Matrimony

Weddings at St. Peter’s

Congratulations on your engagement! We would love to help you have a beautiful, faith-filled marriage. Please give us a call so that we can schedule a meeting for you to sit down with our pastor, Father Andrew Trapp. 

Father Andrew will want to get to know you, encourage you, and walk through the preparation process with you in person. In the meantime, here are some answers to questions that you might have:

Q: What is the first step to have a wedding at St. Peter’s?

The first step would be to schedule a meeting with our pastor, Father Andrew. If you live far away and cannot speak in person, a video conference can be arranged (Skype, Facetime). This is necessary for all weddings held at St. Peter’s. Please contact Leslie Tibbitt, assistant to the pastor, at 843-982-6241 or [email protected]. It is recommended that you meet with Father Andrew as soon as possible after your engagement. 

Q: What is the preparation process for marriage?

Father Andrew will explain the preparation process during your first meeting with him. For parishioners of St. Peter’s, he will work with you in person to prepare you spiritually for the sacrament and vocation of Holy Matrimony. Those belonging to another parish will follow the preparation process in that parish. 

Q: Where can weddings be held at St. Peter’s?

Because your wedding is a union before God, Catholic weddings always take place in a church. Weddings can take place at our main church or at Holy Cross Mission on St. Helena Island. Smaller weddings (100 guests or less) can also be held at our historic church in downtown Beaufort.

Q: When can weddings be held?

Generally speaking, weddings at St. Peter’s are usually held on Saturdays at 2pm, 2:30pm or 3pm. (We have confessions from 11:00 - 1:00pm in the Walsh Palmetto Room and Masses in the late afternoon.) Weddings may also take place on Friday evenings. Father Andrew’s assistant, Leslie Tibbitt, will work closely with you to select the time and date once the preparation process has begun. 

Q: Is there a fee for weddings?

We see holy marriages as part of our mission as a parish; thus, the parish does not charge a fee for the wedding itself. The bride and groom pay for the organist, cantor, and any additional musical choices. It is appropriate to give a gift to the parish as an expression of gratitude. To pay for music stipend, click HERE! 

Q: What about more specific guidelines regarding music, decorations, etc.?

We will give those guidelines to you during your first meeting with Father Andrew.

Q: I would like to get married to someone who is not Catholic. Is this possible?

Yes, this is possible. Father Andrew will explain more as he gets to know you both at the first meeting.

Q: Can I go ahead and set my wedding date and book my reception venue?

Do not set a wedding date without first meeting with Father Andrew. We need to ensure that you are both free to marry and that we have enough time for the marriage preparation. 

Q: Priests aren’t married, so how could a priest possibly be qualified to prepare a couple for marriage?

Father Andrew will be sharing with you the beautiful teachings of Christ about marriage. We will explore topics such as the meaning of life, the meaning of marriage as a calling from God, and the meaning of sexuality in God’s plan. He won’t be sharing his own personal genius ideas about married life; rather, his job is to share with you God’s genius ideas about married life.

Q: I’m really busy. Can my mom or dad contact the parish for me?

Father Andrew has instructed his staff to work with the bride and the groom only. This helps to avoid a lot of miscommunication and makes for a lot better experience for all involved.

Q: I’m excited about getting married! Isn’t it great?

We are excited for you, and we look forward to hearing from you! We want to help you to have the most beautiful and faith-filled wedding possible.