The six-month period of preparation allows you to come to a deeper knowledge of each other and of the sacrament you will receive, and allows you the opportunity to enter into candid discussions about your hopes for marriage and to reflect on the wonderful steps you are taking together.  It also affords the time necessary to prepare the documents that are required; to allow the priest or deacon to get to know you, so that he might enter more fully into the celebration; and provides adequate time for you to participate in a marriage preparation program.

Presider
The priests at Holy Trinity will be happy to assist you in your planning.  If you wish a particular priest, please contact him at least six months prior to your wedding date.  He will meet with you a number of times so that he can come to know you and your hopes for your marriage, as well as assist you with planning your ceremony.  If you do not wish a particular priest, one will be assigned to you.

You are welcome to have a visiting ordained Roman Catholic priest or deacon preside at your wedding.  Note, however, the clergy you wish to witness your marriage must be authorized by the local government to witness marriages.  Contact Father Murray, 202-337-2840, ext. 105, for further information.

Clergy of other religious communities and faiths are welcome to assist in the celebration of your wedding.  Please speak directly with the priest or deacon working with you to work out the details.

Liturgy Planning
The priest that will be celebrating your wedding will review the wedding liturgy with you.

Pastoral Music
Music is an integral part of your celebration. 

A member of the Holy Trinity Music Department will coordinate the music for your wedding.  Please do not contact musicians to play or sing at your wedding until you have consulted with the Music Department.  At a later date you will meet with the coordinator assigned to your wedding to discuss your plans in more detail.  There will be a separate fee for music at your ceremony.  The fees for musicians will be found in the music guidelines that you will receive.  While outside musicians are occasionally permitted to participate in part of the wedding, a Holy Trinity Coordinator/Keyboardist must be present and take the leading role in any liturgy.  In any event, the coordinators fee is mandatory.

Wedding Promptness
Weddings begin at Holy Trinity at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 3:00 p.m.  A couple is assured the use of the Church for two hours only, beginning one-half hour before the wedding starts, i.e. 9:30 a.m., 11:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m., and ending two hours later.  A couple beginning their ceremony at 10:00 a.m., for example, is assured of the use of the Church from 9:30–11:30 a.m.  Because we have a very full schedule and as a courtesy to the other wedding parties, we ask that all weddings begin promptly since we are not able to extend the two-hour limit.

Wedding Rehearsals
Rehearsals in the Church are scheduled on the Friday evening preceding your wedding for 45 minutes at 4:00, 6:15, 7:00 and 7:45 p.m.  Contact the Executive Assistant to the Pastor, 202-337-2840, ext. 130, to schedule a time for your rehearsal and be sure to coordinate the time with your presider.  All members of the wedding party, including readers and other ministers of the celebration, should be present.  We ask that you be prompt as we can schedule only 45 minutes per rehearsal.  Please plan ahead for traffic difficulties in Georgetown on Friday evenings.  Be sure to bring your marriage license and give it to your presider.

Flowers
We encourage wedding parties of the same day to share the cost of flowers.  Please contact the Executive Assistant to the Pastor, 202-337-2840, ext. 130, to ascertain the names and numbers of the other couples who share your wedding date.  Please note that floral arrangements must be attached without the use of tape or other adhesives.  Ribbons or special hangers, which do not mar the finish of the pews in the Church may be used.

During the liturgical seasons of Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter, the sanctuary has a particular seasonal atmosphere which cannot be altered.  Green plants and floral arrangements must reflect the atmosphere of the season (e.g., simple flowers such as forsythia or baskets with flowering bulbs during Lent).  We also ask that you remove flowers during these times.  You may direct further questions to the Pastoral Associate for Liturgy, 202-337-2840, ext. 125.

Photography
Because the ceremony is a sacred time, we ask that you engage a photographer who will abide by the following rules:

• No flash pictures are permitted during the ceremony.
• The photographer must remain stationary throughout the ceremony in the balcony, with the exception of the processional and recessional, at which times the photographer may precede the party in the aisle and use artificial lighting, if needed.

If your photographer has any questions on the wedding day, it is suggested that he or she consult the presider.  We also ask you to inform your guests that, in order to ensure a prayerful ceremony, flash photography is not permitted; you may wish to include a statement to that effect in your wedding program.

Provided your ceremony begins promptly, you may take photographs in the Sanctuary of the Church until 30 minutes after your ceremony.

Videography
If you engage someone to videotape your ceremony he or she must abide by these rules:

• No camera lights or arc lights are permitted.
• The videographer must remain stationary throughout the ceremony in the balcony, with the exception of the processional and recessional, at which times the videographer may precede the party in the aisle and use artificial lighting, if needed.

Parlor
A small parlor in the new Parish Center is available for your use.  You may use the parlor for two hours only, beginning one-half hour before the wedding starts and ending two hours later.  If you do wish to use the parlor, simply contact the Executive Assistant to the Pastor, 202-337-2840, ext.130.  Should the room not be available, there is other space in the Parish Center that can be reserved.

Parking
Holy Trinity has no parking available for weddings.  You may wish to contact the Second District Substation for “Emergency No Parking” signs for 36th Street to provide some nearby parking.  Their address is as follows:

Our receptionist, 202-337-2840, can provide you with the names of the other couples who share your wedding day so that one sign (rather than signs for each individual wedding) can be posted for the day.

Another parking option is Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, located at 35th Street and Volta Place (three blocks from the Church).  You will receive a copy of Visitation’s “Parking Agreement Form” in your wedding packet.  The fee for the use of their parking facilities is indicated on the form.

Restrooms
Restrooms are located in the Parish Center and the Upper School (the building to the left as you face the Church).  Signage indicates their exact locations.

Rice, Birdseed, and Aisle Runners
For the safety of all, please ask your guests to refrain from throwing rice, birdseed, confetti, bubbles and the like, as well as silk or fresh flower petals in or outside of the Church.  Likewise, please do not use runners in the aisle.