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Weddings at St. Bart's

We are delighted that you are considering being married at St. Bart’s. Our beautiful, sacred space has been the setting for splendid weddings for over 100 years, and our hope is that you will choose St. Bart’s as the location for one of the most joyous and sacred days of your life.

Although being a member is not a requirement to be married at St. Bart’s, our sincere hope is that each couple will consider becoming a part of the St. Bart’s community.

We require three months' notice prior to a wedding, and at least one of the parties must be a baptized Christian. Premarital counseling is required by the canons of the Episcopal Church. In the case of a divorced person who wishes to remarry, permission from the Bishop is required. Under no circumstances should any announcement of a wedding at St. Bart's be made until the couple has had an interview with the priest, the priest consents to officiate, and a deposit has been received.

Start the Process

If you you desire to begin the wedding process at St. Bart’s, please contact Veronica Shea, via  or phone 212-378-0247. A minimum of three months before a wedding is to occur is required to accommodate the process.

Within a few days of your first contact with Veronica, one of our St. Bart’s clergy will be assigned to officiate at your service. If you desire a particular priest at St. Bart’s, please indicate that to Veronica. If you wish to have a priest not on our staff participate in your wedding, please make that arrangement after speaking with Veronica.

Your assigned priest will be in touch by email within a week of your contact with Veronica to arrange a first conversation by phone. An in-person meeting with both members of the couple will follow. Please do not firmly set a date until you have met with your priest and together determined that St Bart’s is the right place for your wedding.

Pre-Marital Counseling

Pre-marital counseling is both a requirement of the Episcopal Church and a strong commitment on the part of St. Bart’s clergy. A minimum of three pre-marital meetings will be held, with the expectation that both parties will attend. These meetings are to provide as much preparation as possible for you as a couple in taking this significant life step and to satisfy the priest that to the best of his/her knowledge the couple has a reasonable and holy hope for a lifelong marriage. Your priest will share more details about this process in the initial meeting.

If either of you has been divorced, our clergy must receive permission from the Bishop of the Diocese of New York to perform the marriage ceremony. Your priest will explain this process.

Service Details

Planning the liturgy (service details) occurs under the direction of the priest. Each couple is encouraged to select the scripture readings for their service. Review suggested readings here. Other readings may be suggested and used with the approval of the officiating clergy.

Each couple will be assigned one of our musicians, who will be creative and flexible in helping you choose music appropriate to the sacred space and solemnity of the liturgy. Bring your ideas and preferences to them. Because of the sacred nature of the Marriage Rite, music outside of the Classical/Sacred repertoire (popular songs, show tunes, etc.) is best used at your reception. The music of the service is ultimately at the discretion of the officiating priest. St. Bart's music director must be consulted and give consent if other musicians are to be invited.

While photographs are treasured reminders of this special day, photographers must adhere to requirements which preserve the sacred nature of the service. Arrangements must be made prior to the day of the service if you wish to take photographs before or after the wedding. The following guidelines for professional photographers and videographers must be carefully followed:

Flash may not be used during the service, except during the entering procession, and then only if equipment and photographer remain behind the congregation, with the flash directed at the west end door (away from the congregation). During the service, only photography with a quiet shutter is permitted from the galleries and/or behind the congregation. 

Flowers

Flowers are permitted in both the church and the chapel. St. Bart’s uses a professional florist, who is accustomed to decorating our space, following the guidelines for arrangements. If you choose to use another florist, the firm must meet with the Rev. Peter Thompson, Vicar early in the planning process to assure that the following guidelines are understood and followed:

  • No flowers or other decorations may be placed on the altar itself.
  • Flowers at the altar will remain with St. Bart’s. All other flowers and decorations must be removed within two hours following the service.
  • Floral arrangements near the altar may not exceed the height of the altar cross.


Only a Few "Dont's"

St. Bart’s does not permit the use of aisle runners or “Unity Candles.” Rice, flower petals, confetti, etc. may not be scattered in the church or chapel or on the church property.

Our adjacent restaurant, Inside Park at St. Bart’s, can host your reception if you like!

If you have questions, please contact Veronica Shea