Marriage

You should contact us 1 year in advance of your desired wedding date. Please secure your wedding date with us before securing your reception venue and vendors.

Weddings are held in the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel (seats 350) on the following days and times:

• Saturdays at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm
• Tuesdays through Fridays at 3:00 pm (based on availability of chapel, clergy, and support staff)

Very small weddings may be held in the Adoration Chapel (seats 40) on:

• Saturdays at 11:30 am

Other things to consider when choosing a wedding date and location:

• No weddings may be scheduled on Sundays, Mondays, Holy Days of Obligation, or Archdiocesan holidays.
• Weddings held during the liturgical seasons of Advent (the month preceding Christmas) and Lent (the 40 days preceding Easter) will reflect the nature of these more subdued seasons. Practically speaking, your floral and church decoration will be less elaborate, your music selections may be limited, and your choice of readings may be limited.
• The Adoration Chapel does not have an organ or piano, so please plan accordingly.

Church Reservation Fees (See Church Rental Policy)

• A $100 deposit is required to reserve your wedding date
• Wedding in the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel (Parishioner): $750
• Wedding in the Our Lady of the Angels Chapel (Non-Parishioner): $1000
• Wedding in the Adoration Chapel (Parishioner): $300
• Wedding in the Adoration Chapel (Non-Parishioner): $500

Marriage Preparation Fees

• Prepare/Enrich Online Assessment Fee: $35.00
• Marriage Preparation Fee: $100.00 (for couples preparing at St. Anthony’s, but marrying elsewhere)

Other Costs

• Presider: TBD by the couple. This is a gift of appreciation to the priest or deacon officiating your wedding.
• Music & A/V Technician Fees: Varies. These depend on the type and number of musicians you will have at your wedding and the complexity of the A/V set up needed.
• Altar Server: $25 (for Marriage within Mass)

Marriage preparation takes at least 8 months to complete if you prepare for marriage and have your wedding ceremony at St. Anthony’s. If you plan to marry elsewhere, you must add 1-3 months to the timeline, depending on the location of your wedding. (Weddings held in another diocese, another state, or another country add to the time needed to process documents.)

There is no “expedited” timeline for marriage preparation. The process relies on a group of clergy, staff, and volunteers who are dedicated to giving you every tool necessary to build a holy, lasting marriage. Give yourself the gift of time to properly prepare for the rest of your life.

No. Catholic marriage is a sacrament and so it is celebrated within the context of a sanctuary. In exceptional cases, with grave reason, you could be granted special dispensation from the bishop to have your wedding in a church or oratory that is approved by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Approval for this request takes time and is rarely granted.

Yes. This is called a “mixed marriage.” The Catholic will be asked to make the following declaration and promise:

• “I reaffirm my faith in Jesus Christ and with God’s help I intend to continue living that faith in the Catholic Church.”
• “I promise to do all in my power to share the faith I have received with our children by having them baptized and reared as Catholics.”

The non-Catholic must be informed of this declaration and promise. During your marriage preparation, we will help you complete the necessary documentation and obtain the dispensation required by the Archdiocese.

Yes! You will need to confirm that the priest or deacon is available for your wedding date and assist with any travel or accommodations for him. Please have the priest or deacon contact the Marriage Preparation Coordinator so we can secure the proper delegation for him to preside at your marriage ceremony. The priest or deacon will also need to secure a Letter of Suitability from his Diocese or Superior.

With the approval of the Music Department, an outside musician will be able to participate. While we are open to relatives/friends serving as guest cantors/song leaders, we do have a few guidelines that accompany that privilege. A St. Anthony of Padua staff accompanist and cantor must be present. They will be responsible for singing the Proper & Ordinary parts of the liturgy (Gloria, Gospel Acclamation, Eucharistic Acclamations, etc.) and the Responsorial Psalm. This is done first and foremost ensure liturgical soundness, and to alleviate potential stress for guest musicians/singers. Guest singers are permitted to sing processional/recessional hymns, offertory hymns, communion hymns, or a Marian hymn (for presentation of flowers to Our Lady).

For your ceremony, we hope that you choose music that you like, while keeping in mind that your marriage ceremony is a sacred liturgy. As such, all music in the marriage ceremony is a prayer offered to God and must therefore be appropriate to the celebration and express the faith of the Church. We will provide you with guidelines to help you choose music that you love and that gives honor and glory to God.

First, we must address your previous marriage. If your former spouse is still living, you will need to start the annulment process. Even if it was a civil marriage to a non-Catholic/Catholic, this marriage still needs an annulment. Please visit our Annulments page for more information.

If your former spouse is no longer living, or you have already received a decree of nullity, you can seek a Convalidation for your current civil marriage. A convalidation is more than having your marriage “blessed.” Please visit our Convalidation page for more information.