CONGRATULATIONS

The priests, deacon and staff of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church extend to you sincere congratulations and best wishes for your marriage.  The Sacrament of Matrimony is a sacred occasion when two persons declare before God and an assembled congregation of family and friends their faith, and publicly avow their love for each other and their desire to be united by the Church in the creation of a new family.

We are glad you are considering making Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church a part of such an important moment in your lives. In order to receive more information about weddings and marriage preparation at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church, please contact the church office at 318-445-3693 to leave a message with the priest or deacon you would like to start marriage preparation with. Please be sure to contact the clergy before you set your wedding date.

Preparation at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church will take a minimum of six months; therefore, we ask that you contact our office at least seven to nine months before your desired wedding date.

We look forward to helping you prepare for your new life together.

The following information is a vital part in preparing your wedding here at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church.  To insure your wedding goes smoothly you must read and follow these guidelines.  If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Julie Bayone, Parish Manager (318-445-3693). 

RESERVATIONS

Set the date with the Priest at least six (6) months before the wedding.

Set the date with the Parish Manager to be sure that it is on the Church calendar. (Even though you have set a date with the clergy you must contact Mrs. Bayone to assure that your date is on the Church calendar.)

Attend an engagement retreat before the wedding. Schedule with Priest.

In the case of cancellation of a wedding, it is your obligation to inform the Parish Manager and the clergy as soon as possible so that the event can be removed from the Church calendar.

Because of regular Church programming, Sunday schedules, New Year's Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the week before Christmas and Holy Week must be avoided as dates for weddings.

The Divine Providence Center can be reserved for a reception by contacting the Parish Manager.   Fees for the Divine Providence Center will be discussed with you by the Parish Manager.

MUSIC

Mrs. Linda Perot is our full-time Director of Music.  You must contact her regarding your wedding music.  Her phone number is 318-443-0614 (evenings). If she is not available, leave a message on her answering machine and she will contact you at her earliest convenience. ALL music must be approved by Mrs. Perot. 

Mrs. Perot's fee is $250.00.  This is for music only and does not include soloist, flutist or any other instrumentalist if you so choose. Additional fees, if any, will be quoted.   All fees for music must be paid at least one (1) week prior to the wedding. If paying by check, make payable to: Linda Perot and mail or bring to: 401 21^st Street, Alexandria, LA, 71301.  

CHURCH 

Security Guard Fee: If your wedding is in the evening there is a $60.00 fee for security guard.  This will be discussed with you by the Parish Manager.   If you would like to rent the Divine Providence Center for your wedding reception or rehearsal supper please check with the Parish Manager for availability and cost.

Church Wedding Coordinator: You must contact Shelley Michiels at shelley.michiels@olpschurch.org.  The Church Wedding Coordinator or a coordinator appointed by her will set a time to meet with you at the Church and show you the various fern stands, candelabra, etc. for your use at your wedding at no additional charge.   Brides or Bride's Mother must meet with the coordinator.  If you have a wedding coordinator they are welcome to come with you but our Church Coordinator will not meet with a bride's coordinator without the bride or mother present.  She will give you all the guidelines that you will need to know concerning what is allowed concerning decorating in the Church, location of the bride's room, etc. It is our requirement that she attend the rehearsal and the wedding so that all runs timely and smoothly for your special day.

Rice and bird seed are not allowed to be thrown at the Church or reception areas.

Real flower petals and potpourri are not permitted to be dropped in the aisles.

ENCLOSED candles only may be used in the Church aisles.

Bows or any type of pew decoration must be removed after the wedding if you wish to keep them. Otherwise, the custodian cleaning the Church after the wedding will discard them. Pew decorations must be attached with pew marker clips only (no tape, staples, etc.).

FLOWERS

You must leave live flower arrangements on each side of the Tabernacle after your wedding. 

The only exception to leaving flowers is if the ceremony is during Lent when it is not acceptable to have flowers for the Sunday Masses.

Flowers for Saturday weddings must be at the Church before 3:00 P.M.   

REHEARSAL

All preparations for the ceremony should be cleared with the clergy and the Music Director before the day of the rehearsal.

Only members of the wedding party should attend the rehearsal.

Children under the age of three are not permitted to participate in the wedding.

In case of a wedding consultant, consultation with the Priest must be made prior to the rehearsal. 

The wedding party should be ready to begin rehearsing at the appointed time. 

The suggested length (maximum) of a rehearsal is thirty minutes. 

Marriage license must be brought to the rehearsal.

Proper dress is required always in the Church.  This means no shorts, halters, or any other type of improper dress. 

It is also your responsibility to see that decorum is maintained during the rehearsal. 

FEES 

ALL fees must be paid at least one (1) week prior to the wedding.

A wedding is a part of the Ministry of the Church and the clergy of Prompt Succor do not charge for their services.  Any gratuities are simply voluntary gifts to the priest.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Please ask the photographer to confer with the priest/deacon before the ceremony.

Photographers have 30 minutes after the ceremony ends to shoot photos.  Please plan to shoot those photos that do not require the bride and groom together shot shortly before the ceremony. 

The Wedding Day

The Bridal Party is invited to dress in the Bride's Room.

The Groom and Groomsmen are to dress prior to arrival at the Church and assemble in the priests' Sacristy. 

A SPECIAL WISH

Our sincere prayer for your wedding is that it will be one of the highest spiritual experiences of your life.  This prayer is beautifully expressed in the following wedding song:

Our Heavenly Father, we ask that on
this day thy loving arms be near us. 

Bless thou this hour;
bless thou this moment; 

Bind us in thee forever from this day. 

Bless thou the ring; bless thou the promise; 

Strengthen our love throughout each day.

All happy moments, all times of sadness, 

Teach us to trust and share them all with thee. 

O Holy Father, bless thou this moment; 

Bless thou this hour.