy.

•  After most wedding liturgies, a photographer will have 30 minutes for picture posing
and taking.  This includes time for equipment setup.  
Procedure to Schedule a Wedding
Getting Married at The Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament