1) BAPTIZED ROMAN CATHOLIC
One member of the engaged couple must be a baptized, practicing Roman Catholic, and receive the sacrament of confirmation. (if you have not received the sacrament of confirmation this will need to be discussed with your parish priest) If the Catholic party is not registered in a parish, they will need to formally register. Both persons must be free
to marry in the Catholic Church before a Chapel date can be set. (ANY AND ALL PRIOR MARRIAGES need to be annulled through your parish before a date can be set or placed on hold. A copy of the final Church annulment decree needs to be submitted along with the Registration Form to place a hold on a chapel date/time. If one member of the engaged couple has been married but is widowed, a copy of the deceased spouse’s death certificate will need to be submitted.)
2) REGISTRATION FORM
To start the process please complete the Preliminary Registration Form. You can register by submitting the registration form to: jvilleneuve@sjresort.com
3) PRIEST PERMISSION LETTER
Speak with your pastor and request to be married at the Chapel. Once you have started marriage preparation, have him complete the Priest Permission Letter and return it to us. Once the permission letter is received your Chapel date/time can be confirmed.
The letter can be returned to:
Saints Mary and Joseph
Chapel Attention: Janette
Villeneuve
44045 Five Mile Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
NOTE: If both parties are Catholic, we need permission from only one of the parishes.
4) BAPTISMAL RECORDS
1) The Catholic party(s) will need to obtain a newly issued baptismal record from the parish where the Catholic party was baptized, not a photocopy of your original baptismal certificate. This record should also reflect the date confirmed. To request this form, simply call the parish where you were baptized and request to have a new certificate issued to you due to your upcoming marriage. NOTE: This document is valid for only 6 months, so this request should be made to the parish within 6 months of your
ceremony date.
2) If one member of the couple is baptized of another religion, a photocopy of his/her original baptismal record will need to be submitted.
NOTE: The baptismal records should be submitted to the person completing your marriage preparation program. If you are preparing at your home parish, give the baptismal records to your pastor.
5) SECURING A WEDDING DATE
After receipt of the Preliminary Registration Form and the Priest's Permission Letter, if all is in order, we will be able
to confirm your Chapel date. According to the Provincial Guidelines for Marriage Preparation (1999) adopted by
the Bishops of Michigan, we are not able to guarantee, hold or confirm a chapel date until we have verified you are
free to marry in the Catholic Church.
6) MARRIAGE PREPARATION
All couples are required to complete a marriage preparation program before marriage in the Catholic Church.
Marriage preparation must be completed through their home parish. Please schedule a time to meet with your
pastor to discuss marriage preparation requirements.
7) CHAPEL DATES/TIMES
2025-2026 Fridays & Saturdays: 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 4:00pm, 6:00pm
For a Sunday Ceremony, both parties must be Catholic. Please inquire for specifics and requirements. (The 2:00pm, 4:00pm and 6:00pm Chapel times will be reserved for those couples also hosting their reception at Saint John's Resort)
Availability of ceremony dates can be obtained by calling the Chapel Administration Office at (734)414-1104 or emailing your requested date to jvilleneuve@sjresort.com
Should the AOD’s Chapel lease be terminated for any reason, the AOD will use its best efforts to re-schedule the Catholic wedding at a parish in reasonable proximity to Saint John's Resort.
Wedding rehearsals are scheduled with the couple 3-4 months prior to the wedding date. Rehearsals will take place on the Wednesday, Thursday or possibly early on a Friday (depending on weddings scheduled) before the wedding day. We are not able to schedules Rehearsals before this time as we are still reserving Chapel functions.
8) WEDDING PRESIDERS
Your Catholic Priest or Deacon is welcome to be the presider of your wedding. Please notify our office of his name, address, and phone number at least six (6) months prior to the wedding so that the necessary permission papers can be processed.
If you do not have a presider, we would be happy to arrange this for you*. We begin scheduling four (4) months out from the wedding date so you can arrange to meet him before your wedding day. *Please note the exception of the busy times of Christmas and the Lenten season; during these times we are unable to arrange presiders, and you will
need to arrange your own priest/deacon for your ceremony.
Weddings between two Catholics will normally celebrate a wedding Mass. (If you prefer a Scripture Service, please
notify us.) Weddings between a Catholic and non-Catholic or one who is not baptized will celebrate a Scripture Service (Communion is not offered), normally conducted by a Catholic Deacon.
- A stipend payable to the priest or deacon is an accepted practice
9) GUEST MUSICIANS
It is required that you use our staff of cantors and keyboardists. You may have a family member or friend sing or play a prelude, and/or communion reflection. You will need to provide the guest singers/musicians’ names to our Music Coordinator four (4) months prior to the wedding. Recorded music is not permitted in the chapel.
10) ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, ILLEGAL DRUGS
The use of intoxicating drugs and alcohol prior to a marriage may impair sufficient use of reason to make a clear and free choice and invalidate the marriage. Therefore, imbibing in these substances prior to the marriage ceremony will not be tolerated.
These items are not allowed in the Bridal Dressing Room, during the Rehearsal or prior to the Wedding Ceremony.
11) CHAPEL FEES
For 2025-2026 reservations, the chapel fee is:
$3,500.00 – (paid through your Event Sales Manager) Please note, all charges are subject to sales tax.
The fee includes use of the Chapel for one hour for your rehearsal, two hours on the day of your wedding (one hour for the ceremony, ½ hour before and after the scheduled time of the ceremony), keyboardist, cantor, two wedding assistants for your ceremony and use of our beautiful bridal suite one hour before the ceremony.
Due to multiple-scheduled weddings, this time frame must be adhered to. Receiving lines should be scheduled at your reception.
- The Chapel fee does not include the customary stipend for the presider.
If at any time during the process you change your mind and decide to marry elsewhere, please inform us so we may close your file.
FLORIST / BRIDAL SUITE GUIDELINES
Saints Mary and Joseph (“Chapel”), a holy and sacred place, welcomes you. We ask that all of your workreflects the sacredness of the marriage ceremony and of the Chapel. These simple guidelines are designed to assist you in this endeavor. Please share this information with your vendors.
- All items used to enhance the Chapel and/or your ceremony shall be appropriate within the celebration of the Catholic Liturgy.
- Sanctuary flower arrangements may be placed in the holders provided on either side behind the altar only. The containers are 8 inches in diameter and 3 inches deep. Please do not place floral arrangements on the altar, altar floor or in the aisle.
- Garlands or pew ribbons may be fastened to the pews with rubber bands, ribbon, or non-marring material. Please do not use tape, wire, clips, tacks, staples, or nails.
- The following are NOT allowed in the Chapel: aisle runners, wagons, strollers, banners/signs, drones, animals (with the exception of certified service animals for the sight impaired), tossing of rice/flower petals/ birdseed/bubbles/paper confetti.
- Flowers and/or decorations can be brought into the Chapel 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. Please remove all boxes, wrappings, and containers before departing.
- You have use of the bridal suite one hour prior to the start of your ceremony time. Balcony photos will be scheduled with you prior to the day of the wedding. Photography is not permitted from the bridal suite or balcony during a ceremony.
- Please, no food or beverages in the bridal suite. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the Chapel or bridal suite at any time.
- Saint John's Resort and the Chapel are not responsible for items left in the bridal suite. Please be sure to place all belongings on the cart provided prior to the start of your ceremony. The cart will be taken to the back hallway, next to the Chapel, until the conclusion of your ceremony at which time you are asked to personally pick up your items.
- We are not able to accommodate requests for receiving lines as you depart the Chapel; we suggest that you arrange to greet your guests at your reception.
Thank you in advance for complying with these guidelines. Please call if you have additional questions we can help
you with.
Wedding Ministry Staff at Saints Mary and Joseph Chapel
GUIDELINES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND VIDEOGRAPHERS
Saints Mary and Joseph (“Chapel”), a holy and sacred place, welcomes you. We ask that all of your work reflects the sacredness of the marriage ceremony and the Chapel. These guidelines are designed to assist you in this endeavor. We thank you for your cooperation.
Please share this information with your vendors and call us with any questions.
- Please do not place equipment or take pictures from the:
- Sanctuary
- Eucharistic Chapel
- Bridal Suite
- Musician area
- All equipment is to be placed so as not to obstruct the view of the congregation.
- Photographers must always remain behind the entrance to the second bank of pews at all times. Your position must be stationary and unobtrusive, except during the PROCESSIONAL AND RECESSIONAL (while still remaining behind the 2nd bank of pews).
- The use of light stands are permissible in the Chapel after the ceremony for portrait photography only, please do not set light stands/flash umbrellas in aisle before or during the ceremony. (See reverse side for photographer/videographer areas.)
- You may bring equipment into the Chapel 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. No storage cases or extra equipment are allowed in the aisles. These items may be stored in the last pew at the back of the Chapel.
- All pictures will be within the bounds of decorum as befitting this sacred space. The photographers, videographers and wedding party will remain standing at all times. Sitting or reclining on the floor of the Chapel is not permitted.
- There is a quarter-inch high impedance out-put at the rear of the Chapel for your convenience.
- The Waterfall Garden and the West Gazebo, on either side of the Chapel, may be used for pictures. We ask that you keep the noise level to a minimum as other weddings may be in progress.
- Timing for balcony photos will be arranged with the bride prior to the day of the wedding. Photography is not permitted from the bridal suite or balcony during a ceremony.