Guidelines for Your Service
Liturgy and Music
(Revised Fall 2025)
The wedding coordinator will meet with the couple approximately 3-4 months before the wedding date to help plan the wedding liturgy. In conjunction with the workbook Celebrating Marriage (Covino), the coordinator will help the couple pick appropriate readings, music and prayers suitable to their wedding liturgy.
The wedding coordinator will work with you to coordinate musicians for your wedding. SJU uses a pool of professional musicians who are trained in the protocol of Catholic weddings. Each musician should be paid individually according to their individual fees. In general, most professional musicians charge approximately $200-$350 per wedding. Given the acoustical brilliance of the chapel, too many musicians can be overwhelming. The MINIMUM musical ensemble needed for each wedding is a pianist/organist and a cantor.
We will always remember all of the kind individuals who put so much effort into our beautiful ceremony. We felt that each member of the SJU staff cared about us and our wedding. We will also always remember hearing the bells as we left the chapel to greet our family and friends waiting on the lawn.
Guidelines for the Photographer & Videographer
(Revised Fall 2025)
The Sacrament of Marriage is celebrated in the Chapel of St. Joseph. These guidelines have been established to insure that the sacredness of this ceremony be maintained.
We ask that the photo/video personnel introduce themselves to the sacristan before the wedding. The Photo/Video personnel need to comply with our policies for wedding photography. Please give this form to your photographer/videographer.
1.) Please do not enter the Chapel until the previous wedding is completed.
2.) Photographers and video personnel may take pictures before the wedding.
3.) Photographers and video personnel may take pictures during the entrance procession, but are asked not to interfere with the movement of either the procession or recession by having participants stop in the aisle. Photographers and video personnel may not block or walk in front of procession participants at any time.
4.) Once the ceremony begins, photographers are asked to stand near a pillar on the side aisle or at the back of the church in the center aisle. Movement up and down the aisle is to be kept to a minimum.
5.) For the video cameras, there is only one site permitted. The Videographer must remain at the location throughout the ceremony. Please check with the Sacristan regarding this location.
6.) Since the Church has sufficient lighting, electronic flashes are not allowed during the ceremony. Video cameras may not use spots as lighting aids.
7.) A fitting reverence is expected at all times. The church sanctuary may not be used for wedding pictures before or after the wedding. That photographer is not permitted on the sanctuary platform at any time.
8.) If there are two weddings on the same day, group photos of the couple and/or wedding party may not be permitted in the Chapel following the wedding ceremony due to time constraints. Photos are permitted on the grounds of the campus, but not in any other buildings.
9.) No chairs or furniture are to be moved by the photo/video personnel.
10.) NO PHOTOS MAY BE TAKEN DURING THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Environmental Guidelines
(Revised Fall 2025)
Saint Joseph’s University takes great pride in establishing the proper seasonal environment for our worship space. This will be especially evident during the seasons of Lent and Easter in the Church year.
1) The trees, plants, and flowers are not to be moved or removed for any reason.
2) NO PEW DECORATIONS OF ANY KIND are permitted in order to protect the surfaces of the chairs. Tape, staples, or tacks are not to be used anywhere in the chapel.
3) FLORISTS: SJU can provide the flowers in the church for your wedding. The flowers will be coordinated with the church environment and to complement your bridal party flowers. We provide this as a service to our wedding couples and to ensure a quality liturgical environment for all the many services that take place in the Church. As an option, you may also use Overhill Florist: 215-473-1872 or www.overhillflowers.com.
4) CANDLES: The church will provide the appropriate candles for the wedding liturgy. For safety reasons, please do not move the candle stands. In keeping with the liturgical rites of the Catholic Church, “Unity Candles” are not used.
5) AISLE RUNNER: Because of the nature of the floor and seating arrangements, aisle runners are not permitted in order to protect the safety of our guests.
6) ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN: Out of respect for the Chapel building and the safety of your guests and the environment, rice, birdseed, confetti, rose petals, bubbles, and balloon launches are not permitted anywhere on the grounds.