Introduction

Welcome to Our Lady of Lourdes (OLL) Church in Tujunga, CA, the setting that you have chosen for your wedding. We understand that you would like this very special ceremony to take place at OLL Church that has meant so much to you.

The following guidelines have been formulated to aid you in planning your wedding.

Ceremony

Our Lady of Lourdes Church is a Catholic Parish Church. The presence of a Catholic priest is required for the marriage ceremony. Either the bride or groom must be Catholic and both are canonically free to marry. The celebration of marriage needs to conform to the laws and policies of the Vatican and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Archdiocesan Requirements
Ordinarily, Catholic marriages are celebrated in a parish church. Marriages celebrated outside a parish church are exceptions and require permission from the bridal couple’s home parish priest at least six months before the intended wedding date. In order to be married legally within the Catholic Church, it is necessary to complete marriage forms required by the Church. All other Marriage Preparation such as Engaged Encounter, Evening for the Engaged pre-marriage classes are to be completed before the Celebration of Marriage takes place. Documentation of completion is required.

Reserving the Church
To determine the availability of the OLL Church for a desired wedding date and time, please contact Yolanda Enriquez at (818) 352-3218. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Verbal reservations by telephone will be held temporarily for three weeks from the date of the telephone conversation. Reservations are confirmed when a completed Priest Officiate Form (if applicable), Preliminary Marriage Reservation Form and payment are received by the Parish Office.

1. Priest Officiate Form (if applicable) is completed by the priest officiating at the wedding.
2. Preliminary Marriage Reservation Form is completed by you and your parish priest if you are not from this parish.
Weddings may be celebrated on Saturdays between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The Church is available also from Monday to Friday and during holidays. Please contact the Parish Office.

Payment

Within two weeks of reserving the desired date six months prior to the wedding date, the bridal couple should submit the required forms with payment:
• The total fee is $900.00 and due in full when the forms are submitted to the Parish Office.
• Payment to be made by check made payable to Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
• Reservations are confirmed upon payment receipt.
• Appointment with the Pastor or Deacon is to be made on the day the forms are submitted to the Parish Office.

Officiating Priest

Ordinarily, it is the Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish who officiates the wedding. If the bride and groom chooses to have their own priest, if the priest is not from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, he must submit to us a letter from his superior or from the Vicar of Clergy of his diocese to prove that he is in good standing with the Roman Catholic Church.
The stipend for the services of the priest who is not from OLL is the responsibility of the couple and will be deducted from the total fee and should be paid directly to the priest. If a Mass is included with the wedding, the Parish wedding coordinator will arrange for Altar Servers. The fee for the Altar Servers is included in the total fee.
All Paper Works will be done with the Priest or Deacon of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

Cancellations

Cancellation of confirmed wedding dates should be made in writing. If a cancellation is received more than three months in advance of the chosen wedding date, one-half of the payment will be refunded. If cancellation is made less than one month before the wedding, the entire wedding fee will be forfeited.

Marriage License

A valid California marriage license is required.

Wedding Day

Wedding Rehearsal – The rehearsal should be scheduled with the wedding coordinator at least one month in advance of the wedding. Rehearsals may take place between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the evening prior to the wedding.

Wedding Ceremony – Access to the Church one hour prior to the ceremony will be available for florist, photographer and videographer set-up. The Bride and Groom and the Bridal Party should arrive no less than thirty minutes before the time of the wedding. Children in the wedding party are the responsibility of their parents and must be monitored while visiting Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church.

Wedding Coordinator

The Parish Office and the wedding coordinator will coordinate all weddings and rehearsals.

Music

There is an official organist and cantor for Our Lady of Lourdes Church. They will work with the bridal couple to determine musical selections for the ceremony. They can also assist in identifying a vocalist and other musicians, if desired. Only liturgical or classical music, appropriate to Catholic worship, is permitted in the Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Fees for the organist, musicians and vocalists are included in the total fee.

Chapel Decorations
• Floral arrangements are the responsibility of the bridal couple and may be placed on either side of the altar. Only fresh flowers must be used for the altar area and the use of a unity candle or candelabra is permitted in the Church. Altar candles are provided by the Church. A crash or aisle runner is not permitted. No petals or flowers may be strewn and bubbles are not permitted in the Church. The lighting, fans, audiovisual & sound system equipment (including microphones) may only be adjusted by members of the OLL Parish Staff.
• Food and drinks except water are not allowed inside the Church. Immediately following the ceremony, all personal property must be removed from the Church premises and the Church is as neat as before the wedding. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on OLL Church premises before, during, and after the wedding.

Photography
Wedding photographs may be taken in the Church and around the Church before or after the ceremony. Permission for photographs and videotaping during the ceremony must be obtained from the officiating priest.

Directional Signage
Signage will be handled by the wedding coordinator.
Chapel Address
For purposes of the wedding invitation, the Our Lady of Lourdes Church address is:

7315 Apperson St.
Tujunga, CA 91042

Contact

All questions and concerns can be directed to:

The Parish Office
7344 Apperson St.
Tujunga, CA 91042
Phone: (818) 352-3218
Fax: (818) 352-2738

Wedding Coordinator
Michelle Laforce
(818) 515-5068

Downloadable Forms
Preliminary Marriage Reservation Form