Celebrating your wedding at St. Francis de Sales
Thank you for your interest in celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage at St. Francis de Sales. Please take the time to read our wedding guidelines. We prepared this information to help you, as well as to promote clarity regarding expectations and requirements for weddings celebrated at St. Francis de Sales and in the state of Ohio.
To book a wedding, schedule an appointment or receive further information, call the Parish office at (513) 961-1945 or email weddings@stfrancisds.com
COVID-19 Considerations for Mass
- Beginning on June 2, masks ARE NOT REQUIRED
- Modified social distancing will be practiced.
- We will not close restrooms off during Mass, but we ask that you use them wisely and clean-up behind yourself to ensure the safety of others.
Wedding Guidelines
Click here to View or Print a PDF of the Wedding Guidelines
We have prepared the following guidelines to help you schedule your wedding. Bonnie Lee Davis, office manager will be your link regarding available dates and times for your wedding. She can be reached at 513-961-1945 x150 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. or at weddings@stfrancisds.com
Fees
We require an initial deposit to hold the date/time and the balance must be paid one (1) month prior to scheduled wedding date. Your fee covers the rental of the church; it does not include the stipend for the musician(s) or the presider.
Who May Be Married at St. Francis de Sales?
Any Roman Catholic who receives permission from his/her pastor may be married at St. Francis de Sales. For your wedding ceremony, you will need to secure the services of a priest or deacon to officiate at the ceremony. The clergy person who will preside at your ceremony will be given delegation by the pastor of St. Francis de Sales. It is also necessary for your clergy person to possess a license to perform weddings in Ohio.
When Can You Be Married at St. Francis de Sales?
Weddings are usually celebrated on Saturday, and the ordinary times are 2:00 or 2:30 p.m.; 5:00 or 5:30 p.m. – Please call office to check ceremony times for they might change because of COVID-19
Church Requirements for Marriage
The deacon or priest who presides at your marriage will inform you of all the civil and church requirements/documents needed for your wedding ceremony.
Who May Perform the Ceremony?
Any Catholic priest/deacon, in good standing with his canonical superior or bishop, is welcome to preside at your wedding. If he is from another diocese, he should secure permission from the local bishop as well as our pastor. Participation of a minister from another faith is at the discretion of the Catholic minister.
Reserving the Date and Time
Your rental agreement allows you three hours for your wedding ceremony; one prior, one during, and one after; and one hour for your rehearsal. The day prior to your wedding is the ordinary time for your rehearsal either at 5:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. Since the Blessed Sacrament is present in the church, we ask that reverence is maintained during the rehearsal. Photographers, videographers, and florists should be made aware of this time framework and carefully plan their activities accordingly. Due to the fact that we may have two weddings on any given Saturday, these guidelines must be followed strictly. Please DO NOT arrive at the church before your scheduled time.
The Church Building
Please respect our church. Eating or drinking (especially alcohol) is prohibited at all times. A bathroom in the rear of the church is usually reserved for the bride, and the groomsmen are invited to wait in the undercroft of the church prior to the ceremony. There is a bathroom located there. Again, no alcohol is permitted at any time in any place.
Music
Your musicians are invited to use our piano and organ. Choice of music is left to the bride and the music ministers.
Decorations & Pews
Care should be taken with decorations attached to the pews. You are responsible for any damage done to the church property, and your florist should be made aware. For safety’s sake, we do not permit the use of aisle runners. Please designate someone to clear the church of your decorations. With respect to other following ceremonies, your decorations should leave with you.
Ordinarily, use of the unity candle in your wedding ceremony is discouraged but not forbidden.
During the Christmas and Easter seasons especially, please respect the liturgical decorations that are in place.
Decorations on the outside of the church, including the doors and lamp posts, must be taken down at the end of your ceremony. You are responsible for any damage which may happen as a result of your decorations. For environmental considerations, please do not litter with confetti or similar materials.
Facing the main altar, there are 27 pews on the left side and 29 pews on the right of the center, providing a seating capacity of 733.
Photography & Sound System
At your request, your ceremony may be streamed using the church’s system.. We are equipped with a professionally engineered sound system. There is no need for further adjustments to any piece of equipment. Ample microphones, stands, etc., are available.
Wedding Musician List (currently being updated)
Click Here to View or Print a PDF of the Musician List
Vocalist
Paula Chal & Ensemble • (859) 803-3021 • paulachalsings.com or email: pbchal@yahoo.com
Sarah Folsom • (850) 445-9242 • sarah.folsom@gmail.com
Mary Elizabeth Southworth • (513) 615-4337• www.FairfieldArtists.com: marysouth@gmail.com
Kathryn Zajac • (419) 704-5072
Douglas Easterling • St. Francis deSales Cantor • (615) 556-1669 • dheasterling@gmail.com
Claire Lopatka • St. Francis deSales Cantor • cjlopatka@@gmail.com
Murrella Parton • St. Francis deSales Cantor • mparton@icloud.com
Keyboardists
Rick Hagee • (513) 708-0429 • rhagee@zoomtown.com
Steve Condit • (513) 307-0219 • steve@starnotestudio.com
Instrumentalists
Trumpet
Jim Vennemeyer • (513) 886-1472 • vennemeyerj@gmail.com
Jim can also be contacted to engage the Apple Street Brass Quartet
Jeffrey Shaffer • (513) 613-0001 • jeffreyshaffer@gmail.com
Violin
Amy Kiradjieff • (513) 481-5488
Manami White • (513) 702-4046
Cello
Chrissy Coletta • (513) 252-1439
Esther Kang • (513) 549-4183 • estherkamgsop@gmail.com
Guitar
Paula Chal • (859) 803-3021 • pbchal@yahoo.com
Steve Condit • (513) 307-0219 • steve@starnotestudio.com