Matrimony (Marriage)

Congratulations on your engagement!  The Sacrament of Matrimony is a gift from God and an invitation for you to emulate God's self-giving love in your own life.
 

First Steps

If you are interested in celebrating the sacrament on campus at Sage Chapel or Anabel Taylor Hall Chapel, you will need to contact the university's Conference and Event Services office at 607-253-8368 or email [email protected]. These two facilities are the only places that have been approved by the Diocese of Rochester for a Roman Catholic marriage to take place on Cornell's campus.  Chapel reservations can only be made 12 months or fewer in advance. 

After speaking with Conference and Event Services, please contact Eileen Heptig at the Cornell Catholic Community to discuss the next steps.
Eileen can be reached at 607-255-4228 / [email protected].

 

Marriage at Cornell Catholic FAQs

Who will preside at my wedding?

It is the couple's responsibility to arrange for an officiant for your wedding. Ordinarily a Roman Catholic priest presides over the Sacrament of Matrimony. Under certain circumstances a deacon or non-Catholic minister may validly officiate at weddings in the Diocese of Rochester. Only a Catholic priest may celebrate marriage in the context of the Mass.

Please note: it is customary to make an additional personal offering or gift to the presiding priest, deacon, or minister.  

Here are the three options:

1. You may arrange for the Cornell Catholic priest to officiate at your marriage.

   • Please make this request immediately after reserving the chapel as Cornell Catholic cannot always guarantee a priest will be available.  It is the priest's responsibility to determine your eligibility for the Sacrament, to guide you through sacramental preparatioin programs, and to handle the necessary diocesan-mandated paperwork. 

   • The Cornell priest is ordinarily not available on the following days for weddings: on all Sundays, on major feast days of the Church year [i.e. Mary Mother of God (Jan. 1), Holy Week and Easter, Assumption (Aug. 15), All Saints (Nov. 1), Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), Christmas (Dec. 25)], or during the seasons of Advent and Lent.

2. You may arrange for another Roman Catholic priest or a deacon—perhaps a family friend or relative—who is not affiliated with the Cornell Catholic Community to officiate at you marriage.

   • Please make this request immediately after reserving the chapel.,  It is normally that priest's or deacon's responsibility to determine your eligibility for the Sacrament, to guide you through sacramental preparatioin programs, and to handle the necessary diocesan-mandated paperwork..

   • Please contact Cornell Catholic as soon as you have reserved the chapel and gotten a commitment from outside clergy to officiate so that our offices are aware and can assist where needed.

   • Pursuant to canon 903 of the Code of Canon Law, any visiting clergy who wish to preside at a Catholic wedding on Cornell’s campus must be a member in good standing of their Diocese.

3. You may arrange for someone other than a Catholic priest or deacon to officiate.

• This option is possible only for marriages between a Catholic and a non-Catholic.

• The officiant must be credentialed in the State of New York. You can find complete information here.

• Please contact the Cornell Catholic's priest immediately after reserving a Chapel. It is the Cornell Catholic's priest's responsibility to determine your eligibility for the Sacrament, to guide you through sacramental preparation programs, and to handle the necessary diocesan-mandated paperwork.

What do you mean by appropriate paperwork?

Below please find the documentation required for matrimony in the Diocese of Rochester. All forms and online instructions are provided by Cornell Catholic Community.

• The Pre-Marriage Investigation Form which is completed and signed in the presence of the clergy responsible for marriage preparation.

• Certificate of Completion of one standard marriage preparation program, e.g. Pre-Cana, Engaged Encounter, etc.

• The completion of the Fully Engaged Inventory program, which is administered by the officiant or a designee. 

• A recently issued sacramental record for the Catholic party (or parties). This cannot be a photocopy of the baptismal certificate found in your personal archives. Sacramental records are procured from the church of your Baptism. Parishes are aware of this requirement: simply call them or email them, make the request, and they will send a copy to the attention to the Cornell Catholic Community. For interdenominational marriages, a baptismal/sacramental record is also required of the non-Catholic Christian party.

• Required permission (which comes from your local pastor in case one of the Catholic parties is not a member of the Cornell Catholic Community), dispensations, and/or decrees of annulment.
   
• Two Freedom to Marry Forms, one for each party. This form is completed by a person who has known the party and can attest they are free to marry. If available, parents are excellent choices.  Note - the fiancé(e) cannot be the one to complete this form.  If not signed by clergy, then this form NEEDS TO BE NOTORIZED, and the seal of the signer must be visible.

• An offering of $150 [payable to the Cornell Catholic Community at least one month prior to your marriage] is required.
   

Is there any other paperwork?

Yes. You must obtain a New York State marriage license in person from any issuing office in New York State. It must be obtained at least 24 hours in advance of the ceremony and is good for 60 days. You can find complete information here.

What about music at my wedding?

The Sacrament of Matrimony is a public liturgy of the Church. The music you select must be appropriate for worship. Congregational singing of appropriate hymns and acclamations is always encouraged. You can make your own arrangements for music, or contact Elizabeth Lyon ([email protected]). Please also refer to the list of musicians provided by the University Organist, Annette Richards, who can be reached at (607) 255-7102 / [email protected].

What if I have any other questions?

You are always welcome to call our office at 607-255-4228, for clarification of these guidelines or for any other question that might arise as you prepare for the celebration of the Sacrament.

Resources

• Diocese of Rochester wedding planning website
• For Your Marriage, a website by and for Catholics about dating, marriage, and family life sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• Por tu Matrimonio, un espacio para inspirar, ayudar y exhortar a las parejas a vivir más plenamente su relación de pareja
• USCCB webpage on the Sacrament of Matrimony
• USCCB webpage on married and family life