Chicago Wedding Guide: Catholic Churches
If you’re raised Catholic and find yourself engaged, you’re probably sitting there thinking “Our moms are probably going to kill us if we don’t get married in the church” OR you are excited to make the mass a focal part of your day, but maybe do not want to get married in your childhood parish or are from out of town. So here you are, trying to find a church, and it’s secretly exciting because they’re all so pretty, but don’t know where to start.
Things to Note:
-A lot of these rules sound more strict than they are in practice, it’s really all so you’re not jumping on chairs and disrespecting the space.
-Every Catholic church will require you to complete some derivation of Pre-Cana (marriage counseling) before you’re allowed to get married, just depends on where and how.
-Every Catholic church will ask for documentation about your baptism, confirmation, and all that fun stuff.
-At least one of you needs to be Catholic. If not I’d recommend a beautiful non-denominational church like the chapel up at Northwestern or Rockefeller Chapel.
-Flowers are almost always not allowed on the altar.
-We work side by side with the church ladies no matter the church and follow their rules/guidelines. There are always church ladies. (Most are very kind!)
Holy Family Catholic Church (St. Ignatius)
Address: 1080 W Roosevelt Rd (St. Ignatius)
Saturday Mass Times: 1:00pm, 3:00pm, and 5:00pm
A/C: No
Cost: $1,200.00 (not including the musicians or priest stipend)
Parishioner? No but being a St. Ignatius Alum is considered
Time for photos after: 20-30 minutes
Can you bring your own priest? Unspecified
Other info to note:
Family and Friends are allowed to perform for your wedding day and you can choose your own readings. There is an air conditioned bridal suite that is large enough to hold any large parties and family members. There is a parking lot to the side of the church that is available for people to park.
Holy Name Cathedral
Address: 735 North State Street
Saturday Mass Times: 11:00 am, 1:30 pm , and 3:30 pm
A/C: Yes
Cost: Unspecified but there is a cost, along with a cost for the musicians
Parishioner? No
Time for photos after: No photos are allowed on the altar before or after the ceremony. Photos in the courtyard are allowed if weather permits
Can you bring your own priest? Yes, paperwork needed at least 2 weeks before
Other info to note:
You must complete their marriage preparedness classes. No flowers can be placed in the aisles or on the pews. No petals or aisle runners allowed. Aka don’t order flowers for the church at all. You must use the Cathedral musicians for your wedding and non-cathedral musicians are highly discouraged. If you’d like to request one, they must submit an audio recording. There is free parking across the street for the rehearsal and wedding ceremony.
Madonna Della Strada Chapel (Loyola University)
Address: 6453 N Kenmore Ave
Saturday Mass Times: 11:00am, 1:00pm, and 3:00pm
A/C: Yes
Cost: $2,000.00, includes basic music but NOT a stipend to your priest
Parishioner? At least one person needs to be a part of the Loyola University Chicago community; Student, Alumni, Faculty, Staff, etc - since this is not a Parish Church
Time for photos after: ~30 minutes
Can you bring your own priest? It is preferred that you find your own priest or deacon
Other info to note:
No aisle runners or petals are allowed. All music must be liturgical, and no guests or visiting singers are allowed. Further, members of your wedding party cannot be a musician and vice versa.
Old St. Pat’s Catholic Church
Address: 700 W Adams St
Saturday Mass Times: 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, and 5:00pm
A/C: Yes
Cost: $1,500.00
Parishioner? No
Time for photos after: 20 minutes
Can you bring your own priest? Yes, they suggest you reach out to a priest you think of first. If you can not find a priest, they will provide a list to aid.
Other info to note:
You can only use photographers and videographers from their list of approved photographers. This list is not provided until you secure your date. Gerber + Scarpelli are on the list and so is Kerri Carlquist Photography. Flower Girls can not drop petals. No aisle runners are allowed. There are not altar servers provided.
Saint James Chapel
Address: 835 N Rush St
Saturday Mass Times: 1:00pm, 3:00pm, and 5:15pm
A/C: Yes
Cost: $2,500.00, there may be an additional fee for musicians
Parishioner? No
Time for photos after: 20 minutes
Can you bring your own priest? Yes
Other info to note:
The chapel seats 299 people. It is in the middle of the Gold Coast so parking is not as accessible. They ask to refrain from dropping petals.
St. Alphonsus Catholic Church
Address: 1429 W Wellington Ave
Saturday Mass Times: 1:30pm and 3:30pm
A/C: No,
Cost: $1,650.00 includes altar server, organist, and cantor
Parishioner? No, but they preference parishioners and those who live in Chicago and have a local parish.
Time for photos after: 20 minutes
Can you bring your own priest? Yes
Other info to note:
You can have a guest singer, but it is suggested that they sing a special song versus the whole mass since a cantor is included in the fee. There is a large parking lot to the side of the church for free parking. The on-site wedding coordinator can not pin flowers, but don’t worry that’s why you hire us!
St. Clement Catholic Church
Address: 642 W Deming Pl
Saturday Mass Times: 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 6:30pm
A/C: Yes
Cost: $1,900.00, includes organist and cantor
Parishioner? Yes, at least one of you
Time for photos after: 15 minutes
Can you bring your own priest? Yes
Other info to note:
If there are 3 weddings already scheduled on a particular day, a visiting priest must preside at the 4th wedding. Musicians who are not affiliated with St. Clement are strictly not allowed to be the lead musician. No flash photography or extra lighting is allowed during the ceremony, but can be used after for formal photos. No petals or aisle runners are allowed. There is a free parking lot and it is advised not to use large coach busses because they get stuck on the small neighborhood streets, however, small busses and trolleys are fine. Video equipment must remain stationary.
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Address: 1107 N Orleans St
Saturday Mass Times: Available from Noon - 5, however I’d guess 1:00pm, 3:00pm, and 5:00pm
A/C: Yes
Cost: $2,200.00 includes pianist and cantor, organist by request
Parishioner? No
Time for photos after: 30 minutes
Can you bring your own priest? Yes
Other info to note:
There’s a fee if you use outside musicians of $150. There is a free parking lot and it is handicap accessible. Aisle runners are allowed and must be white. If flower petals are dropped, there must be an aisle runner provided to preserve the carpet.
St. Michael’s in Old Town
Address: 1633 N Cleveland Ave
Saturday Mass Times: 12:00pm and 3:00pm
A/C: Unspecified, but yes
Cost: $2,300.00 includes the stipend for the priest, cantor and music director
Parishioner? No
Time for photos after: 30 minutes
Can you bring your own priest? Yes
Other info to note:
You can bring in outside cantors and singers, but is is discouraged.
St. Vincent DePaul
Address: 1010 W Webster Ave
Saturday Mass Times: 1:00pm and 3:00pm
A/C: Yes
Cost: Unspecified but there is definitely a cost
Parishioner? Yes - both must be for 4 months prior to contacting the office about dates
Time for photos after: 25 minutes
Can you bring your own priest? Yes
Other info to note:
Fees for the music is separate from the fees for the church. All musicians must be hired through the music director. Photographers and videographers are asked to sign a contract about the photo and video guidelines. No aisle runners are allowed or petals to be dropped. They strongly encourage no more than 5 groomsmen and bridesmaids. Only children over 4 are allowed to be in the wedding party and they must walk down the aisle before the wedding party.
Some of this information is rooted in experience working in these churches as well as the information they have listed online. Most churches will not communicate directly with wedding planners so if there is something personal like cost that is not listed online, it is harder for planners to find this information. We will do our best to continuously update this guide when we know more about different churches’ guidelines. All of this information is subject to change at the Church’s discretion.