The members and staff of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral welcome you in planing a wedding in our facilities. This is an important ministry of the Cathedral, which seeks to extend the Grace and Love of God to others.

By coming to the church for your wedding, you are expressing your desire to make your wedding ceremony a happy and sacred occasion, and the life, which shall follow to be lived in the presence of God. We, therefore, want to do all we can to help you make this a holy, beautiful, and lasting experience and are available to assist you in maintaining the high standards associated with weddings in the Cathedral.

We wish you happiness in your life together. We urge you to make participation in our church services a vital part of your new life together. Please be assured that you would be welcome as a member of Trinity Cathedral. The Cathedral has services every day of the year. Sunday morning worship is to bring us all together to praise God, receive his forgiveness, celebrate the sacraments ordained by Christ himself, and thereby have our vision sharpened, our path illuminated, and our lives steadied in a shaky world. Our worship is done with care and brings the best we have in music, preaching, and praise.

Download the wedding information/reservation form here (Adobe PDF).

Concerning Christian Marriage

Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God. In the wedding service, the two people commit themselves to each other for life in God’s name. The congregation prays that God will strengthen and guide them in their life together, and the minister asks God’s blessing upon them. The sacred nature of the service, and the importance of it for the couple, determine the decisions to be made about the wedding.

Marriage is a covenant that is made out of the Christian commitment of the two people and in the context of life in the congregation. In the Episcopal Church it is required that one, at least, of the parties must be a baptized Christian, and the ceremony be attested by at least two witnesses.

Scheduling and Making the Reservation

The scheduling of all arrangements for the wedding, the rehearsal, and the reception should be made as far in advance as possible with a member of the clergy on staff. This includes all dates, exact hours, and facilities desired. The office telephone number is (501) 372-0294.

The buildings and scheduled rooms will be open two hours prior to the wedding. Specific arrangements will have to be made if more time is needed.

Because of the penitential nature of the season of Lent, weddings are not celebrated during this season. Because of the full round of services on Sunday, weddings are not usually celebrated on that day.

The Minister

Every minister of the Episcopal Church must conform to the laws of the state and the canons of this Church regarding the solemnization of Holy Matrimony. The canons require that persons desirous of being married in this Church must signify their intention to the minister at least thirty days prior to the service of solemnization.

Instruction and counsel in the nature, meaning, and purpose of Holy Matrimony will be given to the couple before the marriage. This is usually done in three or four hourly sessions. In this way, the bridegroom and the bride will receive far greater benefit from the celebration.

They must sign the Declaration of Intention, which states that they intend to make a Christian marriage. Therefore, before any date is set or other marriage plans made, the priest must be consulted by the bride and groom. By canon, the priest in charge of a church is given full authority in all liturgical matters. At Trinity Cathedral Parish, this authority is given to the Dean.

The Dean, or other person appointed, will direct the rehearsal and the wedding. All persons desiring to be married at the Cathedral by a priest from another Episcopal Church must have the priest contact the Dean.

All couples are asked to make their appointments with the priest who will preside at the ceremony. These sessions are very helpful to the couple as they prepare to enter into the covenant of marriage.

The Wedding Guild

The Wedding Guild is charged with the responsibility of assisting the priest in carrying out tile wedding arrangements. The following may be expected from the wedding guild members:

The primary purpose is to help create an atmosphere of calm and orderliness without the impression of “so many rules to follow.” Good taste and courteous consideration of others are usually the only guidelines needed.

1. One member of the wedding guild will be assigned as a mentor to each couple getting married in the Cathedral. The purpose of the mentor is to serve as a liaison between the ~ouple and the church. Responsibilities will include being available (by telephone or in person) to the couple to answer any questions and give them a feeling of warmth and inclusion in the parish.
2. At the rehearsal, the Guild members will take notes on the “wedding attendant processional,” chart the seating of honored guests and parents, inform the ushers of their specific duties, and lead a tour of the facility if your wedding party is unfamiliar with the church.
3. On the day of the wedding, the Guild members will be on hand to greet the wedding party. The Guild members will show the wedding party to the dressing rooms, pin boutonnieres on ushers, assist the bride and attendants in dressing, pin corsages on mothers and honored guests, synchronize timings with the priest, seat the honored guests in the proper order, at the proper time, and make sure that the processional begins on time.
4. Signaling the organist, the Guild members will close the main doors of the Cathedral as the procession is to begin, allowing for a smooth walk for the bride and her party. The ushers may seat late arrivals after the processional. As the priest and groomsmen take their place, having entered from either the side door at the front of the church or by processing down the center aisle, the Guild members will coordinate the bride’s procession, starting the members of the bride’s party down the aisle.

The Marriage License and Forms

The marriage license should be secured from the county in which either the bride or groom lives. In Pulaski County the license may be obtained from:

Pulaski County Courthouse
401 West Markham, Room 108
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1417
(501) 340-8330

Males and females 21 or under must present a state-certified copy of their birth certificates or any active Military Identification Card or valid passport. Both male and female applicants must be present together when- the license is issued. A Power of Attorney is not acceptable under any circumstances.

Males and females 22 or over may present a valid driver’s license showing their correct name and date of birth or any of the above mentioned documents. If your name has changed through a divorce and your driver’s license does not refled this change, you will need to bring a certified copy of your divorce decree.

The marriage license is valid for sixty days. The license must be returned, used or unused, within sixty days, or bond of $100 will be executed. A medical or blood test is not required in the State of Arkansas. The license may be used immediately. as there is no waiting period required in Arkansas after a divorce is final. Residency is not required in Arkansas.

The license may be used any where in the State of Arkansas but must be returned to the County Clerk’s office where you applied for final recording. The license can be used only in the State of Arkansas. The marriage ceremony can only take place in the State of Arkansas. Ministers performing marriages in the State of Arkansas must have their credentials recorded in any county In Arkansas.

The Music

Only appropriate sacred music is allowed at a marriage service. and the priest is the final authority in this matter. Music for the ceremony should be chosen in consultation with the Organist/Choirmaster and officiating priest. Ordinarily, the Cathedral Organist is to be used for weddings and should be contacted as soon as possible prior to the service. Any other arrangements need to be cleared with the priest and organist.

If vocal music is desired, only those hymns or anthems, which are appropriate to the liturgies authorized by the Episcopal Church, may be used. The words are to be from Holy Scripture, The Book of Common Prayer, or texts congruent with them.

As a wedding is a service of the worship of God, it is quite appropriate for hymns to be sung by the congregation. Soloists from the Cathedral Choir are available to lead the congregation and to sing anthems appropriate to the ceremony. Please discuss this with the Organist of the Cathedral. Solo instrumentalists may also be used in conjunction with the organ, under the direction of the priest and the Organist. We ask that you contract with the instrumentalists directly and the Organist for recommendations. Vocal soloists, often friends, or relatives of the bride and groom may also be used. They should be advised of the above policies, and asked to consult with the Organist in the selection of appropriate music at least six weeks before the rehearsal.

Acolyte/Sound Engineer

A trained Acolyte from the Acolyte Guild of the Cathedral will be chosen to serve the priest performing the ceremony. A trained Sound Engineer will also be used to attend to the sound system of the Cathedral.

Flowers

Arrangements for the altar flowers for the wedding ceremony may be made with the Flower Guild of the Cathedral, or a local florist, provided the florist follow the scale and proportions of arrangements used on Sundays. Regulations governing wedding and proper reverence and respect for the church will be explained to those planning to use its facilities.

Large and expensive arrangement of flowers and greens are inappropriate for a service in the church and are strongly discouraged. The altar flowers will remain in the Cathedral after the ceremony for the Sunday services following the wedding. Flowers should never dominate the altar.

If candelabra are to be used, they may be tastefully decorated. Pew arrangemehts may also be used to mark the pews to be used by the family. No tacks, pins, tape, nails, or glue shall be used to fasten any decorations to the furniture or building. Only wrapped wire or ribbon may be used to attach floral decorations to the pews.

The florist must remove any floral equipment used in the nave immediately following the service. Any equipment left after the sexton has cleaned up will be placed in an outdoor storage area.

The simpler the floral decoration, the more the church will look as it should, resounding with quiet beauty and due reverence. The use of lilies or berries is prohibited in Trinity Cathedral.  Flower arrangements may be no higher than the cross, nor so deep as to interfere with clergy officiating the service.

The Flower Guild will be more than happy to provide you with beautiful flowers for your special day, but because there are few members of the Flower Guild who are able to do these special flower arrangements, they need as much notice as possible to accommodate you. In order for them to be able to accommodate you, please contact them immediately after your initial visit with the clergy and Wedding Committee so they can get your wedding on their calendar. If they do not hear from you at least within one month of your wedding date, they may not be able to provide your flowers for you.

Flower Guild Point of Contact:  Pat Atwood, 501-225-0214, 501-920-0065 (cell) or pcatwood@ att.net, or Beth Hathaway 501-680-5843 or beth.hathaway@comcast.net.

The fee is $100 to $150 depending on the type of flowers desired, which is for two arrangements for the high altar. Contact either Sandra Cook to determine the exact fee for the flowers you desire.  You should send a check in advance for the appropriate amount to the attention of Dotti Mansfield at the church, 310 W. 17th St., 72206.

Here is the information they will need from you when you contact them:

Bride’s name
Date of the wedding
Phone numbers (home, work and/or cell)
E-mail address
Flower and color preferences. (Some flowers may not always be available but we will do our best to substitute something similar.)

Candles

Trinity has a pair of seven branch and nine branch wrought iron floor candelabra’s thr are available tor use if’the couple wishes. The lighting and extinguishing of the candles is not part of the worship service itself and will be done as quietly and unobtrusively as possible by an acolyte. If the photographer intends to have photos made with the candles lighted prior to the services, arrangements will need to be made.

Wedding Kneeler

Trinity has an antique embroidered wedding kneeler to be used by the bride and groom during the ceremony, so no other kneeler or “wedding bench” is needed. The Wedding Guild will see that this kneeler is in place prior to the service.

Photographs

Photographs may be taken inside or outside of the Cathedral prior to the beginning of the service and following the conclusion of the service. Most couples are now scheduling all of their portraits prior to the ceremony, so that the wedding party may leave for the reception directly following the ceremony. No distracting flash photographs are to be taken inside the Cathedral at any time during the service. Photographers using equipment not requiring flash bulbs may take time exposures form the back of the church but movement should be kept to a minimum. The Wedding Guild is prepared to escort your photographer outside should they conclude he/she is being too distractive.

Discuss which photographs you wish to be taken well in advance. The wedding day is not the proper time to decide. Having posed photographs after the service is not recommended because it delays the wedding party’s arrival at the reception. A better decision is to take all photographs before the service and at the reception. Set the exact time for the photographer to be at the church. If the photographs are to be taken before the service, the photographer must complete all pictures at least one hour prior to the service. Encourage your photographer to telephone the church if he/she has any questions of what mayor may not be appropriate.

Sound and Video Recordings

The most beautiful and sacred aspects of the wedding ceremony have been ruined for some by the inexperienced recorder operators and by the malfunction of equipment. If video recordings of the service are desired, they need to be very carefully planned. Please consult the priest conducting your service concerning these plans prior to the rehearsal.

Video equipment is not permitted in the chancel. The operator may use the equipment in the side aisles and no closer to the chancel than the first columns, provided movement is kept to a minimum.

The Eucharist

It is appropriate for the Holy Eucharist to be celebrated with the marriage service, if so desired. Members of the congregation who are communicants in their own church are invited to receive communion at the service.

The Rehearsal

The wedding rehearsal is normally held the evening before the day of the wedding, usually at 6:00 p.m. All members of the wedding party are expected to attend and be on time. The rehearsal is a very important part of the wedding experience and should proceed in a manner respectful to the church. The rehearsal lasts for one hour and shall begin promptly at the time scheduled. Strict observance of the following rules is required:

1. Drinking or smoking is not permitted anywhere in the Cathedral.
2. The rehearsal will not be conducted when any member of the wedding party is under the influence of alcohol.
3. Food and beverages are not permitted in the Cathedral.
4. The priest will be in charge of the rehearsal. Members of the Wedding Guild will assist the priest during the rehearsal and wedding. A wedding consultant is not needed for your ceremony.
5. Everyone in the wedding party should arrive fifteen minutes prior to the rehearsal.
6. Parents should be present for the rehearsal.
7. The ushers and readers should also be present for the rehearsal.
8. The groom should deliver the marriage license to the priest at the time of the rehearsal.

If Morrison Hall or the Garth are desired for a reception, arrangements should be made well in advance with the church office.

A caterer must be retained for the reception. The caterer must provide all equipment to serve the event and provide clean-up service. Trinity Cathedral has a limited number of banquet tables (oblong or round) and chairs available at no cost. A Cathedral sexton will be on duty during the reception. There is a fee for the use of Cathedral facilities for a reception.

Information Form

Along with these guidelines, you will find a Wedding Information Form on this website. This form is to be completed and returned to the clergy as soon as possible and no later than six weeks prior to the wedding.

Please direct any questions you may have to the clergy or your Wedding Guild mentor at (501) 372-0294.

Policy of the Vestry on Serving Alcoholic Beverages at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

The Episcopal Church has never endorsed the prohibition of using beverages containing alcohol among her adult members. Scripture offers Jesus’ example of the use and serving of wine in his first miracle at Cana and in the institution of the Lord’s Supper. However, if an adult member elects to consume alcohol, moderate usage is expected. Church members should make themselves aware of those conditions that might consequently compromise the health and safety of themselves and others. The Church also supports and has a responsibility to those people who abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages for whatever reason.

1. Except for wedding receptions, alcohol may not be served at parish or other functions where children are expected to be present. Only wine and beer may be served.
2. All applicable federal, state and local laws are to be strictly obeyed.
3. Alcoholic beverages and food containing alcohol must be clearly designated and offered as such.
4. Whenever alcohol is served, non-alcoholic alternatives must always be offered with equal attractiveness and accessibility.
5. The serving of alcoholic beverages at church events should not be publicized as an attraction of the event.
6. The group or organization sponsoring the activity or event at which they wish to serve alcohol must have permission of the Dean and Rector or someone designated for this plan.