The Sacrament of Marriage
Congratulations to those who are newly engaged! Campus Ministry at the University of St. Thomas, and the Church as a whole, rejoices at your witness of God’s love in the world. When couples prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage at St. Thomas, we look forward to helping them prepare for their wedding, a very special day, and for their marriage, which lasts a lifetime.
A wedding in the Church is different from a wedding elsewhere. By exchanging one’s consent in the presence of God, with the witness of clergy, family and friends, two baptized people enter into the Sacrament of Marriage. This sacrament is a visible sign to the world of God’s love, and through it a couple receives the grace needed to live out this sign.
On their wedding day, a couple promises to be faithful to one another, be open to the gift of children, and care for the good of one's spouse for a lifetime. We are honored to help prepare couples for these vows.
Reserving the Chapel
Eligibility
St. Thomas alumni, current students, faculty and staff, as well as children of alumni, faculty and staff are eligible to reserve the chapel for their wedding. To be married in the chapel, one or both of the engaged couple must be a practicing and confirmed Catholic.
If the bride and groom are not both undergraduate students, the couple must also register in a parish. Permission to be married outside of one’s parish is required from one’s pastor and will be coordinated with Campus Ministry.
If a previous marriage (civil or sacramental) is involved, official documentation of a declaration of nullity must be provided prior to securing a wedding date.
The Sacramental Coordinator is happy to help with any of these steps.
Fees
The total wedding cost for the use of the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas is $1,200. This price is reduced to $600 for two current undergraduate students. Some holidays are available for $1,500. Please contact Christina Crow regarding fees for the Chapel of St. Thomas More.
This fee includes but is not limited to: the initial $250 non-refundable processing fee, use of the Chapel for the rehearsal and wedding, use of the bridal suites until the liturgy begins, costs associated with some marriage preparations, support staff, an organist, a cantor, a wedding sacristan who will coordinate a couple's rehearsal and wedding, and up to 175 worship aids. (The required pre-marriage preparation retreat, and an optional clergy stipend, is not included in this fee.)
There is an additional fee should a couple wish to extend their contracted time beyond the four-hour limit in either the chapel or the bridal suites.
Securing a Presider
Since Campus Ministry has limited clergy staff, they are unable to meet the many requests received for witnessing marriages. Couples must make arrangements with a Roman Catholic priest or deacon to preside at their wedding. Parish clergy are not obligated to witness weddings at the University of St. Thomas.
Couples must first secure a presider to secure a wedding date. Our Sacramental Coordinator will help with this process during the contract stage.
Wedding Times
Weddings are scheduled at the following times:
- Fridays: late afternoon or early evening
- Saturdays: 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
- Rehearsals begin at 6 p.m. the evening before the wedding.
The Chapel is reserved for a four-hour time frame to allow for set up, photos, the liturgy itself and clean up.
Eligibility
Eligibility
St. Thomas alumni, current students, faculty and staff, as well as children of alumni, faculty and staff are eligible to reserve the chapel for their wedding. To be married in the chapel, one or both of the engaged couple must be a practicing and confirmed Catholic.
If the bride and groom are not both undergraduate students, the couple must also register in a parish. Permission to be married outside of one’s parish is required from one’s pastor and will be coordinated with Campus Ministry.
If a previous marriage (civil or sacramental) is involved, official documentation of a declaration of nullity must be provided prior to securing a wedding date.
The Sacramental Coordinator is happy to help with any of these steps.
Fees
Fees
The total wedding cost for the use of the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas is $1,200. This price is reduced to $600 for two current undergraduate students. Some holidays are available for $1,500. Please contact Christina Crow regarding fees for the Chapel of St. Thomas More.
This fee includes but is not limited to: the initial $250 non-refundable processing fee, use of the Chapel for the rehearsal and wedding, use of the bridal suites until the liturgy begins, costs associated with some marriage preparations, support staff, an organist, a cantor, a wedding sacristan who will coordinate a couple's rehearsal and wedding, and up to 175 worship aids. (The required pre-marriage preparation retreat, and an optional clergy stipend, is not included in this fee.)
There is an additional fee should a couple wish to extend their contracted time beyond the four-hour limit in either the chapel or the bridal suites.
Securing a Presider
Securing a Presider
Since Campus Ministry has limited clergy staff, they are unable to meet the many requests received for witnessing marriages. Couples must make arrangements with a Roman Catholic priest or deacon to preside at their wedding. Parish clergy are not obligated to witness weddings at the University of St. Thomas.
Couples must first secure a presider to secure a wedding date. Our Sacramental Coordinator will help with this process during the contract stage.
Wedding Times
Wedding Times
Weddings are scheduled at the following times:
- Fridays: late afternoon or early evening
- Saturdays: 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
- Rehearsals begin at 6 p.m. the evening before the wedding.
The Chapel is reserved for a four-hour time frame to allow for set up, photos, the liturgy itself and clean up.
Marriage Prep & Liturgy Details
The following briefly highlights the preparations for marriage coordinated between St. Thomas and your parish:
- Marriage Prep Retreat
- Liturgy Preparation Session at St. Thomas
- All wedding day details including music, readings, lectors, etc. will be discussed.
- For Catholics, Catholic & baptized Christian, Catholic & non baptized
- Inventory (FOCCUS, Prepare, etc.)
- Meeting with your parish priest or deacon and mentor couple
- Sacrament of Reconciliation/Sacrament of Confirmation (for Catholics)
- Natural Family Planning (NFP) – Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis
- NFP – For Your Marriage
- NFP – US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Helpful Marriage Preparation Links Our Archdiocese Marriage Prep and For Your Marriage
The chapels are not the same as parishes, and each wedding must have the permission of the Archbishop to be celebrated at St. Thomas; it is a privilege that couples are granted this special permission. The following outlines the necessary documents for permission and for marriage preparation in our archdiocese.
Documents required before a wedding date can be set:
- Pastor Permission Form
- Contract
- Declaration of Nullity, if applicable
Documents required after a wedding date is set:
- FORM 1 (and FORM 2) provided by a couple’s priest or deacon
- Marriage Prep Retreat Certificate (Living God’s Love Retreat)
- Baptismal certificates (for Catholics, must be dated within six months of wedding date; for baptized non-Catholics there are no date restrictions)
- NFP Certificate
- A civil marriage license from the state of Minnesota
a. The license can be obtained from any MN county
b. Look for the discount for marriage preparations on county websites
PLEASE HAVE ALL PAPERWORK SENT DIRECTLY TO:
University of St Thomas
Christina Crow
Mail #ICF 18
2115 Summit Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55105
No wedding can be performed unless the above Church documentation is completed and a civil marriage license is brought to the rehearsal.
A procession begins an act of worship. It begins with the crucifix, like Sunday Mass processions. However, unlike Sunday processions when the Priest enters last, in a wedding procession, the couple enters last, because together they are the ministers of the Sacrament of Marriage.
At the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas, couples have these options for their wedding procession which symbolize they are both the ministers of this sacrament, who come from their family of origin and now bridge these two families, and also begin a family of their own.
Standard Option:
- Crucifix (Cross Bearer)
- Servers (if chosen, but not necessary)
- (Priest or Deacon, who may instead choose to already be in the sanctuary)
- Bridesmaids with Groomsmen (alternatives not allowed)
- Maid/Matron of Honor with Best Man
- (Ring Bearer/Flower Girl, who must be old enough to walk alone, without stroller/wagon)
- Father* - Groom - Mother*
- Father* - Bride - Mother*
*Or close family member/friend
Alternative Options:
- OR following the priest: the groom, wedding party, the bride
- OR following the wedding party: the groom, then the bride
- OR following the wedding party: the bride and groom enter together- as they are the ministers.
Additional details are provided when a couple receives their Guidelines for the Sacrament of Marriage booklet.
Music is such a special and important part of the wedding liturgy. “As a manifestation of the human spirit, music performs a function which is noble, unique, and irreplaceable. When it is truly beautiful and inspired, it speaks to us more than all the other arts of goodness, virtue, peace, of matters holy and divine. For good reason it has always been, and it will always be, an essential part of the liturgy.” (JPII)
All music for the wedding must be Catholic, liturgical music. The Sacramental Coordinator will provide a variety of selections in many musical styles for couples to choose from at a Liturgy Preparation Session. The Sacramental Coordinator must approve all music selections.
- A St. Thomas staff organist and staff cantor are required for all weddings, as they best know the Chapel, sound system and our team.
- Since the bride and groom share equally in their exchange of consent to this covenant, there is no change in music for the bride’s entrance.
- Recorded music is not allowed in the Chapel.
- While some traditions may allow secular music in the wedding service, secular, top-40, movie soundtrack, or Broadway show tunes are not allowed, even if lyrics are ‘Christian’ in nature, at Chapel weddings. They are appropriate at the reception or at other events surrounding the wedding.
Additional details, particularly regarding an organist and a cantor, are provided when a couple receives their Guidelines for the Sacrament of Marriage booklet.
- All attire should reflect the dignity of this sacred event.
- For women, all attire must be modest. Low necklines, low backlines, high slit dresses, and often transparent fabrics are not in keeping with the appropriate guidelines for a religious service and a sacred space. Many bridal stores offer beautiful cover ups or modifications that can be removed if desired at your reception.
- For men, ‘costume’ style tuxedos or accessories are not appropriate for a religious service and a sacred space.
- Female witnesses (wedding party) witness for the bride; male witnesses (wedding party) witness for the groom. Maid (or matron) of Honor and Best Man sign the civil license.
- We strongly encourage couples to savor all of their allotted time in the Chapel together. Waiting to see each other until the Entrance Procession makes for a stressful first appearance, and it can take away from that special moment between the bride and groom. The tradition of not seeing each other originated in arranged marriages, in which the groom was not allowed to see the bride lest he changed his mind upon seeing her and called off the wedding. Consider arranging a special moment when arriving to the Chapel- first seeing each other alone in the garden, or in the Chapel; this allows couples a special, stress-free chance to quietly enjoy that moment together, and then enjoy the rest of their time in the Chapel together on their wedding day.
- Couples may include the following liturgical lay ministers: Cross Bearer, Server, Lectors, Gift Bearer, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Ushers.
- The Chapel is often set with seasonal decorations (e.g. Advent, Lent, and Easter) which are for the primary worshipping community at Saint Thomas. We respectfully ask couples and their vendors to not alter or remove any elements of the décor, nor furniture, at any time.
- The use of rice, confetti, birdseed, sparklers (anything that may be left on the ground) is not permitted inside or outside of the Chapel. Bubbles or handheld items (bells, ribbons) are permissible but must be cleaned up.
- The unity candle, sand ceremony, wine box ceremony and other popular traditions that are not part of the Catholic wedding rite will not be allowed at weddings in the Chapel.
- While couples are welcome to bring floral arrangements for the wedding day, it is not necessary. The beauty of the Chapel speaks for itself; additional flowers often go unnoticed. Floral guidelines must be followed, should a couple choose to include flowers.
Additional details are provided when a couple receives their Guidelines for the Sacrament of Marriage booklet.
Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas
Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas
Of the seven sacraments, six are performed solely by clergy. The Sacrament of Matrimony is unique; clergy serve as an official witness, but it is the bride and groom who confer the sacrament on each other by the vows they exchange.
Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas
Couple who marry in the chapel appreciate: attending our liturgy prep session to select details for the wedding liturgy, the use of our private bridal suites, the care of our wedding sacristans for both the rehearsal and wedding, the creation of worship aids, our professional organist/pianist/cantor team.
Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas
Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas
Weddings in St. Paul
Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas
Archbishop John Ireland commissioned Emmanuel-Louis Masqueray, the architect of the St. Paul Cathedral and the Basilica of St. Mary, to design the chapel.
In the century since its dedication, the Chapel has stood on the upper quad as the University of St. Thomas grew and evolved around it.
For your convenience, the adjacent Iversen Center for Faith includes bride and groom suites and a reception space.
Weddings in Minneapolis
Chapel of St. Thomas More
The Chapel of St. Thomas More is an intimate space to celebrate weddings in Minneapolis.
Celebration Spaces
Reception Venues
Reception facilities are also available for the rehearsal dinner, groom’s dinner and the wedding reception. A discounted rate for reception facilities is available for couples marrying in our chapels. See Conferences and Event Services for more information.
Location of Chapel and Parking
The Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas in St. Paul is located on Cleveland Avenue approximately two blocks north of Summit Avenue, between Ashland Avenue and Laurel Avenue.
The Chapel of St. Thomas More in Minneapolis is located in the School of Law at 1000 LaSalle Avenue.
All visitors are subject to the same parking rules as faculty, staff and students. Please be aware that the Chapel is on a university campus where many events take place on weekends. Parking lots cannot be reserved for weddings. Parking is not permitted in fire lanes, handicapped, rideshare, restricted or reserved spaces without proper permits or authorization. For campus maps, directions, and parking information, click here.