Please complete and submit the online wedding registration form if you meet the requirements** below. It is important to include email addresses for both the bride and the groom, as well as the wedding date and time you are requesting.

**Requirements for getting married at Church of the Holy Family: At least one of the parties seeking the Sacrament of Marriage at Church of the Holy Family must be a member of the Saint Ignatius College Prep faculty or employee, an alumnus/alumna of Saint Ignatius or have a current, long-standing relationship with a member of USA Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus or Church of the Holy Family and provide a brief explanation of the nature of the relationship.

In keeping with the laws of Canon, note that a letter is required by your pastor or proper ordinary granting permission for your wedding to take place at Church of the Holy Family (Canon Law Code 1115).

Note that because we are not a parish, we do not have priests, altar servers, Eucharistic ministers or musicians/cantors on staff. You will need to secure your own presider, sacristan or musician/cantor where needed.

Our wedding coordinator will contact you to review all requirements for your wedding to be performed at Church of the Holy Family. It is the couple's responsibility to make arrangements to meet with their presider to ensure all wedding documents are completed no less than 60 days prior to ceremony.

We are concerned that you have a long and prosperous marriage.  To that end, the Archdiocese of Chicago requires that you take a PreCana class before you are married. Visit their website below to register. It is recommended that you sign up as soon as you are able as classes fill up quickly!

Archdiocese of Chicago PreCana Information

WEDDING CHECKLIST
 Please note that all documents listed below are required to be married at Church of the Holy Family. 

COMPLETED FILES/DOCUMENTS DUE 60 DAYS BEFORE SCHEDULED WEDDING DATE

Since COTHF is not a parish church, a letter of permission from your pastor or proper ordinary is required. The name of your priest (Mass) or deacon (service/ceremony only) must be provided to COTHF no less than 90 days prior to your wedding date.

• PreCana Certificate of Completion
• Baptismal Certificates
   The certificates may not be dated more than six months prior to your wedding date. Make copies of the documents before submitting them to COTHF as they will not be returned to you. If you are Catholic, you will need to contact the parish where you were baptized or visit the Archdiocese of Chicago's website here to request a baptismal certificate.  These certificates must be "current" and not the original ones received by you or your parents.
   
   If you are of another Christian denomination, please provide a copy of your baptismal record. Consult your priest/deacon for additional paperwork required by the Archdiocese of Chicago.
• Prenuptial Investigation and Witness Affidavits (4 total)
   A pre-marital questionnaire for both the bride and the groom will be completed by the consulting priest or deacon. Witness forms to establish freedom to marry are required. Parents are the preferred witnesses, but close relatives or friends of long standing may also be witnesses. This is a total of four witnesses. Your witnesses must sign the affidavits in front of their own priest, deacon or clergy and have them stamped with the church’s seal and be included in your complete marriage file.
• Additional Documentation Required - - Marriage License
   Purchase your marriage license at least 30 days prior to your wedding, but no more than 60 days before the ceremony. For information on purchasing a license in Cook County visit their website at https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/marriage-licenses. 
   
   Note: After you are married, the priest will sign your marriage license. You must send it to the Clerk of Cook County’s office within ten days of the wedding date to:
   Cook County Clerk
   Bureau of Vital Records
   P.O. Box A3390
   Chicago, IL  60690
   
   You may then obtain a certified copy of the marriage license by contacting the Clerk of Cook County’s office 15 business days after your wedding.
• If there has been a previous marriage no date can be set or held until Freedom to Marry has been established. In addition to the witness affidavits, A NEWLY-ISSUED Certificate (DATED WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS), a copy of the previous marriage license, a copy of a divorce decree, annulment decree or a death certificate from the previous marriage must be provided. Once the documentation is submitted, the wedding office will explain the next step.
• You must send or deliver your COMPLETE marriage file at least TWO MONTHS (60 DAYS) prior to the date of your wedding to COTHF. Contact Cathy Hooper to arrange delivery.
• In some cases, other documents may be required. The consulting priest or deacon will advise and assist in this regard. **In order for a priest or deacon to celebrate your wedding who is from outside the Archdiocese of Chicago, a letter of endorsement is required from his local bishop or superior. This letter should be sent to:
   Cathy Hooper, Wedding Coordinator
   Church of the Holy Family
   1080 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL  60608
   [email protected]

Once you have submitted your documents and completed PreCana, please contact our wedding coordinator, Cathy Hooper, at [email protected] to set up your rehearsal date and time. She will be onsite for your rehearsal and wedding to allow access and answer questions on the day of these events.

• Weddings at Church of the Holy Family are scheduled at 1pm, 3:00pm and 5pm.  The set up time allowed is 30 minutes prior to the ceremony.  A maximum of 15 minutes will be allotted for pictures after the ceremony ends. Late starts result in shorter time allotment for photos after the ceremony.
  
  
• After you have all your documentation in hand and have completed PreCana, please contact your presider to complete any remaining paperwork and/or to plan your ceremony.
• Musicians/Cantors: we do not have musicians/cantors on staff. You will need to secure your own musicians. 
  NOTE: The Sacrament of Marriage is a liturgical celebration. Therefore, your selection of music must be liturgical pieces. Popular songs and secular music are not allowed during a Mass or ceremony performed at COTHF. Consult and review with your presider.
• Altar servers and/or eucharistic ministers: If needed, you may secure your own assistants for Mass. We do not have servers or ministers on staff.
• Parts of the Mass: Consult with your presider who can provide you with a list of scripture readings for your ceremony. These are suggested readings, but you can choose others if you so wish.
• For reference: https://www.catholicweddinghelp.com/
  Readings, vows, blessings, etc. are available on this website. Please consult with your presider for all Mass parts.

• Deposits are non-refundable if you cancel less than six months prior to the wedding date.
• If one or both parties have been married before, we cannot set a wedding date until annulment decrees are made available.
• We do not discuss your wedding with wedding planners, parents, or anyone other than the bride and groom.  If there are questions concerning the ceremony or issues that need to be resolved, the bride and/or groom needs to contact us. We will not respond to the inquiries of others concerning your wedding.
  
  OTHER GUIDELINES AND POLICIES
• Aisle runners are not permitted. 
• Throwing of rice, birdseed, confetti, flower petals, sparklers, balloons, birds, butterflies, etc., may not be used, thrown or released in OR outside of the church.
• Food products are prohibited in the church.
• Alcohol, open or sealed, is not allowed in the church or on the church grounds.
• All containers used for corsages, floral arrangements, etc., must be removed from the premises before leaving the church. This is the responsibility of the attending florist, not the church staff.