St. Stephen Church
Phone (513)871-3373
3804 Eastern Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Fax (513)871-2012
2015 Wedding Policy
Dear Engaged Couple,
You are asking to celebrate your wedding ceremony at St. Stephen Church. Please know that this parish is
committed to seeing that all weddings held within its walls be celebrations in accord with the Catholic
Church’s understanding of the sacrament of Matrimony.
Matrimony is a sacrament in which an adult woman and an adult man, who aware of the covenant relationship
of marriage, have freely chosen to enter into this sacramental union for life in the presence of a faith
community. The wedding ceremony reflects and celebrates these religious beliefs.
Your ceremony, and your life, should manifest a clear expression of your religious beliefs, and not what the
wedding industry wants you to believe is so important. A wedding ceremony is a statement of faith and not a
private event for the couple and their families and friends. Therefore, it is a parish celebration and because it is a
parish event, there are guidelines that apply to all couples.
In order to help you plan your big day, we have attached the wedding policies for St. Stephen Church. We have
outstanding musicians and cantors as well as an excellent sound system. They include a harpist, guitarist,
violinist and an organist/keyboardist. Individual musicians or groups from outside St. Stephen parish must
have a parish musician present in order to use the parish organ, key board or sound equipment. The SSC
wedding coordinators are there to help in all the many other aspects of your memorable wedding. One will
contact you several months before the wedding to discuss your plans. They will be there at the rehearsal and
the wedding to assist you and your Presider in any way necessary.
The Pastoral Administrator must receive a completed Wedding Application and the signed Agreement to
Wedding Policies and Procedures of St. Stephen Church (pages 2 & 5) before a date is secured. These
documents can be mailed to: Beth Worland
or faxed to: 513-871-2012 or emailed:
bethststephen@gmail.com
320 Donham Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45226
513-871-3373 Office
Finally, please know that if you decide to have your wedding here, we will do our best to make your wedding a
blessed experience.
Sincerely,
Beth Worland
Pastoral Administrator
1
St. Stephen Church
Wedding Application Information
(please print information)
Requested Wedding Date
__________________________________________________Time:________________________
Priest/Presider
_______________________________________________________________________________
Rehearsal Date
_________________________________________________ Time:_______________________
Bride
Full Legal Name:
___________________________________________________________Date of Birth________________
Address
______________________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip code:
______________________________________________________________________________________
Best Phone #
_____________________________________________________Home #___________________________
Email
______________________________________________________________________________________
Baptized
Yes_______
No:______
Confirmed
Yes_______
No:______
Religion
Catholic_____
Other___________________________
Current Parish/church
______________________________________________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip__________________________________________________________________________
How long have you been a member _____
Are you an active member of this church ___
Maid/Matron of Honor :____________________________________________
Groom
Full Legal Name
______________________________________________________________ Date of Birth ____________
Address
______________________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip
______________________________________________________________________________________
Best Phone #
_____________________________________________________Home#___________________________
Email
______________________________________________________________________________________
Baptized:
Yes_______
No:______
Confirmed:
Yes_______
No:______
Religion
Catholic_____
Other_______________________________
Current Parish/church
______________________________________________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip__________________________________________________________________________
How long have you been a member _____
Are you an active member of this church ____
Best Man : __________________________________________________
**Please indicate your reasons for requesting St. Stephen church for your wedding _____________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2
St. Stephen Church Wedding Policy

A parish wedding coordinator will be assigned to all weddings. They will make contact with you several
months prior to your wedding date. If you have not heard from your coordinator please call:
Irlene Rastani at 474-5611

Final fee is due no later than the wedding rehearsal:
$400.00 parishioners (are registered members of St. Stephen Church for12 months prior to wedding)
$750.00 non-parishioners

A $200 non-refundable deposit is required to hold the date. All costs must be paid one week prior
to the wedding

Maximum Seating Capacity of the church is approximately 350

When both the bride and groom are Catholic, the wedding ceremony is normally celebrated within
a Mass.
When only the bride OR groom is Catholic, the wedding is normally celebrated within a service
without Mass


Note that non-parishioners will need to arrange to have a priest or deacon officiate at the wedding
and be responsible for the marriage preparation.

There is NO dressing area for the bride or bridal party. The bridal party may stay in the ladies rest area
until the ceremony.

The Church will be open 2hours prior to the wedding ceremony time or as determined with the wedding
coordinator

Saturday wedding
Begin no later than 4pm
Aisle runner, bows, etc. must be removed immediately following ceremony
The aisle is 37 yards long (125-foot runner suggested).
Church should be left free by 5:45pm
The SSC Saturday vigil mass begins at 6:30pm
You must provide your own servers (or call the office 871-3373)

Friday weddings are acceptable
Time to be determined with Presider and wedding coordinator
All other information see ‘Saturday Wedding” above

Rehearsal Policy :
Day before wedding begin no later than 6:00pm
No musical practice at this time.
Readers should come to practice on microphone also bring copies of readings.
Church is not used Saturday morning - so you can put decorations in place Friday night.

Programs
The final plans for the celebration must be approved by the Presider or Pastoral Administrator
before the programs are printed.


Candles/candlesticks/candelabras: Aisle candles are not permitted
Florist Policy :
3
Altar flowers used at the wedding are to be left in church after the ceremony
All flowers should be delivered no earlier than 2 hours prior to the wedding.
Flowers for the altars are to remain on the altars after the wedding
The aisle is 37 yards long (125-foot runner suggested).
Aisle runner must be fastened to by the florist OR consult wedding coordinator
There are 20 rows of pews on each side.
Only ribbon or rubber bands may be used to attach bows on pews.
NO petals may be dropped by flower girl.

It is the responsibility of the wedding families to see that all decorations, programs, candle stands,
floral boxes, etc. are removed from church when the ceremony is over

Music Policy : Please call the office for further information concerning cost 871-3373.

Please call Charlie Runtz, 513-574-5568 as soon as possible to talk through your music options.
There are np guarantees that musicians will be available unless scheduled immediately.
Our musicians are available to play at your wedding. The musician/vocal list is in alphabetical order:
Ric Aielli - keyboard/organ/vocals
Larry Aylward - vocals
Cathy Aylward - vocals
Nancy Clark - harp/recorder/vocals
Judith Jones - violin/vocals
Tom Luebbe - keyboard/organ/vocals
Charlie Runtz - guitar/vocals
A parish musician must be present at ALL weddings to insure the integrity of the sound system.
The Priest/Deacon or Pastoral Administrator must approve all music.
The parish cannot be responsible for anything left behind

Photo Policy :
Flash and extra lighting may be used during entrance and exit processions and for posed shots
afterwards; they are not permitted during the Mass and/or wedding ceremony.
Photographers may not enter the sanctuary. Photographers are discouraged from moving around
in the church during the mass and/or ceremony.
It is possible for the photographer to go to the choir during the ceremony once they have signed
the Hold Harmless Agreement (pg. 6)
Video cameras may be used provided that they are stationary and the recorder is out of sight.
The couple has use of the church for the wedding and photographs for 1 ½ hours before the
ceremony and a 30 minute period after the wedding

Miscellaneous :
*Church does not have a drinking fountain. Bottled water is permitted in the church only for the
bridal party.
*It is customary to give a stipend to the Presider of the wedding usually given prior to the
rehearsal or wedding.
*There should be no gum chewing by any member of the wedding party.
*It is not advisable to have a receiving line at church after the ceremony due to parish mass times
*No throwing of rice or confetti
*Alcohol is NOT permitted on church property during the rehearsal or wedding ceremony

Disclaimer: The wedding couple is responsible for payment related to any damage to the church or
church property relative to the time of the rehearsal and/or wedding.
4
AGREEMENT TO WEDDING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Of
ST. STEPHEN CHURCH
Please check each of the following to indicate your agreement:
___ We have contacted the presiding clergy and arranged the time for the wedding.
___ We will participate in a marriage preparation program. (Talk with your Presider about this.)
___ We have read and understand the wedding policies of St. Stephen Parish.
___ We agree to abide by these policies without exception.
___ We will share the policies with our florist.
___ We will share the policies with our photographer/videographer.
___ We will share the policies with our musicians, if they are from outside the parish and obtain the
necessary clearance to use the parish organ, piano and sound equipment.
___ We will assume responsibility for payment related to any damage to the church or church property
relative to the time of the rehearsal and/or wedding.

Florist:

Photographer: Name _______________________________________

Musician:
Name _______________________________________ Phone ___________________
Phone ___________________
Name ________________________________________ Phone ______________________
Please sign, date and return along with Wedding Application to:
Beth Worland
St. Stephen Church
320 Donham Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Groom:____________________________________ Date:_____________
Bride: _____________________________________ Date:_____________
5
HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNIFICATION
Must be returned to church office no later than one week before the wedding
For valuation consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned,
___________________________________, whose address is___________________________________
Do(es) hereby agree too indemnify, protect, save and hold harmless THE ARCHBISHOP OF CINCINNATI
AND HIS SUCCESSORS AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CONGRGATION OF ST. STEPHEN ROMAN
CATHOLIC CHURCH, HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO; ST. STEPHEN PARISH, CINCINNATI,
OHIO AND THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CINCINNATI (hereinafter jointly referred to as the “Archdiocese”),
their respective representatives, agents and employees, from and against any and all liability, actions, causes of
action, claims, judgments, loss, cost and expense arising out of or in any way related to or connected with the
use or occupancy of the premises of the Archdiocese by the undersigned or by any of the undersigned’s agents,
employees, invitees, representatives or guests, which use or occupancy results in any injury to persons or
property, except to the extent such injury is caused by the negligent acts or omissions of the Archdiocese, their
representatives, agents or employees. If any claim is alleged against the Archdiocese by anyone (including
governmental agencies) arising out of or in any way related to the use or occupancy of the premises by the
undersigned or its agents, employees, invitees, representatives or guests, it is expressly understood and agreed
that the undersigned shall take over the defense of each and every such claim promptly and pay all attorney’s
fees, judgments, settlement payments and all other costs and expenses whatsoever incurred in connection with
the defense of all such claims, without exception, it being expressly understood that the undersigned shall be
and remain fully responsible for all such claims and will hold the aforementioned indemnities completely
harmless from and against any liability, actions, causes of action, claims, judgments, loss, cost or expense
whatsoever in connection therewith.
(If signed by Business/Corporations)
(If signed by Individuals)
_______________________________
Name of Business
_______________________________
Name of Individual
By: ____________________________
Title: _________________________
Title: ____________________________
Date: _________________________
Date: ____________________________
6