Weddings
"My Beloved lifts up his voice, he says to me,
'Come then, my love, my lovely one, come.
My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock.
In the coverts of the cliff, show me your face,
let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet
and your face is beautiful.'
My beloved is mine and I am his.
This is the word of the Lord."
We are delighted that you are considering celebrating your wedding in this most historic and spiritual setting.
We ask that you first read the informational section below, which answers some of our most common questions. Then, please fill out the contact form.
Thank you for considering the Basilica for your wedding, and congratulations!
General Wedding FAQs:
A: You do not need to be a parishioner of the Basilica to be married here, but either the bride or groom must be Catholic in order to be married at the Basilica.
Q: Who may celebrate my wedding Mass?
A: A Basilica priest, or the priest of your choosing (with permission from the Basilica Rector), may celebrate the wedding Mass.
Q: Does the Basilica have a deacon?
A: Yes. Our Deacon, Robert Shephard, may be available to witness your wedding ceremony. Also, a deacon of your choosing (with permission from the Basilica Rector), may witness the wedding ceremony.
Q: When does the Basilica allow weddings and rehearsals?
A: Weddings are scheduled on Saturdays, at 10:00am, 12:00pm and 2:00pm only. Rehearsals are scheduled on Fridays, at 4:00pm, 5:00pm and 6:00pm only.
Q: Do we need to take marriage prep classes?
A: Yes, all couples must participate in a church-sponsored marriage preparation program.
Q: Where do we get a civil marriage license?
A: A civil marriage license must be obtained for Baltimore City. Please call the City Marriage License Bureau at 410-333-3780 for more information.
Q: What decorations are we allowed to have?
A: Decorations, other than pew bows, must be approved by the Basilica Rector. Aisle runners, rice, seeds, bubbles, flower petals, and balloons are not permitted inside the Basilica.
Q: What are the costs associated with having a wedding at the Basilica?
A: The fee for weddings at the Basilica is $1,500. A non-refundable deposit of $250, due at scheduling, is required to reserve the church. The balance should be paid at least one month prior to the wedding date. The $1,500 fee does not include fees for the organist, vocalist, other musicians, flowers, or your offering to the priest or deacon.
Scheduling Your Wedding:
After we have received your form, you will be contacted by the Basilica Rector to schedule a meeting. At this meeting, The Rector will review the guidelines and requirements for marriage at the Basilica, answer any questions that you may have, and ask the couple to sign a receipt of the guidelines. If at that time, you are ready to schedule your wedding, a tentative date may be set at this meeting. If any further discussion or steps are needed, the date can be scheduled after this meeting. Prior to confirming the final date, if you desire a priest or deacon that is not assigned to the Basilica, you will have to request permission from the Basilica Rector for the clergy of your choice. The desired cleric must affirm the Basilica Rector, in writing, as soon as possible that he will witness your wedding. Only then will the wedding be confirmed. Once the date is set, the $250 deposit is required.
PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THE FAQs ABOVE BEFORE COMPLETING THE FORM
