“May the church be the place of God’s mercy and love, where everyone can feel themselves welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged to live according to the good life of the Gospel. And in order to make others feel welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged, the church must have open doors so that all might enter. And we must go out of those doors and proclaim the Gospel.” | Pope Francis (2013)
On behalf of the Sacred Heart community, including the Franciscan Friars and staff, congratulations on your engagement!
We are a vibrant Catholic faith community that seeks to live the Gospel through Franciscan spirituality in our daily lives. As you prepare to enter into the Sacred Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, we welcome you and look forward to walking alongside you during this meaningful time of preparation.
Liturgical Guidelines & Customs
To help you plan your ceremony, review our parish’s liturgical guidelines:
- Rite & Vernacular: Sacred Heart celebrates wedding liturgies using the Roman Rite in the primary language of the couple (e.g., English or Spanish) with the priest/deacon facing the congregation.
- Traditional Cultural Customs: Beautiful traditions within the Roman Rite, such as the Arras (coins) and the Lazo/Veil (unity cord/veil), are warmly welcomed and permitted.
- Liturgical Scope: Because of schedule constraints and parish liturgical norms, we are unable to host Latin Masses or non-Roman Catholic Rites (such as Eastern Catholic Rites including Syro-Malabar, Maronite, Melkite, Syriac, Armenian, etc.).
Important Policy for Engaged Couples | Because marriage is a personal, adult commitment before God and the Church, all wedding arrangements must be made by the couple (the bride and groom) directly. Our parish staff and friars will communicate exclusively with the couple during the planning process to ensure you are fully involved, informed, and in agreement with every detail of your preparation and ceremony.
Your Marriage Preparation Journey
To help guide you through the process from engagement to your wedding day, review our four-step preparation path:
Step 1: Confirming Sacred Heart Church for Your Wedding
Destination weddings are very popular in Florida. However, our church is not a destination wedding venue. Rather, this is our spiritual home, a sacred place where many generations have celebrated the sacraments, beginning with baptism, and ending with a funeral. For that reason, the life and needs of our parish come first.
Our church is a favorite place for celebrating Holy Matrimony. We are pleased to share it. Unfortunately, limitations of time, resources, and personnel prevent us from honoring every request.
Because of the volume of requests, we employ an application system and appreciate your participation. Here is how an engaged couple may apply for a reservation:
Couples should contact the Wedding Coordinator, Jennifer Williams, at least six months prior to the anticipated wedding date to begin the process.
Step 2: Meet with Your Priest or Deacon to Begin Marriage Preparation
During your meeting(s) with the priest or deacon, you will be informed about the necessary paperwork that is required. Part of the requirements would be the FOCCUS Survey and participating in the Journey to Matrimony program.
The Sacred Heart Wedding Coordinator will send the couple a link to complete the online Preliminary Assessment of Readiness for Marriage (FOCCUS Survey). Once completed the priest/deacon will review it with the couple.
Journey to Matrimony is a twelve-hour, one-day program intended for couples when the bride and groom are both marrying for the first time. The program is usually offered the third Saturday of most months. This comprehensive experience uses various presentation methods with the goal of enriching and enhancing the remainder of the couple’s engagement. It is our hope that Journey to Matrimony will provide a firm foundation on which couples like you can build a future as you prepare to enter the Sacrament of Marriage and spend a lifetime together. For more information, click here.
Step 3: Planning Your Wedding
By choosing to celebrate your wedding in the Catholic Church, you acknowledge that the liturgical celebration of marriage transcends individual desires; it is an act of the entire Church community. This solemn occasion is steeped in holiness. The Church’s rituals allow both the bride and groom’s faith to be expressed while guiding those present towards the Lord. A Catholic wedding emphasizes what God is doing through you within a community of faith. While you have the freedom to make choices regarding various elements of the Rite (such as Scripture passages and blessings), we will strictly adhere to the Church’s liturgical norms, customs, and teachings. Furthermore, due to practical limitations regarding space, time, and personnel, we kindly ask that you respect the specific policies in place at Sacred Heart Church.
To plan the music selections, please contact our Director of Music, Philip Jakob, at least five months before your wedding. Click here for more information about wedding music.
Step 4: Wedding Rehearsal and Wedding Ceremony
Our Wedding Managers provide many important, vital functions before, during, and after the wedding. They serve to help the bride and groom, and are responsible for implementing the policies and customs of our parish. Our Wedding Managers will consult with the priest/deacon, conduct the rehearsal, give directions for the procession and placement of the wedding party, and ensure that the altar furnishings, candles, and lights are properly set.
Due to the unique nature of Catholic liturgy, a professional wedding planner will not function in the role of Sacred Heart’s Wedding Managers at either the rehearsal or the wedding ceremony.
