We are very happy that you want Jesus
to be part of your wedding ceremony.
The Sacrament of Christian Marriage is a Great communal celebration which takes place in God’s House, the Catholic Church, witnessed by God, family and friends. “Your wedding day, is one day, but your marriage lasts a lifetime.” The Church encourages couples to invest time and energy into the all-important work of preparing for their married life together.
You must be an active, registered member of your parish for at least one year in order to be married at St. Martha Church. If you are not a member of St. Martha Church, a letter of permission from your pastor must be sent to Rev. George Suszko stating that you have begun marriage preparations and have permission to marry at St. Martha Church. The Marriage preparation process should begin at least (8) months prior to the wedding date.
The steps are easy to follow, Five Steps.
Step 1 . Complete and submit the Preliminary Wedding Information Sheet
Step 2. Meet with Clergy
Step 3. Complete Witness to Love Program (WTL)
Step 4. Choose music selections with Virginia Bray
Step 5. Pick out Marriage Ceremony Scripture Readings.
If you have a wedding coordinator, they must complete and email our permission request form.
For more information and to complete the State of Florida Marriage License requirements go to the State of Florida – Marriage Licenses website.
For you assistance, print our Complete Church Wedding To Do Checklist.
Registered Member – $800
Non-Registered Member – $1,900
Registered member being married at another location – $300
Non-registered member being married at another location – $500Baptism Certificate Request Form
Preliminary Wedding Information Sheet
Permission to Marry Form
Affidavit – Freedom to Marry Form
Permission Request Form for Wedding Coordinators
Complete Church Wedding To Do ListHow can we be sure that the music we choose for our wedding will be appropriate?
Our Music Director is a valuable resource and can guide you through all aspects of choosing the music for your wedding liturgy.Is it possible to have a friend or relative sing at our wedding?
The musical demands of a Catholic wedding liturgy are quite complex, requiring considerable expertise to be done well. Our Music Director can advise you concerning our parish policy on this matter and whether this person is the best choice.We have a song which is “special” for us. May we request that it be sung at our wedding liturgy?
The wedding liturgy is concerned with the spiritual dimension of love. Songs sung at this liturgy must express not only your love for each other, but also the love of God – the source of all love.Could our “special” song be sung before the wedding liturgy begins or played as prelude music?
Prelude music and songs before the wedding liturgy set the tone for the Sacrament of Christian Marriage which is about to take place. Secular music which is not permitted during the wedding liturgy would also not be permitted for prelude music.Our “special” song was sung at my cousin’s wedding. Why can’t it be sung at ours?
While secular and popular songs have been used at times in some parishes by musicians and clergy who are unfamiliar with or simply disregard the Church’s teachings regarding Sacred Music, they have never been permitted. Again, Church guidelines do not permit the use of secular music during the Sacred Liturgy.Is it appropriate to use other instruments besides the organ during our wedding liturgy?
Other instruments (such as trumpet, flute, harp or guitar) are often used at wedding liturgies and can add to the musical dimension. All contracting and hiring of outside professional personnel must be arranged by our Music Director.May we hire another organist or musical group not associated with the parish?
Some parishes have contractual agreements and/or policies concerning the use of anyone other than their Music Director at wedding.Any and all Questions on Music at St. Martha Church must be addressed with the Music Director.
Music Director – Virginia Bray virginiabray@stmartha.org
Wedding times on Saturdays are 11:00 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Weddings during the weekdays are available upon request. (Weekday Masses are 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 12 noon, and 5:30 p.m.; and our Saturday Masses are 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.).
The rehearsal is always the Friday evening before the wedding at 6:00 p.m., unless otherwise stipulated.
The Church, Sacristy, and Bride’s Room will be opened a ½ hour before the wedding. If you need more time, please let the Parish Secretary or the Church Sacristan know so that arrangements can be made.
Parking is available in the back of the Church, on 2nd Street, and across Fruitville Road. We have a ramp for the handicapped, on the south side of the Church inside the gate facing the back parking lot.
The Bride and her Bridesmaids can dress in the Bride’s Room located on the south side of Church, at top of the ramp, door on the left before Church side door entrance. NO FOOD OR DRINKS ARE ALLOWED.
The Groom and Best Man wait in the Sacristy until the ceremony begins.
Wedding coordinators must complete a permission request. The wedding coordinator is not to interfere, interrupt, intervene or direct the wedding party or guests; they are to be seated with the guests only If the wedding coordinator does not comply, they will be asked to leave. Permission form can be provided.
For everything to go smoothly, it is better to have the reception line in the reception hall, not in Church.
Due to Fire and Insurance Regulations…
St Martha’s Church is a non-smoking facility. If a guest of the wedding party sets off the fire alarm, there will be a $500 charge.
No throwing of rice, confetti, flowers, bubbles, etc. on the couple in front of or on church grounds.
No runners are allowed
No lights or candles on church pews or wherever they obstruct the flow of the celebration.
No swags that obstruct the passage through the pews.
Under no circumstances does the Ring bearer carry the real rings. The Groom or Best Man is to give the ring(s) to the Sacristan before the ceremony, she will place the ring(s) on the Altar
The Flower girl is not allowed to throw flower petals. They can carry a basket bouquet.
We do not rent the Parish Hall for Wedding Receptions. Our facilities are reserved for Parish Ministry use only.
Photographer or Videographer
Photography and Videography in the Church and Courtyard is allowed.
The photographer has 45 minutes to complete their shoot in the Church after the wedding. We ask that you be mindful of our Sacristans time and duties. Our Sacristan must set up for the next Mass or Service.
The pastor allows flash photography during the ceremony.
Discuss with the couple what shots are wanted before the wedding, so that time is not wasted.
Flowers
Any floral decoration placed on the pews MUST have felt under the clamps, loose ribbon around pew end, etc. in order to protect our wooden pews. NO tape, wax, or wet flowers against pews.
A floral arrangement or plant may be placed on the bottom step which leads to the Altar, insofar as they do not hinder the celebrant. No flowers or plants are placed anywhere on the floor near the Altar.
Small floral arrangements or plants may be placed on either side of the Ambo.