Who may be Married at the College Church?
Any baptized Roman Catholic may marry at St. Francis Xavier Church with
an ordained priest or deacon to witness the Sacrament of Marriage.
Reservations for the church are accepted one year in advance. SLU affiliates
(brides or grooms who are SLU alums, students or faculty) are allowed to
book a reservation a year in advance in the calendar month in question.
The calendar opens on the first working day of the month in question THIS
YEAR. All reservations are taken over the phone beginning at 8:30 AM. that
morning. Non-affiliated couples may make their selections beginning at
9:30 AM. that same morning, once the affiliates have made their selections.
Registered and participating parish members may request a date at any time.
The fee is the same for anyone reserving the church for a wedding: $850.
The one exception that supersedes all of the above is when a couple needs
to contract both the Xavier Grand Ballroom and the Church in order to tie
together the wedding. In that case, any date and time is eligible to book,
but the Ballroom fees must be paid within 90 days.
Back to the top
What are the dates and times of Weddings?
Weddings are on Saturdays - 11:00 a .m., 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and Fridays
at 7:30 p.m. on occasion. Each time allows you 2 1/2 hours inside College Church:
1 hour to set up and dress, 1 hour for the wedding, 1/2 hour for portrait photos.
(These times are fixed, and fit in around our regular parish
Masses and sacraments.)
Rehearsals are on Fridays at 5:00 p.m. or 5:45 p.m., or on Thursdays at 6:00 or
7:00 p.m.
Back to the top
How is access for the handicapped at the College Church?
There is a drop-off area in the front of church next to the ramp that
leads to the lower level where there is an elevator to take you directly to
the vestibule level. Persons with walkers, wheel chairs, crutches -- anyone
with ambulatory impediments -- may find the ramp and elevator a convenience
at the southeast corner of the church.
Back to the top
If we bring our own priest, how does he know where things are?
We provide for you a Coordinator who will meet you the evening of
the rehearsal, ideally about 10 minutes before your start time,
to go over your plans for the placement of individuals and flow
of the wedding. She will familiarize your priest or deacon with
our practices here, deferring to his preferences if that should
be the case. She will get out all the books, candle stands,
items needed for Mass, vestments and microphones. She will also
give all participants their proper cues as to start times the
day of the wedding. She will also take the payments for your
musicians to disperse them after the wedding, and she will make
sure your marriage license is signed and mailed to the appropriate
office of record. Your priest or deacon and YOU will be in great
hands!
Back to the top
What is the dress code at the College Church?
We have no dress code other than your good taste.
Back to the top
Where do you park?
We are extremely limited on parking, having no lot of our own. The
University comes to our aid by offering unlimited parking in the Laclede
or Compton Garages for a flat rate, allowing your guests complimentary
parking for the rehearsal, wedding and even the reception. The Facilities
Coordinator can direct your reservation to Parking Services at Saint Louis
University.
Back to the top
What about music at the College Church?
Since your wedding is a liturgical, sacramental celebration, all music before,
during, and after the wedding must be approved for use at liturgical services.
The College Church follows guidelines that are consistent with those of the
Archdiocese of St. Louis. Also, because of the liturgical nature of your
wedding, a College Church pianist and cantor are required for every wedding.
We can also advise you of additional instrumental options, such as trumpet,
violin, flute, brass, or string ensembles, and we can book these professional
musicians for your wedding. Please contact Sue Martin, Director of Music, at
314-977-7313 or
martins@slu.edu with any
questions regarding music or musicians for your College Church wedding.
Back to the top
When can photos be taken?
Casual photos may be taken in the dressing areas or outside the church before
the wedding. Portrait shots must be taken after the wedding. (Your contracted
time includes a 30-minute portrait session following the wedding. Your ushers
will be instructed on crowd control to free you for this photo opportunity.)
Back to the top
What about flowers, decorations, and candles?
Flowers:
- You may not drop, sprinkle or throw flower petals
(neither silk nor fresh) or birdseed inside or outside of church due
to liability and the absence of custodians on weekends.
- You may not place flowers on the actual Altar
table, but it is acceptable to place arrangements anywhere one
may walk, i.e. the steps to the platform, or on the floor in front
of the altar, the ambo or the cantor stand, etc.
- Flowers or bows may be attached to pew ends with RUBBER BANDS
OR RIBBONS only — no wires or tape.
- Plan to take all your flowers with you. We will discard them after
your wedding if they are left in the church. Order them with your
reception in mind, that they may do dual duty.
Decorations/Runners:
- Runners can come from the florist . Our aisle is 100 feet long.
Due to the slick surface of the hardwood floors, many synthetic runners prove
to be hazardous. You may wish to consider this in your plans and discuss with
your provider.
- Please note that runners MAY NOT BE taped to the
hardwood floor. If this is done and discovered by the wedding coordinator, she
has been instructed to remove the tape and/or the runner immediately.
- You or your florists are permitted to decorate one hour
before the scheduled start of the wedding.
- Deliveries may be made only on the day of the wedding
and must be received by your personal representative. College
Church staff cannot accept deliveries.
Candles:
- The only candles permitted in the church are the 4 stationary pillar
candles on the altar platform and the 2 tapers and central candle
of a Unity Candle set. (We have a brass stand for the Unity Candle. You
need to bring your own candle set.)
- You may not have candles down the aisle, or carry
lighted candles.
Back to the top
Do you have a smaller space for weddings than the main church?
Located on the lower level of the church, the Chapel of Our Lady offers
an intimate setting for smaller weddings. The chapel seats 110
and has it own lobby and exterior entrance. The Chapel is available
for weddings at almost any time, as it is used only for the daily
Masses at 7:15 a.m., Noon and 5:15 p.m., and the Saturday 7:15
a.m. and Noon Mass. The charge for using the Chapel for a wedding
is $350. As with the Main Church weddings, the marriage couple
is responsible for contacting a priest to witness their marriage
in the Chapel of Our Lady. Click here to view pictures of the
Chapel of Our Lady.
Back to the top
Do you have a location where we can have our reception or rehearsal dinner?
The Xavier Grand Ballroom on the lower level of the College
Church offers a uniquely stunning site for your rehearsal
dinner or even better: your wedding reception. Catered
exclusively by Russos’ Gourmet Catering, you can treat
your friends and family to the finest food, beverages
and service that money can buy, at prices that will
astound you. The Xavier Grand Ballroom will comfortably
accommodate 350 guests with a seated dinner. Call Russos
at 314-427-6771 for the specifics of their wedding packages.
Russos' per-person pricing will include the dinner, a 4-hour
open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres for the first half hour, all
white linen overlays and napkins plus skirting on all tables,
centerpieces, china, silver and glassware, the wait staff
and even the wedding cake. A 30x15-foot dance floor and
SLU parking are also at your disposal. You may have a band
or a D.J. for your entertainment. In winter a coatroom is
available with a responsible person staffing the room to
ensure proper care of your guests’ garments. In addition
to the Ballroom, St. Francis Xavier also has a smaller,
more intimate space we call the Parlor of St. Francis
that can hold 30 to 40 guests for showers or rehearsal
dinners. Again, the delicious offerings of Russos’
Gourmet Catering will be the perfect accompaniment
to your celebration. The Ballroom and the Parlor are
scheduled through the College Church.
Back to the top
