Weddings

We welcome you both, your family and friends to the Cathedral Parish of St Stephen. These conditions are set down to enable you and your guests to enjoy the celebration of your marriage in the churches of the Cathedral of St Stephen.

The Cathedral of St Stephen, as the principal church of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, is a place of special significance. A request to be married in the Cathedral presupposes in the parties an awareness of the religious dimension of the occasion.

The following is a brief guide to assist you in planning for your wedding at the Cathedral of St Stephen. It is a marvellous setting for a wedding. It is not, however available for hire in the way that one may hire a venue for a wedding reception. Non-Christian weddings, or same-sex weddings, or weddings with a civil celebrant are not allowed.

Weddings are conducted according to the rites and teachings of the Catholic Church. The Catholic minister who presides at the wedding will help you know what is required in more depth but among the more important requirements are:

• one partner must be a baptised Catholic

• if either partner has been previously married and divorced they will require a declaration of freedom to marry from an ecclesiastical tribunal of the Catholic Church.

• Pre-marriage education will also be required. This course is conducted by Centacare (Catholic Family and Community Services). Further information on the pre-marriage education program is available on Centacare’s website:   www.centacarebrisbane.net.au  or telephone 3252 4371.

While the Cathedral is a marvellous setting for a wedding, the desirability of being married in the Parish Church of your own community should not be underestimated. Your Priest will guide you through the process of preparation and will be responsible for all the papers, both government and church. Take time to decide whether you are having a Ceremony or a Nuptial Mass.

As the Cathedral/Chapel and St Patrick’s are significant historical buildings, occasionally maintenance and restoration work will be undertaken. During these occasions scaffolding and other equipment may be fitted inside and outside of the Churches. On these rare instances, we will endeavour to ensure that the equipment will be as unobtrusive as possible. In the unlikely event that we are required to close the Cathedral/Chapel or St Patrick’s for restoration or maintenance, we will do our utmost to provide adequate notice. In consultation with you, we will also assist to locate a Church for the celebration of your wedding.

Weddings can be celebrated during the week, Saturday or a Sunday afternoon. It should be noted that weddings will not be celebrated on the following dates:

•  Sundays during Lent,

• Holy Week,

• Easter weekend (which includes Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday)

• Christmas Eve or Christmas Day

• Anzac Day; and

• Other public holidays throughout the year.

Weddings times for a Saturday wedding are: