Marriage FAQs

Please call Jennifer Williams at 813-229-1595. Parish Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.

Certainly. There are some requirements you should be attentive to: (a) you need to talk with your pastor and receive permission to marry at a parish other than your own, (b) your home parish is responsible to prepare you for the sacraments, and (c) we ask that one of your parish priests (or another priest of your choosing, e.g., a family friend) be the celebrant at the wedding ceremony. Please see “Wedding Times” below for more information.

Yes, but we encourage you to register and worship at the Catholic parish located near your place of residence, so that you will become active and involved in the life and ministry of that parish. Our parish boundaries are Osborne Ave to the north; Davis Islands, Harbour Island, Bayshore to Howard Ave to the south; Channelside and Nebraska Ave to the east; Hillsborough River, Rome Ave, and Howard Ave to the west.

Yet, we have people from all over the Tampa Bay region who are active parishioners. If you are drawn to worshiping with us and have a desire to be active, contributing, and a part of our faith and ministry community, you are welcome to register with us. If you live outside of the parish area, you must be registered, active, participating, and contributing at Sacred Heart for at least one year before contacting us about a desired wedding date.

Because Sacred Heart, as a parish, is more than 150-years old, there are many “legacy” families for whom celebrating sacraments here is a family tradition. We work to accommodate all such requests. The requirements outlined above in “active member of another Catholic parish in the Diocese” also apply.

The Diocese of St. Petersburg requires that preparation begin no less than 6 months prior to the date of the wedding. There are many times of the year that the requests far outpace the dates and times available. Generally speaking, the average is 12-18 months before marriage.

If you are a member of another parish, there are several things you need to do as described above. Once we receive a written commitment from your parish, a date can be set.

See Marriage page for more information.

The Pre-Cana courses, one part of the marriage preparation process, are offered by the Diocese of St. Petersburg, as well as the surrounding dioceses of Venice and Orlando.

Perhaps a better way to answer the question is to recommend that you finish the preparation process 30-45 days before the wedding date. Then you can decide to start based on other things in your life, e.g., business travel, holidays, academic semesters, and other important events in your life. In any case, the Diocese requires that preparation begin no less than 6 months prior to the date of the wedding.

$2,000 for members of parishes within the Diocese of Saint Petersburg.
$2,500 for members of parishes outside of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg.
Wedding fee must be paid in full within seven days of scheduling.

Cancellation and Refund Policy:
Up to nine months before the wedding date | 75% of the fee to be refunded
Six – nine months before the wedding date | 50% of the fee to be refunded
Zero – six months before the wedding date | Fee is non-refundable

Yes, as mentioned above, we provide a coordinator to assist at the rehearsal and the ceremony. The coordinator works to help direct and facilitate the little details of your celebration, e.g. to work with your florists, photographers, videographers, etc. once they arrive at the church, to help with the “do’s and don’ts,” and let you enjoy the celebration without worrying about processions, seating, or other details of the wedding day. Our coordinators have worked with most Tampa-area wedding professionals (florist, photographers, videographers, planners, etc.).

Yes, our Director of Music, Philip Jakob, is an accomplished organist and singer. His fee is $250. When you discuss with him the music for your wedding he may advise that you consider hiring a Cantor. Sacred Heart has some excellent singers who serve as Cantor. A Cantor will charge $150. Music fees can be paid on the day and before the wedding commences. Please prepare separate payments for each musician.

In addition, we have developed a list of ‘tried and tested’ instrumentalists so if you are looking for a violinist, a string quartet, a trumpeter etc., we would advise that you contact Philip first before hiring: pjakob@sacredheartfla.org

When you contact Philip please supply the following details:

names of the engaged couple
name of the priest/deacon officiating
date and time of the wedding
whether the wedding will be within or outside of a Mass.
Philip will then send you the appropriate documentation to take the selection of music to the next step.

More Information Below in the Music FAQs.

The majority of wedding parties take advantage of free street parking in downtown Tampa on weekends. Oftentimes, wedding parties “rent” city parking meters in front of the church and on Twiggs Street. For additional information, please contact the Parking Division administrative offices at 813-274-8179.

The parking lot across the street from the main entrance of the church is a private lot and not part of the church. So, during rehearsals and the wedding event, your guests will need to pay the advertised rate. Barring downtown events (e.g. Gasparilla Art Festival, etc.), the lot usually has plenty of parking available at the advertised rate. Some wedding parties have made their own arrangements with “717 Parking” to rent the entire lot for their wedding. 717 Parking can be contacted at 813-228-7722.

The Madison Building Parking Garage is also available to rent for weddings. They can be contacted at 813-229-0874.

Yes. Singing and instrumental music are a vital part of the celebration of your wedding. The musical elements of the celebration promote participation by you and your guests, enhance and accent portions of the celebration, and add to the aesthetic element of this special day.

Yes. Sacred Heart has an organ that can be used at weddings as well as both an accomplished organist and vocalist. In addition, several other musicians from local Catholic parishes around the area also assist us from time to time. Our organist schedules them to assist at your wedding as needed.

Yes. Our director of music, Philip Jakob, is an accomplished organist and singer, and is available for a fee of $250.

Yes. A cantor adds a wonderful aesthetic to the ceremonies. The right cantor not only provides vocal accompaniment, but also leads your guests to participate. As mentioned above, our organist is an accomplished vocalist. In addition, other cantors from our parish and local Catholic parishes in the area also assist us from time to time. Our organist schedules them to assist at your wedding as needed. Cantors from Sacred Heart will come at a rate of $150, and should be paid separately from the organist.

Music fees can be paid on the day or before the wedding commences. Please prepare separate payments for each musician or group.

Occasionally, the question arises regarding additional musical or vocal accompaniment such as another cantor, string quartets, or wind players. We have worked with many of the music professionals here in the Tampa Bay area and can make opportunities to have them participate in the celebration. Our director of music, Philip Jakob, approves their participation, and can also recommend ‘tried and tested’ string and wind players if you’re unsure of where to start. We would advise that you contact Philip via email first before hiring. Please note that these professionals have their own fees outside of the fees of Sacred Heart.

Please contact Philip Jakob, our director of music, at 813-229-1595, ext. 205, or via email, only after the date of your wedding has been confirmed by our staff.

When you contact Philip, please supply the following details:

names of the engaged couple
name of the priest/deacon officiating
date and time of the wedding
whether the wedding will be within or outside of a Mass
Philip will then send you the appropriate documentation to take the selection of music to the next step.

Typically, this occurs after your preparation meetings with the Priest and Pre-Cana, usually eight weeks prior to the wedding. Please be aware that during certain times of the year, notably Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter, Sacred Heart and outside musicians will be busier than normal. Mutually agreeable times to meet may prove a bit more challenging.

They will review with you when and why music occurs in the ceremony and assist you in the selection of appropriate music for the celebration, sung or instrumental.

Yes. The music within a wedding celebration should have appropriate characteristics in three areas:

Liturgical

The liturgy of Marriage celebrates the love between two persons and the love of God for us. Thus, the music is necessarily sacred, appropriate to this celebration of love, and appropriate in use for this occasion.
The text of songs must be drawn from Holy Scripture and liturgical sources, be sacred in nature, and consistent with Catholic teaching. The musical selection should reflect a basic understanding of the meaning of worship as well as the function and importance of the various parts the wedding liturgy.
Pastoral

The music must promote participation by your family and guests.
Some texts by their very nature should always be sung by the whole assembly, e.g., the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and acclamations within the Eucharistic Prayer and reception of the Eucharist. The music should be easy for your guests and you to sing.
Musical
The music must be technically, aesthetically, and expressively good, and the musicians must be competent in their liturgical understanding.

Our organist or an organist of your choosing will guide you in the selection of music. You may also feel free to look through the texts in our hymnals of the appropriate songs suggested, or you can find audio clips on the internet of many of the processionals listed.

The fees are $150 for the cantor and $250 for the organist. Please remember, if other musicians are part of the celebration, their fees are in addition to the above and should be arranged apart from the parish.