Marriage
A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and he two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh.
- Mark 10:7-8
The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament. – CCC 1601 The sacrament of marriage is one that brings great blessings to the couple, to their family and friends, and the Church as a whole. The Cathedral parish strives to prepare couples for not only their wedding day, but for a lifetime of grace filled blessings in the relationship that will help lead them to eternal salvation. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Denver. Weddings will be celebrated for all Catholics in the Archdiocese based on availability. Weddings are celebrated each Saturday at 10am, 1:30pm and 6:30pm. The Cathedral schedule does not allow for amended weddings times.
Requirements & Information
The Archdiocese requires a minimum eight-month preparation period before the wedding. However, reserve the Cathedral a year in advance due to the large number of requests.
Wedding Fee is $1,750. This includes the use of the Cathedral and staff, a security officer, an organist and the cantor. It does not include a voluntary donation to the priest or deacon who witnesses the marriage or the Marriage Preparation programs through the Archdiocese.
A non-refundable down payment of $500 at the time of reservation of the date and time of the wedding is required.
For marrying a second time, be aware that time must be given for a possible annulment procedure. Archdiocesan law prohibits the scheduling of a wedding until the annulment process is complete and an affirmative decision has been given.
Musicians for weddings are staffed by the professional, degreed musicians of the Cathedral Basilica. The dynamics, logistics, and unusual configuration of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception must be left to the professional staff; we cannot accommodate outside musicians for weddings for the role of organist or cantor.
Musical choices for weddings in the Cathedral can be found here.
To begin the process of getting married at the Cathedral Basilica please contact the parish office. You will be able to set up a meeting with the Director of Evangelization and Communication. In that meeting you will go over the requirements for marriage prep and the rules and expectations of the Cathedral Basilica.
During that meeting is when you will be able to pay the $500 non-refundable down payment (we only accept cash or check).
Couples should explore the Archdiocese of Denver’s website to understand Marriage Preparation Requirements. In the Archdiocese of Denver, couples are required to take a Marriage Prep Class and a Natural Family Planning Class. Additionally, the couple’s parish will help them take the FOCCUS questionnaire and assign them mentors.
For Couples who live outside the Archdiocese of Denver, they will go through Marriage Preparation in their home Diocese.
Couples are encouraged to bring their own priest to celebrate their wedding.
For Catholic(s), a current copy of each individual’s baptismal certificate (issued within 6 months of the wedding date) from the parish of baptism. Non-Catholics are asked to try and obtain a copy of their baptismal certificate or baptismal record.
Pre-nuptial investigation form filled out with the priest or deacon (MA Form in the Archdiocese of Denver).
Witness Testimony form signed by a witness and a priest (MB Form in the Archdiocese of Denver).
Marriage License – The State of Colorado requires a Marriage License, which is valid only for thirty days. The wedding cannot be performed without a license. The license must be given to the wedding coordinator at the rehearsal.
Any necessary Permissions or Dispensations.
A Nuptial Mass is the usual form for the celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony between two Catholics
A marriage between a Catholic and a baptized Christian is usually celebrated outside of Mass.
A marriage between a Catholic and an unbaptized person is always celebrated outside of Mass.
You will receive a booklet titled So Great a Mystery, which contains the scripture readings that may be used in the ceremony. When meeting with the priest or deacon who will be witnessing your marriage, you should discuss the readings and any other questions regarding your ceremony. You should complete and return the Liturgical planner from So Great a Mystery to the Director of Evangelization and Communication two months prior to your wedding.
According to the Archdiocesan guidelines, only Eucharistic Ministers who are mandated to the Cathedral may help distribute Holy Communion. Friends or family members mandated to their own parish may not distribute Holy Communion at the Cathedral.
