+ Timeline

9 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING Contact the parish office to establish a wedding date and rehearsal time.

**4 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING **

• Schedule several meetings with your priests or deacon.
• Schedule a meeting with the Director of Liturgy and Music.
• Schedule your FOCCUS assessment
• Sign up for the Archdiocesan Marriage Enrichment Day
• Submit all necessary church documents

2 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING

• Finalize the wedding liturgy with your priest or deacon and the Director of Liturgy and Music.
• If a visiting priest or deacon is presiding, arrange their payment directly with them.
• If a visiting priest or deacon is presiding, make arrangements for opening of church doors for the rehearsal and the wedding.

DAY OF WEDDING REHEARSAL

• Bring your marriage license with you and give it to you priest or deacon.
• Give your ushers copies of the Ushers’ Responsibilities sheet so that they may become familiar with that information.
• Have everyone who is involved in your liturgy (readers, ushers, etc.) attend the rehearsal.

+ Required Paperwork

Baptismal Certificate | This can be obtained from the church where the baptism was celebrated. For Catholics, it must be a newly issued certificate. You can obtain this by contacting the parish at which you were baptized. It is very common and they will know how to provide it to us.

Freedom to Marry Questionnaire | This establishes that a couple is free to marry in the Catholic Church. Your priest will assist with this at your initial meeting.

Affidavits | If necessary, an affidavit for the bride and the groom may be obtained from people who know them well and can testify that they are free to marry. A priest will take this testimony. These witnesses can be parents, other family members or friends.

Marriage License | This is available from the Milwaukee County Courthouse. For more information, visit http://county.milwaukee.gov. Please begin your application process at least six weeks before your wedding.

+ Fees

We will send you an invoice for the total cost for the wedding and musicians. You don't need to provide separate checks to the church and each musician.

Fee Schedule

• Church Facilities | $500
• Priest | None, but a gratuity is appreciated
• Director of Liturgy and Music | $300
• Cantor | $150
• Additional Rehearsal | $50/hour
• Additional Musicians | $150-300
• Video Streaming Service | $150