St. Matthew Catholic Church

St. Matthew Catholic Church Wedding Venue Hosts Memorable Charlotte, NC Weddings

Churches are soulful, so should the weddings be! Most couples consider churches as not only places of worship but also places of rich culture and knowledge. Church marriages are mostly preferred by couples who intend to incorporate their faith in their marriage and the rest of their life plus wish to have a low-key wedding, with no bells and whistles by embracing the simplicity of pious ceremony. The calmness that surrounds your senses the moment you enter a church is unarguably mystical. Once known as the “City of Churches,” Charlotte loves it when star-crossed lovers/couples make their way to their happily ever after through the house of worship. Charlotte has maintained its reputation as the ‘City of Churches’ over the years with a continued rise in the number of churches and denominations present in the city. Charlotte churches are the abode of the spiritual being and most couples would love to start their new phase with the blessing of God. So, if you are one of them who have made up your mind about having a church wedding in Charlotte, Matthew Catholic Church wedding venue is the name you must keep in the list of wedding venues you are going to take a tour of.

One of the 16 largest churches in Charlotte, St. Matthew Catholic Church is a Catholic parish in the country and is home to a diverse community that celebrates 10 Masses each weekend. They are situated in two places- Ballantyne and Waxhaw. Saint Matthew Catholic Church welcomes your interest in celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony in their church. A wedding celebrated by believers is an important religious ritual not only in the life of the couple and their families but also for the parish church community as a whole. Saint Matthew parish gives rites within the Order of Celebrating Matrimony as a part of their ministry. Because it is the responsibility for the proper administration of the Sacraments, they have organized guidelines to help you in illustrating how to plan for marriage preparation, how to organize the ceremony, and how to host a rehearsal dinner or wedding reception at Saint Matthew parish. You will receive them upon completing their Inquiry Form. The Catholic Church allows you to exchange nuptials in their Church if at least one of you is Catholic. While every couple has a right to attempt marriage, the Church protects the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony by ensuring that the canonical requirements, local diocesan norms, and parish norms are adhered to in all weddings scheduled at Saint Matthew Catholic Church.

Greet your guests for the festivities before they even get to the ceremony. A large arch or swag around the entrance doors draws everyone's eyes to the front of the church and the proper entrance doors. While greenery and flowers may be the traditional choice for these, you can also decorate with balloons and fabric like tulle or even velvet.

Preparing for Marriage

The first and foremost thing is- notify the parish. Most soon-to-be-married couples reserve a reception venue as much as a year in advance. Before you do that, or contract with a Charlotte wedding photographer, or think about wedding invitations, or make any other agreements, you need to talk to your parish. Diocesan guidelines say you should do so at least 9 months before the time you'd like to get hitched; some parishes may require even more advance notice, because of the number of weddings they host. Be sure to allow extra time if either of you has a previous marriage. The process begins when you sit down for a meeting with Alma Vazquez. In this meeting, you will need to bring certain documents such as a recent copy of the Baptism Certificate, Certificate of Confirmation, Certificate of First Holy Communion, copy of the Civil Marriage License (if you are already married civilly).

You might want to include options from your particular culture in the ceremony as a couple such as:

Unity Candle or Marriage Candle - This ceremony may take place after the exchange of wedding rings. The symbolism speaks of a new family "created" from the couple's families; it doesn't mean the existing families are to be extinguished. It should not be so long as to interrupt the flow of the liturgy of the Mass.

Lazo- The Lazo is a Hispanic custom. A large double rosary made from flowers, glass, or other precious material is blessed by the presider. Immediately after the general intercessions, it is placed over the heads of the couple (resting on their shoulders) by another couple who exemplifies Christian marriage in the eyes of the bride and groom. It symbolizes the lifelong binding of the couple and calls them to imitate the Holy Family of Jesus- Mary and Joseph as the example for their lives. Like a lasso, it joins them together. It is removed after the distribution of the Eucharist to the people.

Arras- The exchange of coins (arras) is also a Hispanic custom. The 13 coins are brought by the groom. The presentation symbolizes the groom's willingness to provide the material necessities for the newly formed family. In accepting the arras, the bride receives this gift from her husband and promises on her part that everything given will be used with care for the benefit of the home and family.

No matter what option you choose it’s better you discuss it with the Presider.

Non-Practicing Catholics

Request for marriage in the Catholic faith is a unique opportunity for the evangelization and reconciliation of Catholics who do not practice or strongly identify with their faith. The non-practicing Catholic person should be given an opportunity to return to the active practice of the faith. Such a person should receive special catechesis in the Catholic faith as well as the Primary Marriage Preparation.

Mixed Marriages

Marriage between a Catholic and a person who is not Catholic presents religious issues of major importance. The Church calls on parties to examine these issues by requiring that:

The Catholic party reaffirms his/her faith in Jesus Christ and, with God’s help, intends to continue living that faith in the Catholic Church.

The Catholic party promises to do all in his/her power to share the faith with the children by having them baptized and reared as Catholics.

The Catholic party must respect the faith position of his/her spouse.

The non-Catholic party must be informed of the reaffirmation and promises of the Catholic party.

The priest, deacon, or pastoral administrator must be morally certain that the reaffirmation and promises have been sincerely made.

Photography & Videography

This beautiful Charlotte wedding venue recognizes the value of wedding photographs as a lasting remembrance and wants to be cooperative while keeping uppermost in mind the necessity for maintaining the dignity and sacredness of the occasion. There are professional wedding photographers in our team who are accustomed to a Catholic wedding ceremony and you could choose one or two to capture your St. Matthew Church wedding perfectly by looking at their portfolios available on our user-friendly website. They know how to make the best of the ceremony location and the photo ops that it offers to give you magical wedding photos to cherish for decades to come.

They understand that photographs taken at the entrance and recession might be taken with a flash or other supplementary lighting, however, they encourage these to be done toward the rear of the Church and not in the altar area. The chapel or church is reserved for the wedding itself. Any use of the chapel or church before the wedding must be coordinated with the parish Wedding Coordinator so as not to interfere with other users of that area. Photographs after the ceremony are to be completed before the reception and within 30 minutes after the ceremony ends. If you wish to include the priest, deacon, altar servers, or other ministers in any of the photographs following the ceremony, you are requested to do these first. It is also a good idea to tell these people that you'd like them to be included so they will be available.

Videotaping may take place during the ceremony from the side or the back of the church. Wedding guests and family members with cameras should be requested to wait until the guests are dismissed to take photographs and then only after checking with the official photographer so that they can do their work within the time allotted. The actions of the lead or second wedding photographer in Charlotte should not detract from the ceremony nor interfere with it. Even if the photographers and videographers are not permitted to stand on the pews or furniture of the Church, still your wedding photos captured by them will stand out. 

Floral Decor Policies

Once you have selected your wedding florist make your Charlotte wedding coordinator aware of the vendor’s name. Give a copy of their policy to your florist so they can refer to it while adorning the ceremony space for your big day. It is recommended that the florist visit the Church before the wedding to get familiar with the church and setting. This will allow for a better idea of the placement of wedding flowers, candelabra, and decoration within the Church. Their visit should also include locating the bridal room and bridal party's dressing areas plus the church office. The getting-ready rooms should be visited by your Charlotte wedding photographers as well so they plan how they are going to document the special chapters of your love story. Our photo experts have hands-on experience in capturing every single element of essential wedding photography for your wedding album. From the getting-ready photo session of the bride and groom to the bridal portrait session and wedding dress photoshoot to mother-daughter wedding photo session, they love to seize all the must-have wedding photos of your getting-ready moments.

Make sure the flowers are placed on the floor in front of the altar in such a way that they are not extending past the top of the altar. Flowers for the wedding party may include silk or silk mixed with fresh flowers. Other rules include- candles or candelabra once placed in the sanctuary may NOT be placed in the aisles or fastened to the pews. Nothing shall be pinned, taped, or wired to the altar or church furnishings including the pews. Pew clips or ribbon loops only may be used. No tape on wood. Open candles may not be used. If you choose to use any candles (votive, spring tube, or hurricane style only), or candelabra (votive, spring tube, or hurricane style only), please place them so no one is hidden from view. The florist is responsible for wax spillage as a result of the use of their candles or candelabra. Let the florist know that cleaning it up will be required. All sanctuary furnishings must remain in place. Seasonal decorations, including banners or other liturgical items, shall not be moved for any reason. Watertight containers are to be used for flower arrangements to avoid any liquid spills and should be cleaned up immediately if there is. The florist is responsible for cleaning up anything dropped from flowers. They must leave the church in the same manner in which they found it.

St. Matthew is a very warm and welcoming church community. You may choose to get married in a nuptial Mass at St. Matthew Catholic Church and host your reception in the Parish Hall or Georges Brasserie or Ballantyne Country Club located nearby. You would love the marriage preparation counseling with their wedding coordinator who would provide you with their guidance as you plan your ceremony. Wedding Masses are celebrated on Saturdays only at 12 PM and 2 PM. And regardless of what time you choose to say your ‘I do’s’, the sunlight through the stained glasses give the church an angelic glow giving way to swoon-worthy wedding photography. The red-brick building of the church plays a perfect backdrop for your fun photos with the bridal party. The entrance decked up with greenery makes for a great photo location as well for romantic couple portraits in the golden hour. Hosting the reception across the street in the Parish Hall would be a great affordable idea and convenient for your out-of-town wedding guests as well, This reception venue was Sizzlers restaurant in the past, so you will get plenty of parking, a functional kitchen, and convenient restrooms for a stress-free Charlotte wedding experience. 

Weddings are an unforgettable occasion; celebrating two loved ones declaring their love for one another in the presence of their nearest and dearest, but sometimes they can be a challenge for couples to organize. With the help of our Charlotte wedding photographers and their wedding coordinator, you can have a wonderful, stress-free wedding day. For more inspiration, you may read these five amazing inspiring wedding ideas from George Street Photo & Video. 

It’s not like we, with this article, are encouraging you to tie the knot in a church but if your heart's already set on a church wedding venue for your Charlotte wedding, then we would definitely say that St. Matthew Catholic Church is the place for you! Moreover, we love to shoot St. Matthew Catholic Church NC weddings in Charlotte!