Church 'Rules'

What are your churches 'rules'?
I made an appointment with my priest to ask about baring my shoulder (strapless gown), readings, where video person & photographer can & can't be...
I am waiting for him to call me.
Has anyone have any rules from their church yet?

Re: Church 'Rules'

i can't even get an appointment with a priest to set a date for the wedding! i keep calling, emailing, stopping by, and i'm trying to be really sweet and nice about it, but the church doesn't seem to be in much of a rush! sorry... saw 'church' as a post, and had to vent! also, i know that baring shoulders is ok in my church. but i hear music selection may be an issue.

Re: Church 'Rules'

I just pulled out my church documents. My church doesn't really have rules. Here are some things I saw on the docs:

They ask you to refrain from throwing rice or birdseed inside the church and prefer you do not throw rice at all (bird thing).

Since I am not from the parish, I have to get a letter of release from my parish.

Must have certificates of baptism and confirmation withing 6 mos of wedding date.

Attend precana.

Programs must be approved by priest in advance.

Few rules on photography and videography (where they can stand and stuff).

Be On time.

Not too bad!

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The priest that married us was a friend of ours and all I remember about rules was that the photographer was not allowed up on the alter area, the groomsmen could not wear Yankee pinstripes (the priest is a Mets fan) and at the rehearsal he told hubby that if he got cold feet the back door would be open and he had cold beer in his refrigerator upstairs. When I asked what about me - he said I had been warned (about what I was getting into - so no backing out!)

Re: Church 'Rules'

Too funny Karen!
That sounds like my minister - my church is pretty laid back about everything. When I first got the paperwork in the mail, it listed all these frules and I was so upset. But when I met with him, he said don't worry about any of it!
It's not a catholic church so no pre-cana or any other type of classes.

Re: Church 'Rules'

thats so funny karen!

Re: Church 'Rules'

My church notes said: Dress of all in the bridal party should be an expression of Christian modesty.

I am also wearing a strapless (my gown comes with a shawl (I hate the shawl)
I'm having pre-cana next month I will ask then.

Re: Church 'Rules'

ok so my priest just called me. i just went into the rectory at 6pm and he called tonight! fast! LOL!! We were on the phone for 20 minutes and did nothing but laugh!
we talked about the 'rules' and the only thing was no photographer/video on alter & he said no bright lights from video, they are bright & he cant see what hes reading. he said as long as i dont look like a playboy bunny i am ok!
I was hysterical! then he asked about our honeymoon. i told him aruba. he said he won $600 there last year & hes going back in february.
he also said not too many rose petals because he has seen his share of people fall on them going out of the church! good advice! and tell the limo company to please use masking tape for the aisle runner because the tape they use doesnt come up & ruins the floors
we spoke of everything from the list of questions i had to aruba to chinese food.
i have a cool priest!
(monsignor)!!

Re: Church 'Rules'

Jennbaby- so the limo company SHOULD use masking tape?
I know Wild Rose doesn't use a big spotlight. Noone with new equipment should need one.
Your Priest sounds wonderful! That is so great.

Re: Church 'Rules'

yes they should use masking tape he says some limo companies use that clear very sticky tape and its hard to come up off the floor. funny i'd never think of such a thing!

Re: Church 'Rules'

We are getting married in a catholic church, St. Barnabas (sp) in Bellmore to be exact. When we attended pre-cana they advised us of some 'diocese rules' which is the Rockville Centre Diocese' which were pretty much no throwing of anything, due to lawsuits that have been brought as a result of people falling and bringing lawsuits against the churchs/diocese. Other things like if it o.k. to have a runner, programs, etc they said were up to the individual church. I called the church on these issues and they seem pretty easygoing about it. Aisle runner is fine, programs don't have to be o.k.'d by the priest, unity candle is o.k., etc.

Re: Church 'Rules'

my priest also said, he can't stop us from throwing stuff, but we are strongly encouraged not to (st. thomas in west hempstead) - we are doing rose petals, when he was talking about the rice, he actually said, we have issues with that bc of all the starving people in the world! wow, that'll make you feel bad about throwing rice!!

Re: Church 'Rules'

I got married at the Cathedral, where the Bishop sits for teh Diocese, and surprisingly, they had very few rules we had to follow. Basically they said it was our day and our wedding we were planning and they had no place telling us what we could and couldn't do. We couldn't throw anything (so we rangs little bells), we had to get permission to use a singer from outside the Church (we used their singers, so not a problem), and they told us just to remember to think logicaly - they told us of a bride who used candles to light each side of the aisle, and her train swept over one and caught on fire. They did want us to tell them the name of our limo comapny because they are sticklers about being on time, and I guess some limo companies are known to always be late. They also reminded us that the Cathedral had the longest aisle in any Church in the tri-state area, so we had to be sure the runner was at least 100 feet (most Church aisles are 50 feet or less).

That was it. I wore a strapless dress as did my bridesmaids. The BM's had shawls though, I had my veil to cover my shoulder, even though it wasn't an issue. We had the Monsignor say our Mass as well, and he was just too cute with his stories!!

Re: Church 'Rules'

So far our priest just said that the photographers/videographers have to be respectful & not interrupt the ceremony.

Besides that -- he also mentioned that we shouldn't be drunk out-of-our minds....

If I know my FI -- or I should say: my FI's groomsmen -- that's gonna be the tough one

Re: Church 'Rules'

My priest is pretty clueless (very infrequent weddings are held there) so we don't have any rules. I just hope he won't tell me about them or make up some new ones the day before

Re: Church 'Rules'

My priest is pretty cool too and the only thing he mentioned was:

no bright lights
no photographer/video on the alter

and make sure that we don't interfere with the Yankee game (FH and I are huge fans, so is the priest).

Re: Church 'Rules'

I NEVER LAUGHED SO HARD!
especially the 'playboy bunny' comment!!!
That's great, I'm glad you guys are set with great priests!!!! just had to say, thanks for the laugh today!!!