General Information

(Revised Fall 2025)

These procedures have been developed for your benefit to insure the dignity of your wedding liturgy and all wedding liturgies celebrated at the Chapel of Saint Joseph.
 

You will need to invite a priest to preside at your wedding.  This may be a priest from SJU or one from outside the University community.

Call the Wedding Coordinator (610-660-1673) and give the name of the Presider, his address, and phone number. The necessary liturgical information and a Letter of Delegation will be mailed to the visiting presider.  He is invited to contact the Wedding Coordinator, if further information is needed.

Rehearsals are held the Friday evening before your wedding: 5:00 p.m. for 1:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. for the 3:30 p.m. time.  Please be prompt for your rehearsal.

Out of respect for your guests, staff, and the following wedding, your wedding must begin promptly.  Each wedding is allotted 2 hours and 15 minutes. The schedule is as follows:

1:30 p.m. wedding – 12:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m. wedding – 2:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

It is recommended that:

The Groom and Groomsmen arrive 45 minutes before the wedding time.

The Bride and Bridesmaids arrive 20-30 minutes before the wedding time.

Receiving lines are not permitted.

The order of procession is as follows: Cross, Readers, Presider, Bridal Party.  This is in keeping with the liturgical norms of the Church.  All members of the Wedding Party are to be included in the Entrance Procession. 

 In order for your wedding liturgy to run smoothly, Saint Joseph’s University will provide a wedding sacristan for the wedding rehearsal and the wedding liturgy.  The sacristan will assist guest presiders, bride and groom, photographs/videographers, bridal party, and guests.

Because of the unique nature of the Chapel of St. Joseph, sacristans operate as altar servers; therefore, most weddings do not need altar servers.  If you would like altar servers, please provide them from your family or friends.  Please advise the Wedding Coordinator if you have made this choice.  The sacristan will work with the altar servers and delegate their responsibilities as needed.  A maximum of two altar servers is allowed.

Please include the following in your wedding program:

Because this is a sacred occasion, we request that the use of flash photography not be used, except during the processional and recessional.  Kindly silence your cell phone.

The wedding party and guests may park in the available spaces of the Campion Lot off Cardinal Avenue.  During the academic school year, however, these spaces may be limited.  Street parking on Cardinal Avenue, Wynnefield Avenue, and the surrounding streets may also be used.  Parking for elderly/disabled guests may be arranged through the Wedding Coordinator. 

Cancellation of a wedding prior to twelve months before the date will receive a three quarter (3/4) refund; between twelve and six months, one half (1/2) refund; between six and three months, one quarter (1/4).  Anything less than three months will receive no refund.  All cancellations must be in writing in order for a refund to be issued.