Ceremony Considerations 

Your Wedding Ceremony is first and foremost a sacred, sacramental event.  With this in mind we request that you review:
 

• Our Etiquette guidelines: BASILICA ETIQUETTE GUIDELINES.
• If your ceremony takes place in the setting of a Mass, please learn about the Church’s guidelines regarding the reception of Holy Communion: COMMUNION GUIDELINES

We ask that the bride and groom encourage their guests to follow these guidelines.   
The Celebrant  is the priest or deacon who presides over your ceremony.

The priest in charge of your Pre-Cana or your Celebrant (priest or deacon) can help you choose prayers, readings, and devotions.  Please note that while a deacon can officiate at a wedding to confer the Sacrament of Marriage, he cannot celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist (the Mass).

One of our Basilica Wedding Directors will be responsible for the direction of your wedding.
 

• She will direct your Rehearsal to ensure that your ceremony incorporates your ideas while also keeping within the guidelines of liturgical and Basilica policies. 
• Using a Basilica Wedding Director is a requirement for having a wedding at the Basilica. Outside directors and consultants may assist, if they choose, but may not direct your wedding. 
• Please click the link in the sidebar under, Planning Your Wedding, for more information about the responsibilities of our Wedding Directors. 

Flower Girls and Ring Bearers 
Children in the wedding party must be at least six years old.  

Unity Candles 
The Basilica does not permit the use of Unity Candles.