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Congratulations on your decision to marry in the Catholic Church! St. Brigid's is a beautiful and very popular church for weddings. In deciding to celebrate your wedding here, you are expressing your willingness to give the time and attention necessary to planning both your wedding ceremony and preparing for your married life. |
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Documents
You Need to Provide
You should be prepared to give to the priest who is marrying you the following documents when required: Birth Certificate or Proof of Naturalization if you are an Australian citizen. If you are not an Australian citizen a current passport is required. Recent copy of Baptismal Certificate to be provided by the Catholic party. This needs to be less than 6 months old and can be obtained upon request by contacting the parish where you were baptised. If either party has been married before, the record of church annulment and civil divorce papers will be required. If you are unsure about your ability to marry according to the rites of the Catholic Church you should contact The Tribunal of the Catholic Church.
Wedding
Offering
For marriages celebrated in St. Brigid's, the parish requires a contribution towards the upkeep and maintenance of our historic church. There is a contribution for the Sacristan who will be in attendance on the day of your wedding to prepare the church, assist your priest, organise what is required for the service and ring the church bell at the conclusion of the ceremony. There is also a deposit which may be refunded if the conditions of the Contract are kept. These fees are payable when you return the Booking Form to the Parish Office to confirm your tentative booking. A cancellation fee applies to confirmed bookings.
Wedding Offering for your Celebrant
It is customary and courteous to make a separate offering to the celebrant. As a guide, civil marriage celebrants charge around $300 plus travel time. This offering should be given to the priest at your wedding rehearsal.
Wedding
Rehearsal
You need to organise a date and time on which to rehearse your wedding ceremony. Rehearsals may not start later than 6.30pm and need to be booked well in advance with the Parish Office.
Further
Information
Please contact the Parish Office for any queries you may have. Details regarding flower and music arrangements, confetti and pew decorations, cancellations, etc are contained in the Information Sheet received at time of booking.
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Booking
your Wedding
In law you must give a minimum of 31 days' notice of your wedding. It is best to give at least six months notice to the Parish Office and the priest. Weddings at St. Brigid's are often booked a year and a half ahead. Due to the popularity of the Church and to ensure each couple has sufficient time for their celebration, weddings are celebrated on Saturdays at 12.00pm, 2.00pm and 4.00pm and Sundays (rarely) at 2.00pm only. When you know the date you wish to be married please contact the Parish Secretary who will check the availability of the Church for that date. You will need to bring a letter from your priest signifying his agreement to perform the ceremony to the Parish Office before any booking can be made. At that time the Secretary will give you a copy of the Booking Form and an Information sheet. The date will be held for one month and confirmed upon the return of the Booking Form and the required fees.
Celebrant
It is necessary for you to invite a priest to help with your preparation and be the celebrant at your wedding ceremony. If you are a parishioner of St. Brigid's a priest in the parish will assist with your wedding, unless you have another priest whom you would like to be the celebrant. If you are not a parishioner of St. Brigid's, you are welcome to arrange your own priest for the preparations. Because of the number of weddings celebrated here it is not possible for a priest of the parish to be available. The priest who is to officiate at your wedding will arrange times for you to meet and complete the forms and paperwork required both by the State and the Church. He will advise you on courses you could follow to help prepare you for married life.
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