Our wedding ceremony will occur within a Catholic mass. This involves prayers, Bible readings, worship music, the exchange of vows, the blessing and giving of rings, and the Holy Eucharist. We would love for all our guests who are comfortable to participate enthusiastically, raising their voices in song and prayer with us! A program containing the prayer responses, readings, music, and explanations of the parts of the mass will be provided so everyone can follow along. Our ceremony also will incorporate a couple of Spanish Catholic traditions, namely, the exchange of the arras (wedding coins) and the placing of the mantilla (veil). The blessing and exchange of the arras occurs immediately following the blessing and exchange of the rings. In this tradition, the bride and groom assume the responsibility of providing for their family, giving everything to each other, and being good stewards of the household finances. The blessing and placing of the mantilla occurs within the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Here, family members of the couple drape a veil over the bride and groom's shoulders to symbolize the everlasting bond that unites them. Out of respect for the liturgy, we kindly request that you silence or turn off and put away your cell phones while mass is in session. We will share the official wedding photos and video with all guests once we have them. For more information on Catholic weddings, please visit https://bit.ly/420DVrX.
Our dress code is black tie optional. For men, this means either a black/charcoal gray suit and tie (formal) or a tuxedo (black tie). For women, this is either a fancy cocktail dress (formal) or floor-length gown (black tie). For the wedding ceremony itself, we kindly request modest dress to respect the sacrament and sacredness of the space. Within the church, we are expected to wear clothing that covers the back, shoulders, chest, and stomach and, for women, skirts or dresses that are knee length or lower. Pashminas will be available at the church for any guests who need them to meet these requirements.
Please plan on arriving at the church 15-30 minutes before mass starts. The ceremony will begin promptly at 3:30 pm - American time. For any who would like a ride to and from the ceremony, busses will be provided from the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables to Our Lady of Belen, and back. For the ceremony, busses will begin loading at 2:00 pm and leave from the Hyatt at 2:30 pm, sharp. After the ceremony (and photos, if relevant), please return to the bus for transport to the reception. If you plan on taking the bus, please RSVP so we make sure we have enough available seats.
A holy hour is the Catholic devotional of spending an hour in adoration, that is, in the presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament (the Eucharist). We invite you to join us at our parish church for half an hour to silently pray for our marriage and any personal intentions you may bring with you. More information on Eucharistic adoration can be found in this brief guide: https://bit.ly/4gC2mAd.
Though we'd love to include everyone in our special day, due to capacity constraints, we ask that only those whose names appear under your RSVP options attend. We look forward to celebrating with our family and closest friends!