FAQs

Question

Should I fill out the online RSVP?

Answer

Yes. Please do as soon as you know your plans! Our RSVP deadline is May 18, 2025. We will be sending out paper invites closer to our date to remind you to RSVP online, but if you already know that you will or will not be attending our wedding, we kindly ask you to fill out the online form at your earliest convenience. Click the "RSVP" tab in the menu bar above (last item on the right) to access your invite.

Question

Are children invited?

Answer

We aren't able to extend an open invitation to the reception to children beyond immediate family and the wedding party. (Babes in arms are a definite exception!) But if you aren't able to attend without your kid(s), please do not hesitate to let us know and we should be able to HAPPILY accommodate! All children are welcome at the nuptial Mass, and we are happy to help you find childcare in South Bend if that's helpful.

Question

What's the best way to get to South Bend?

Answer

South Bend, Indiana, is located just 90 miles east of Chicago, on Interstate 90, so driving is an option if you're in the Midwest (or are looking for a crosscountry roadtrip). Flying and taking a train are also options, so make sure to check out the "travel" tab for all of our advice on getting to South Bend.

Question

Where should I stay in South Bend?

Answer

We've gone ahead and reserved a block of rooms at the Courtyard Marriott in Downtown South Bend. There are also several other hotel options, both downtown and near Notre Dame's campus. Please see the travel tab for the link to our reserved room block, as well as other hotel options.

Question

What will the weather be like?

Answer

Summer in South Bend can be balmy! Expect temps in the high 70s or 80s, with high humidity, too. Of course, rain is also a possibility, so come prepared!

Question

What should I wear for the Mass and Reception?

Answer

Please dress appropriately for such a joyful and solemn occasion! We consider summer formal to include: a jacket and tie for me, and a cocktail-length dress, long dress, or dressy separates for women.

Question

How will wedding day transportation work?

Answer

Guests will make their own way to our church, St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mishawaka, for the nuptial Mass. Ubers/Lyfts and carpooling are great options if you won't have your own set of wheels. There is ample parking at the church. For the reception at the Blue Heron, a shuttle will provide transportation from the Courtyard Marriott in Downtown South Bend to the venue and then back again, though there is also ample parking at the venue if guests choose to drive. Additionally, guests are permitted to leave cars in the venue's lot overnight if it is best that they don't drive following the reception.

Question

What can I expect at a Catholic Mass?

Answer

A Catholic Mass is a ritual celebration of and participation in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It includes Scriptural readings about Jesus and the Christian life, beautiful hymns of worship, prayers of petition to God, and the celebration of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is a memorial of Christ's passion. It makes His self-offering on the cross sacramentally present and allows Catholics to participate in it. Because we understand our marriage as both an invitation and a commitment to love in this same self-giving way, in imitation of Christ, it is a beautiful gift to be married as part of the Mass. We are grateful you will be prayerfully joining with us! Our Mass will be celebrated according to the liturgical customs of our local parish. Whether you are a cradle Catholic or it's your first time in a church, a detailed program explaining how to appropriately participate will be provided.

Question

Are there any breaks in the schedule?

Answer

Yes! The nuptial Mass will end around 3:00 PM, and the cocktail hour for the reception won't begin until 5:00 PM. This break is the perfect time to explore what South Bend has to offer, especially the University of Notre Dame, which is on the way from the church to the reception venue. You can see more ideas for how to spend your free time by clicking on the website's "Things To Do" tab above.

Question

Does your wedding count as "Sunday Mass"?

Answer

No, our wedding is at 1:30 PM on Saturday, so it is not an "anticipatory" Sunday Mass like an evening Saturday Mass is. This means that our Catholic guests should participate in a proper "Lord's Day" Mass on Sunday to worship God and celebrate the Eucharist with other members of the Catholic community. Thankfully, there are a lot of great options! St. Joseph's in Mishawka is, of course, our parish, and where we'll be on Sunday morning. They have Sunday Masses at 7:15 AM, 9:15 AM, and 11:15 AM. That last one is a "Sung Mass," which is a very elevated and reverent form of worship. St. Joseph's South Bend is near downtown and has Mass at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, and 5:00 PM. This parish is run by the Congregation of Holy Cross, the same group that founded Notre Dame, and has a liturgical style that is more typical of most U.S. parishes since the Second Vatican Council. And the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is *beautiful* and another excuse to visit Notre Dame's campus. Their Sunday Masses are at 10 AM, noon, and 3 PM (in Spanish), though make sure to double check their website for any summer schedule changes!