Getting Married at St. John of the Cross
Congratulations to you on your engagement! To begin the process to get married at St. John of the Cross and before a wedding date can be set, we ask each couple to meet with one of our parish priests. While we suggest that you contact us as far in advance as possible, please contact the parish at least six months before your desired wedding date and prior to making any other wedding plans.
About the Process
Submit the intake form
Fill out our wedding intake form and a member of our team will be in touch to schedule your initial meeting with a priest.
Meet with a priest
Your assigned priest will confirm your freedom to marry, set your wedding date, help gather required documents, and guide you toward the right Pre-Cana program. You may request a specific priest, or invite a priest or deacon who is a personal friend or family member to officiate.
Complete Pre-Cana
All couples are required to complete a marriage preparation program. St. John of the Cross offers PROMISE Pre-Cana — led by married couples from our parish — covering topics like communication, finances, family, and marriage as a sacrament. Archdiocesan programs through the Archdiocese of Chicago are also accepted.
Gather your documents
Your priest will walk you through everything you need. See the full list in the next section.
Celebrate your wedding
You may choose a Celebration of Matrimony within Mass or outside of Mass. Our team will be with you every step of the way.
A Few Things to Know
Music
For music requests, contact our Music Director at least six months before your wedding
Photography & videography
Photographers and videographers must check in with our wedding coordinators before the ceremony. Flash photography is permitted only during the procession, recessional, and presentation of flowers to the Blessed Mother. All photography must be completed by 3:30 pm. Full guidelines will be provided to your photographer and videographer.
Flowers & decorations
Floral arrangements may be placed near the altar platform but not on the altar table itself. Stands, décor, and candles must follow parish guidelines — your florist will receive a full guide. Please note: rice, birdseed, flower petals, and helium balloons are not permitted in or around the church.
Confirmation
If either party is Catholic but has not been confirmed, we strongly encourage completing Adult Confirmation before the wedding. Your priest can help facilitate this process.
Parking & accessibility
Our large parking lot is accessible from Wolf Road and Caroline Avenue. The church is fully handicap accessible, with an automatic door at the north entrance and dedicated handicap parking adjacent to the building.
Get in Touch
We’d love to hear from you. To get started, please complete the Wedding Intake Form on our website, or reach out directly:
- Parish office: Contact us at least 6 months before your proposed wedding date.
Learn More About Marriage at SJC
Please reach out to our team with any quesitons.