Welcome
The clergy and staff of Trinity Cathedral greet you with joy as you anticipate and plan for your wedding celebration and marriage! Marriage is a lifetime commitment between a man and a woman who come together, in the company of their family and friends, to make vows before God and to each other for the purpose of seeking God’s blessing and guidance upon their marriage covenant. By coming to Trinity Cathedral to be married, an engaged couple is requesting that the Church both witness and bless their marriage. The church is much more than a beautiful building. It is a community of people who come together to worship Jesus Christ and to celebrate their Christian faith together. The Sacrament of Marriage is truly a cause for joy and celebration within the church community. A wedding is one day; Christian Marriage is for a lifetime.
General Information
All weddings are scheduled by the Cathedral Administrator in the church office, in consultation with the clergy. Arrangements should be made as soon as possible, and preferably before making other plans (i.e. securing a reception hall or printing invitations.) The details of your marriage need to be discussed with a Cathedral priest before a definite date will be reserved. Because marriage is something that requires commitment and maturity on the part of the engaged couple, and intentionality on the part of the church community, the clergy of the Cathedral take special care in assisting each couple during the time of marital preparation. This requires that significant time and energy be invested in pre-marital counseling, which is a time of reflection, sharing, teaching and planning between the couple and the clergy. If either party has been divorced, Canon Law requires a request to the Bishop for permission to be wed in an Episcopal Church. The clergy will assist you in preparing this request. You should plan an additional 4 to 6 weeks for a response from the Bishop’s office.There is a fee for the use of the Cathedral. (Contact the Church Office at 412-232-6404 or office@trinitycathedralpgh.org for fee information.) We request no weddings after 5:00 pm on Saturdays or 6:00 pm on Fridays. The fee will be discussed at the time of your first interview with the clergy. After securing your wedding date with the clergy, you will want to contact the Altar Guild coordinator and the organist – as early as possible to ensure your date on their calendars.
The Clergy
One of the greatest privileges of serving in this Cathedral is participating in the Rites of Passage. Baptisms, funerals, and weddings are all very special times. Being an instrument of the Church’s pastoral ministry is both a serious responsibility and an honor. Each priest takes a vow to uphold the doctrine, discipline, and worship of this Church. That vow may not be taken lightly. Therefore, though we relish the ministry of hospitality and serving all people, when it comes to weddings we may only officiate at those which are consistent with the beliefs of this branch of the Body of Christ. It is our policy to accept the weddings of members of the Cathedral, to offer hospitality to other members of the diocese and Episcopal clergy who wish to use our facilities, and on occasion and when appropriate, the Dean or Canon Provost may make a further exception. Please let the clergy know as soon as possible regarding any requests for participation at a rehearsal dinner or wedding reception. Last minute invitations are usually impossible to accept.
Services
As the Cathedral Church of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, all wedding services will be from the Book of Common Prayer. There are opportunities within the Prayer Book Rite for you to personalize your service and the clergy will provide assistance with the details.
Since the earliest days of the Church, the unique characteristic of a Christian wedding was the offering of the Holy Eucharist as part of the nuptial ceremony. We encourage you to do this and to make your first act together as husband and wife the receiving of Holy Communion. All wedding guests who are baptized Christians will also be invited to share in the Sacrament of Holy Communion with you.
Some couples request special additions to the basic wedding ceremony. Such additions should be discussed beforehand with a Cathedral clergy person.
Music
Trinity Cathedral holds to a standard of music which upholds the dignity and integrity of our Anglican heritage. All wedding music, including soloists or instrumentalists that you may desire, must be pre-arranged with the Organist who works in conjunction with the Cathedral clergy. He may be reached by calling 412-232-6404 ext. 124. Keep in mind that music of a secular nature is not appropriate for a worship service and is, therefore not permitted. However, there is a wide range of sacred music entirely suitable for weddings, and the Organist will assist you in making appropriate choices. Pre-recorded samples of appropriate organ and vocal selections may be borrowed upon request. In most weddings, the music includes a fifteen minute prelude of organ music, a processional and a recessional. Music at other points of the service may be arranged. For those who may desire a soloist, they are available from the Cathedral choir.
Decorations and Flowers
The beauty of the Cathedral lies in no small measure in its simplicity; therefore, we request that flowers be confined to the two flower stands near the altar. A few ferns may be used at the base of the stands. The Altar Guild must be consulted on decorating. A ribbon or small nosegay may be used on the pews, but NO tacks or metal fasteners are permitted. As soon as the date is set, please consult the Altar Guild. The bride may select her own florist or the Altar Guild will arrange for flowers for the large vases near the altar.
Photographs
Because the marriage ceremony celebrates one of the Sacraments of the Church, which is a holy and solemn occasion, flash pictures are NOT permitted during the ceremony itself. Post wedding pictures may be taken in the church within 30 minutes after the wedding ceremony is completed. All photographers must coordinate their plans with the officiating clergy. Non-flash photographs may be taken during the ceremony from pre-designated positions. If a wedding is to be videotaped, it too must be from a pre-designated position that has been arranged with the officiating clergy.
