Marriage

“From a valid marriage arises a bond between the spouses which by its very nature is perpetual and exclusive; furthermore, in a Christian marriage the spouses are strengthened and, as it were, consecrated for the duties and the dignity of their state by a special sacrament.” CCC 1638

Congratulations – You're Engaged! Please call the parish office at least 6 months in advance to begin planning for your wedding. Couples should have a completed Wedding Information Sheet on file at the parish before securing a reception facility. Please contact Bridgit in the Parish Office to get started at 410-879-1926 or by email at [email protected]

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Weddings at Church
 Weddings at St. Ignatius, in either the Historic Church or main Parish Church, are typically celebrated on Saturday afternoon with a start time between 11:00am and 1:00pm (arrival 1 hour prior to wedding start) or Friday afternoon/evening. Alternate dates/times may be requested and are subject to priest/parish availability.

Weddings at Local Venues
 Clergy from St. Ignatius may be available to celebrate weddings at local venues.

Fees and Offerings

 A $350.00 deposit is required to secure the date of your wedding and must be received at least two weeks after submitting the Wedding Information Sheet to the parish office. 
 The parish has established the following scale as suggested minimum offerings for the wedding celebration. The deposit is subtracted from the minimal church offering. The Church Offering includes the fees for the Music Minister/ Organist and Cantor along with the fees associated with using the church for the rehearsal and wedding. Deposits and balance due are able to be paid online or by check made payable to St. Ignatius Church. The Church Offering is not a stipend for your priest or deacon. The Celebrant Offering would be a personal gift to the priest/ deacon and given to him at your final meeting, prior to your rehearsal.
Church Offering for active registered parishioners - meaning those who have been registered for a year or more and have been contributing, participating members of the parish is $350.00
Church Offering for parishioners who are not actively participating or contributing to the parish is an additional $300 for a total of $650.00
Customary Celebrant Offering for weddings in the parish church is $150.00
Customary Parish & Celebrant Offering for weddings outside of the parish church at a venue is $350.00
*Active, regularly contributing parishioners or couples experiencing financial hardship are asked to discuss fee reduction/waiver at scheduling.

Please click the correct link below to make your initial deposit or balance due payment online:
 INITIAL DEPOSIT

BALANCE DUE
MARRIAGE PREPARATION
It is customary for the priest or deacon of the couple's home parish to coordinate marriage preparation. This process will vary from couple to couple. For couples from St. Ignatius, this will be discussed further with our Administrative Assistant for weddings when you have completed the Wedding Information Sheet. For couples who have been invited by their home priest or deacon to participate in the St. Ignatius Pre-Cana session, see the link below.

Pre-Cana at St. Ignatius

St. Ignatius offers Pre-Cana three times a year. Registration is currently open for our session on Saturday May 2, 2026 from 8:30am to 5:00pm. The fee for the session is $125.00 per couple and includes all materials and morning refreshments and lunch.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

Coming Soon – Wedding Information Packet 

Con-validation
 Catholics who exchange marriage vows in the presence of only ministers from other religious traditions or authorized civic officials, are not considered validly married in the eyes of the Church. That is, they have not received the grace of the Sacrament of Matrimony. 
 Con-validation, commonly referred to as “having a marriage blessed,” is actually much more than a blessing. At a con-validation ceremony, the husband and wife exchange their vows before a priest or deacon, thereby conferring the Sacrament of Matrimony upon each other. If you are married, but not in the Catholic Church, we encourage you to take the step of having your marriage con-validated as to be in right relationship/ “good standing” with Christ and the Church and we would love to help you with that!
For more information about Con-validations, please contact the parish office.
 
Additional Resources courtesy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
 The For Your Marriage website offers practical help and advice whether you're seriously dating, engaged, or at any stage of married life. If you're planning a Catholic wedding, you'll find information on everything from choosing the music and readings to marrying someone who is not Catholic. On the homepage check out the Daily Marriage Tips, book reviews, and blogs by engaged and married couples. 

Additional Resources courtesy of the Archdiocese of Baltimore:
 https://www.archbalt.org/marriage-family-life/marriage-preparation/
https://www.archbalt.org/marriage-family-life/marriage-enrichment/