In the Sacrament of Marriage, a man and a woman commit themselves to a perpetual, faithful and fruitful life together and, in so doing, the two become one in Christ.
If you are considering Saint Ambrose Church to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage, please carefully review the Wedding Planning Guidelines below. They will ensure that your wedding will honor our parish belief that the Sacrament of Marriage is a religious, liturgical service that celebrates the union of two people in the presence of God.
Wedding Planning Guidelines – Print the wedding guidelines listed below for your records.
Wedding Registration Form – Return the completed form and deposit (if applicable) to secure a date.
To begin the inquiry process and to schedule your wedding, call the Saint Ambrose Parish Office at 314-771-1228.
The couple desiring to marry at Saint Ambrose is to notify a parish priest or deacon as soon as they have the intention to marry. Archdiocesan guidelines require at least SIX MONTHS notice however, it is imperative to contact the parish before you sign contracts with venues for the celebration-the date you are asking for may already be taken. Initially, you will meet with the Pastor Fr. Jack Siefert, and he will direct you to the the Parish Pastoral Associate, Jennifer Meehan, who will then meet with the you and fill out the Pre-Nuptual Investigation and explain the preparation process.
Generally, weddings are celebrated on Friday evenings at 6:00 p.m. (Parishioner or Non-Parishioner) or on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. (Parishioner or Non-Parishioner) and 1:30 p.m. (Parishioners ONLY).
For those who are non-parishioners/visitors, you will be responsible for securing your own Presider for the wedding ceremony.
Offering to the Parish –
Active Parishioner and Legacy Families: No Charge for Church, see ceremony fees below
Non Parishioner: $1,500 charge* for Church, see ceremony fees below
To be considered an active parishioner you must have registered and been an active member of the parish for at least six months prior to the wedding being booked at Saint Ambrose. Given the definition of active parishioner status, those who do not meet these requirements are considered non parishioner/visitor.
*For non parishioner/visitors a non refundable deposit of $750 must accompany the signed Wedding Registration Form. The remaining balance of $750 is due 60 days prior to the wedding date.
Presider – $200
The above fee is if a priest or deacon from Saint Ambrose is the Presider at your wedding. If you are having priest or deacon other than from Saint Ambrose ask them what they are requesting for compensation. Please give that check directly to that priest or deacon instead of Saint Ambrose.
Wedding Coordinator – $250
You are required to use a Saint Ambrose Wedding Coordinator. The fee is payable directly to them no later than the rehearsal date. The parish Wedding Coordinator is the equivalent to a Day of Wedding Coordinator. However when inside of the church, the Parish Wedding Coordinator has the final say on how things will operate, when things will occur, and how things are done. If your own wedding coordinator is going to be at the church on the day of the wedding, please have them contact the Saint Ambrose Wedding Coordinator.
Parish Organist – $300
Although you are not required to contract with the Saint Ambrose Music Director, Darren Modde, we encourage you to do so. Mr. Modde will meet with you to help select your music. You can view his website as a good resource to start the process with him. You will find a list of appropriate Catholic music on the website (www.moddemusic.com).
If you choose to bring in an outside organist, there will be a $100 fee payable to Darren Modde, Saint Ambrose Music Director, to cover his consultation time and equipment setup costs related to an outside organist using the church organ. You must make arrangements for an outside organist directly with Mr. Modde.
Parish Vocalist – $150-250
If Cantor is from outside of parish, fees are to be determined and paid directly to them. Approval of the outside cantor is made by the Music Director of Saint Ambrose. Other musicians (violin, cello, trumpet) available upon request: $150-200. Mr. Modde will work with you to hire other musicians to make your wedding memorable and special.
Altar Servers – $20
Please pay each server in cash. Mark two separate envelope with SERVER. Saint Ambrose can provide one or two servers or you may supply your own.
Rehearsals are usually held on the Wednesday or Thursday before the wedding. The rehearsal times are 6:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. and are scheduled for a period of 45 minutes. In order to stay on schedule, please ensure that all parties are present no later than ten minutes before the rehearsal time. To help make sure that we can accomplish everything that needs to be completed at the rehearsal, please make sure the Wedding Liturgy Planning Sheet is filled out and returned to the Wedding Coordinator. It is a simple form that allows you to select the readings as well as list the wedding party and other information the coordinator will need to know. This form MUST be received at least two weeks before the scheduled rehearsal.
Please also have at least one additional copy of the Prayers of the Faithful that you have written for the Wedding Coordinator. We also suggest that you give copies of the first and second readings plus the Prayers of the Faithful to the individuals that will be doing the readings.
Your wedding day is the start of a lifetime together, the beginning of a marriage that is Free, Total, Faithful and Fruitful. To ensure that you are preparing for your marriage as well as planning your wedding, the following Marriage Preparation is required for all couples whose marriage is being celebrated by Saint Ambrose clergy.
Meeting with the Priest or Deacon who will officiate your wedding
This initial meeting will establish a relationship and begin the process. You may be asked to meet with this clergy person several times throughout your preparation.
Meeting with our Pastoral Associate
At this meeting, you will discuss the Sacramental understanding of marriage, the marriage preparation process and the Fully Engaged inventory.
Fully Engaged Couples Inventory
Separately, you will complete an online inventory to help couples build a strong foundation of communication for their marriage. After each of you completes this inventory, you will meet together with our Pastoral Associate to discuss the results and explore communication and relationship-building skills.
Marriage Preparation Weekend
Together, you will attend a Marriage Preparation weekend. These weekends focus on the spiritual and practical aspects of living our the Marriage Covenant. Information on signing up for your Marriage Prep weekend will be made available at the first meeting with our Pastoral Associate.
Intro to Natural Family Planning Class
Natural Family Planning (NFP) is not only highly effective for planning your family, it is also very effective in overcoming obstacles that compromise your ability to become parents. You will need to attend an introductory course on one of the NFP methods of your choosing. Information and class schedules will be made available at your first meeting with our Pastoral Associate.
Catholics are required to present a recently issued Baptismal Certificate unless baptized at Saint Ambrose. The baptismal certificate may not be older than six months at the time of the wedding. You can request a copy of your baptismal certificate by calling or writing the parish of your baptism. If your parish of baptism is now closed you can order one through the Archdiocese here. Christians of other traditions must also furnish proof of baptism.
You must bring to the wedding rehearsal your Marriage License from the Sate of Missouri. Apply in advance. The license is valid for a period of thirty days.
Your wedding coordinator will be in touch with you 4 weeks prior to your wedding date. You may review our policies and procedures in the Wedding FAQ for Brides and Grooms. To help prepare you for that initial meeting, you may begin choosing your readings, petitions, vows and ring blessings using the documents below. Please record all choices on the Liturgy Planning Sheet for either a Full Mass or Ceremony Only.
Old Testament Readings
New Testament Readings
Gospel Readings
Vows
Petitions
Yes, there is much to plan and a lot to prepare. But we pray that, through it all, you will keep a place in your heart for what really matters. For your wedding is one day; your marriage is forever. The time you spend now talking, praying, forgiving and working on your relationship, sets the groundwork for a holy and life-giving marriage: in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, all the days of your life.
Sincerely,
Father Jack Siefert, Pastor
Wedding Planning Guidelines – Print the wedding guidelines listed here for your records.
Wedding Registration Form – Return the completed form and deposit (if applicable) to secure a date.