WEDDING GUIDELINES
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1. All Canonical requirements must be completed not later than two months before the scheduled wedding.  These are done with the cooperation of your Roman Catholic parish priest or deacon.  Bridal couples prepared outside of Hawaii must have their canonical documentation forwarded by their priest or deacon to their proper Diocesan Tribunal for forwarding in turn to the Tribunal of the Diocese of Honolulu.  Confirmations of the wedding arrangements are made only upon receipt of all the necessary church documents in addition to the fee(s) noted below.  All church documents must be received not later than 60 days before the hoped-for wedding date.  Only the official channel of documentary forwarding is acceptable, but we do encourage Out-of-State bridal couples to hand carry photocopies of all required church documents and have them available upon arrival in Honolulu.

2. The State of Hawaii Marriage License is to be deposited at the parish office at the time of the rehearsal unless this wedding is a Convalidation, in which case a photocopy of the civil license must be presented.

3. Liturgical Principles of the Roman Catholic Rite are always to be respected.  Cultural adaptation must be in conformity with our liturgical rites.  Items like the “unity candle” belong at the reception rather than at the liturgy.  The priest or deacon officiating at any wedding here must respect and conform to Cathedral Liturgy in agreeing to preside at and/or witness the exchange of consent.  Please note that the physical arrangement of the Cathedral is not that of some other churches.  Furniture is not to be moved.

4. Confirmation of the Wedding Date & Time:  If you are planning a wedding here at the Cathedral, and you are from another state or parish, a letter from your parish priest stating that your marriage preparation has begun is required to tentatively secure a wedding date.  Documentation from outside the Diocese of Honolulu must arrive through proper channel, i.e., via Diocesan Tribunal.  There are some days on which weddings are not allowed:  Generally NOT on Sundays and Solemnities, during the Paschal Triduum, on All Souls’ Day, and on the days and at times when liturgical principle, personal schedule or other scheduled liturgies prohibit weddings.  Weddings are discouraged during Lent, but should any be scheduled during that season, the level of the festivity should be somewhat subdued.

5. Weddings of Non-Parish Couples from other parishes in Hawaii:  If neither the groom nor the bride are regular worshipers at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, but reside in the island and expect a sizable crowd, parking facilities and a rehearsal, the fee for the usage of the Cathedral is $1,000.00 payable at the time of confirmation of the wedding date and time.  This should be paid before any invitations are printed.  Registration in the parish for the sake of avoiding fee is not allowed.

6. Weddings from Out-of-State:  These must follow the same rules as here given.  Sometimes (but not necessarily) they are coordinated by somewhat professional “marriage coordinators” and are relatively small parties (12 or fewer persons.)  Note that the marriage coordinators are not responsible for canonical or liturgical requirements; the bridal couple is responsible with the help of their proper Catholic parish priest.  The priest at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace is the final determinant of all aspects of the liturgical celebration of the wedding.  Out-of-State wedding parties should send a non-refundable check for $1,250.00 made to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace to arrive not later than one month before the scheduled wedding.  This fee covers church usage only.  It does not include music or church decorations or license or photographs or officiant.  We do require all canonical and civil requirements be fulfilled through proper channels as noted above.  If canonical and /or civil requirements are incomplete, no wedding can take place.

7. Music:  All music in the Cathedral must be liturgically appropriate.  This will be determined by the director of music at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace.  No recorded music is allowed during the liturgy.  Only competent and qualified musicians will be allowed to play the pipe organ.  All such coordination and permissions must be negotiated and arranged with the director of music.  It is preferred that one of the parish organists must be hired and one of the parish cantors.  In addition to the fees for the mainland and non-parishioner couples (see above), all couples must pay a fee of $250 each for organist, cantor, and priest and an additional $150 for the sacristans (at wedding Masses).  Registered parishioners must also make a donation to the Cathedral of $500.  All payable in advance.  Other musicians (i.e. string quartet, trumpet) are also available for hire at the standard rate and can be arranged through the director of music.

8. Decoration:  The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace is aesthetically pleasant at most times.  Seasonal decorations for Advent, Christmas-Epiphany, Lent and Easter will not be adjusted or added-to for weddings.  These must remain as they are.  At other times, flowers may be added, but minimal.  Bouquets should be placed on the pedestal near the pillars.  No flowers are allowed on the altar table or in the way of the people involved in the liturgy.  No flowers should be attached to the pews or other furniture.  Furniture is not to be moved by the bridal party, its associates, photographers or anyone else.  The use of tapes, tacks, glue or other adhesives is forbidden at all times.  Plastic flowers or shrubs are not allowed.  The basic rule for decorating in the Cathedral for weddings is that “less is better.”  The expense of all decorations not already provided by the church for the liturgical seasons is the responsibility of the bridal party.  Proper scheduling must be arranged for decorating.  Parish activities and liturgies always take precedence over weddings.

9. Photography:  See the separate page entitled “Wedding Photography Rules.”

10. Clean-up:  Any flowers containers, flower pedals, film wrappers and any other rubbish should be removed from the church by persons designated by the bridal couple.

11. Rice and/or bird seed are not to be thrown as the couple leaves the church, either inside or outside.  These create a safety and cleanliness hazard and the bridal couple will be liable should accidents occur.

12. Rehearsal:  A wedding rehearsal should be scheduled in the days prior to the wedding and should end by 7:00 p.m.  Participants should be prompt and should dress properly (beach wear is not appropriate).  Sobriety and good manners are always in order.  No gag or silly behavior is allowed.  No food or drink is to be brought into the church.  If the priest or deacon from outside the parish has arranged to officiate at the wedding, he must attend the rehearsal.

13. Parking:  For both rehearsal and the wedding, parking is available in the Century Square Garage (1188 Bishop Street).  Tickets will be validated after the events at the Cathedral Office.

14. The request to schedule a wedding and the payment of fee at the Cathedral indicates an agreement to abide by all these rules and the spirit behind them.

 Effective January 9th, 2007