Marriage

The Archdiocese of Chicago recommends making wedding arrangements at least six months prior to the ceremony.  To be sure your preferred date is available, we recommend contacting St. Michael’s as early as possible.

Friday weddings are scheduled for 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. Saturday weddings are scheduled for 12:30, 3:00, and 6:30 p.m. Given the demand, we will consider a wedding any day of the week. All wedding times must be approved by St. Michael's wedding coordinator and the priest witnessing the wedding.

To begin the planning process and determine available dates and times, click here.

For a larger wedding with many guests, you’ll want the church. There are four seating areas, separated by three aisles, with great sight lines.  The church can seat more than 1,800 people.

Music in the church is provided by the historic Kilgen pipe organ and the trained musicians that are on staff at St. Michael. 


The Ancilla Domini Chapel is a perfect location for a smaller, more intimate wedding, a space that will hold up to 25 people. Music in the chapel is provided by a baby grand piano and the trained musicians that are on staff at St. Michael.   Scheduling for the chapel is fairly flexible is often easier, as there are often more dates available.  

Stipends for a wedding ceremony or Mass in the main church at St. Michael is $2,800, which include offering for the church, and stipends for the priest, cantor, music director, the wedding coordinator for the rehearsal and the day of the wedding. The couple and the priest witnessing the marriage determine whether the ceremony will take place within Mass or outside of Mass.

There are two options for weddings (ceremony or ceremony within Mass) in the Ancilla Domini Chapel.  A $1,400 stipend is requested for the chapel and stipends for the priest,  pianist, cantor, and the services of the wedding coordinator for the rehearsal and the day of the wedding. When no music is requested, a stipend of $1,000 is requested (for chapel and priest).

A deposit is required when the couple to be married submits a signed agreement to the wedding coordinator. The deposit is non-refundable, but the wedding date may be changed, subject to availability.   

1. The Catholic Church requires couples to complete a PreCana Marriage Preparation program before the wedding ceremony.  Click here to learn more about PreCana and view dates and register for coureses that will be offered.

2. There are also a number of documents you’ll have to complete, including:

• Pre-Nuptial Questionnaire: you’ll complete this questionnaire with the assistance of a priest. It establishes your desire and readiness for marriage within the Catholic Church.
• Witness Affidavits: the bride and groom will each require two affidavits, completed by two people who know them well – perhaps a parent, brother, sister, or close friend – and who can affirm your eligibility to marry in the church. (You should discuss this requirement during your first meeting with your priest.)
• Certificate of Baptism: the bride and groom will each need one (if they have been baptized), issued within the last six months. You should write or call the church at which you were baptized to request a copy of this certificate. If that church no longer exists, contact the local diocese or archdiocese to determine where records are currently held.
• Cook County Marriage License: you will need to go to the Cook County Clerk’s Office to obtain a license.The marriage license must be submitted to St. Michael's Parish office THREE WEEKS prior to the wedding.  Call or email the parish office to determine the office hours and location.  (312) 642-2498

3. Couples will also have to complete a relationship inventory program or couple check up with their priest. This program looks at how effectively couples communicate regarding their marriage expectations.

Couples should start the planning process at least six months in advance of the proposed wedding date. The first step, as noted earlier, is to work with the church office to check time and date availability, select a site (church or chapel), complete a formal agreement, and submit the initial stipend. At that time, contact the parish office to schedule your first meeting with the priest who will witness the marriage. Things begin to move quickly after that.

Six Months before the Wedding:

• Begin meeting with the priest you will be doing your wedding preparation with. The paperwork can NOT be completed without meeting with a priest. If you are not contacted by the priest, call the Parish Office to set a meeting with the priest presiding at your wedding. If you are doing your wedding preparation with a priest outside of the Archdiocese of Chicago, you will want to contact that priest sooner, as the paperwork must be approved by the Archdiocese of Chicago prior to St. Michael Church receiving it. This will add time to the process.
• Begin liturgy and music preparation with Daniel Stucker, Director of Liturgy and Music.  At this time, you will select the readings, prayers, music, and musicians that you would like to have included in the liturgy on the day of your wedding.  The cantors at St. Michael are familiar with the church’s sound system, its acoustics, and the order of the Catholic liturgy. They are highly trained and experienced professionals. For these reasons, the church requires the use of one of these musicians, not a family member or friend.  If you wish to include a vocalist who is a family member or friend to sing one song during the prelude, you must work with the director of liturgy and music to schedule a rehearsal (an additional $75 fee) to coordinate a time for the visiting vocalist and organist to rehearse.

Three Months before the Wedding:

• Send in any balance due on the stipend for the wedding.
• Continue to meet and/or talk with your priest to ensure all paperwork is coming in as expected.

Two Months before the Wedding:

• Speak with the priest who will preside at the wedding to be certain that all necessary paperwork has been submitted and other requirements met.
• Verify the time of your rehearsal by emailing Mary Cross.
• Make sure you have obtained the necessary Cook County Marriage License.  It should be submitted to the office no later than THREE WEEKS prior to your wedding date.  You should bring it to the Parish Office, where it will be kept on file until the wedding.

mCan my family priest preside at the ceremony or Mass?

Of course. If he resides outside of the Archdiocese of Chicago, a Letter of Good Standing from his diocese must be sent to the Archdiocese of Chicago. The stipend structure, however, does not change.

May I request a specific priest from St. Michael’s?

Yes, provided that his schedule is open for that date and time. 

Is there any flexibility regarding the times St. Michael’s can perform weddings?

The standard 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. times were set because they don’t conflict with other planned activities at St. Michael. We will work with you to be flexible, if possible, but any changes must be approved by the wedding scheduler and the priest witnessing the wedding.

How do we schedule the wedding rehearsal?

Discuss this with the wedding coordinator. Rehearsals are typically held the day before the wedding, and times are specified in the written agreement. It may be possible to change the timing, schedules permitting. 

How do we select the music for the wedding?

The Director of Liturgy and Music will be in touch with the couple to help with planning your liturgy.  St. Michael Church does not allow musicians who are not on staff or hired by the church to lead the music during the liturgy. There are other opportunities for a guest musician to participate in the music at your wedding. To avoid hardship, please contact the Director of Liturgy and Music before making any liturgy or music plans.

Is there parking available at St. Michael?

Access to St. Michael's parking lot is not guaranteed.  If possible, it will be available to all wedding guests, but it cannot be assumed that the parking lot will be open for their use.  Efforts may be made to inform couples of a conflict at booking or as soon as the parish is informed about the conflict.

The priests and staff of St. Michael commit to working with you to make this wedding a most memorable day as you commit your lives to each other in the unity of Holy Matrimony. We look forward to working with you and exceeding your expectations.