Marriage | Precious Blood

Weddings

Your wedding ceremony at Precious Blood is a Christian Wedding. As such, it is primarily a public and Christ-Centered act of worship in which you express your relationship to Christ, to the Christian Community, and to one another. You will want this ceremony as beautiful and meaningful as possible. We are here, and eager to help. Before making other arrangements, contact the Rectory Office at least six months before your wedding date.

Conferences for the Engaged (CFE)

The Diocese of Arlington is now offering on-line registration for Conference for the Engaged. Couples can register here. There are many different options from which to choose. If you or any couples preparing for marriage have questions, please contact the Office for Family Life at 703-841-2550.

Wedding Coordinators

A wedding coordinator is required to assist you in all your preparations and to ensure the smooth flow of your rehearsal and wedding ceremony. Our wedding coordinators are listed below. Their contact information is available from the Rectory Office. The usual and customary fee for wedding coordinators is $100.00.

Music

Your wedding ceremony is an official liturgical celebration. Music used during the wedding ceremony must be religious and liturgically appropriate.

Please contact our Director of Music, Mrs. Hannah Masson (hmasson@pbcconline.com) for assistance in selecting instrumental and vocal music for your ceremony at least 3 months before your wedding date.

Organist Fees:

- If Contacted 3 or more months prior to the wedding date: $150

- If contacted 2 months prior to the wedding date: $175

- If contacted 1 month or less before the wedding date: $200

A cantor, soloist or choir is needed for either a Wedding Mass or a Wedding Service outside of Mass to lead the Responsorial Song, the Gospel Acclamation, and any hymns or meditations before and during the ceremony. The usual and customary fee for a soloist is $100 and for a choir is $250.

Readings

The readings at a Catholic wedding liturgy are a proclamation of God's Word and of the Church's faith about marriage. For this reason, they are limited to readings from the scriptures. There are nine options from the Old Testament Reading, thirteen options from the New Testament and ten choices for the Gospel. Please choose one from each category. You may find it helpful to reflect prayerfully on each reading and to choose those that speak to your hopes and dreams for your Christian marriage.

Please see the list of Helpful Planning Resources in the column to the right for the list of readings.

Flowers

All flowers used on the altar must be fresh. If you wish to donate your flowers to the church, they will be greatly appreciated for use at the weekend masses following your wedding. Please inform the Rectory Office (540-825-8945) of this donation at least one week before your wedding. No flower petals are to be dropped along the aisle in the Church.

Photos

We suggest that one photographer/videographer take pictures during the ceremony, but we ask that he/she not interfere with the service. Your wedding coordinator can open the balcony area for use, if desired. Group pictures should be taken before or after the ceremony.