Mass will start promptly at 1PM. Feel free to arrive at church starting at 12:15PM and do your best to be in your seat by 12:50PM.
Travel time is ~20 minutes.
We urge you to head to the Renaissance after the ceremony, after saying hi to family and friends of course! Make sure you give yourself enough time to park. If you arrive at the Renaissance prior to the start of cocktail hour, there is a large bar in the lobby where you can grab a drink. The reception will be held on the 5th floor of the Renaissance.
Parking is available at the Renaissance. As a reminder, the address is 202 E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21202. The garage is managed my Premium Parking. The discount code is BRAGERSMITH. If you are not familiar with the garage, it has two entrances (Calvert Street and South Street). There are two ramps to access lower levels of the garage. The hotel elevator is on the southeast corner of the structure. The hotel elevator from the garage goes to the 1st and 5th floor of the Hotel. Below are links with instructions for how to apply the promo code and payment options. Promo Code by CameraPay: https://support.premiumparking.com/support/solutions/articles/12000065540-camera-pay Promo Code by App: https://premiumparking.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/12000049092-redeeming-promo-code-app- Promo Code by Text: https://premiumparking.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/12000052706-redeeming-promo-code-textpay- Promo Code by Web: https://premiumparking.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/12000052705-redeeming-promo-code-website-
Serving of Salted Bread and Wine Following the wedding ceremony, upon entering the reception hall, Ellen and Shane are greeted by their mothers, and they are served a glass of wine and a portion of salted bread. This signifies a wish that Ellen and Shane never know hunger or thirst, and share a life of good health, good cheer and the company of many good friends. Removing the Bridal Veil Special women chosen by Ellen and Shane stand behind the couple as the Polish hymn, Serdeczna Matko (Beloved Blessed Mother), is sung. This is a prayer dedicated to Our Lady to guide the new bride in the ways of a loving wife. As joyful music plays, the guest may join in by Clanging silverware on the dishes or table. The bride's veil is removed and replaced with a lace czypek (chi-pek). This symbolizes the bride's new role as a married woman. A funny hat is placed on the groom’s head, and a string of babies are placed around the bride and groom’s neck. We wish that Ellen and Shane be blessed with many happy, healthy children, and share much laughter and joy in their marriage. Small Dance The father of the bride dances his daughter into the center of a circle formed by the guest. A relative holds an apron into which money is thrown, claiming a dance with the bride. The dance ends when the groom throws his wallet into the apron and claims his wife forever. From time immemorial, weddings have been festive occasions where relatives and friends showered the newlyweds with good wishes, toasted to their future and shared in their happiness. So it is with our wedding, thank you for sharing in our happiness.