Sacrament of Marriage
Congratulations on Your Engagement
Together you have chosen to begin a lifelong journey of love. We at Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph Parish rejoice with you, your families, and your friends as you prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage. In the Catholic Church, marriage is a sacred covenant—a visible sign of God’s love expressed through your love and faithfulness to one another. As you prepare for this important moment in your lives, our parish is here to guide and support you.
The information below will help you begin preparing for marriage and planning your wedding through ICSJ.
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Where Will Your Wedding Take Place?
Your answer will determine how you begin the marriage preparation process with ICSJ.
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▶ We Plan to Be Married at ICSJ
Couples planning to celebrate their wedding at ICSJ will complete several steps including submitting our Couple’s Information Form, selecting a wedding date, participating in marriage preparation, planning ceremony music, and coordinating the details of the wedding liturgy.
The first step is completing our Couple’s Information Form. This brief form helps us learn a little about you, your fiancé, and your preferred wedding date so we can begin planning with you.
START HERE→ Couple’s Information Form
After we receive your form, our Sacramental Coordinator will contact you with next steps.
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▶ We Will Be Married in Another Parish or State
If you will be married in another parish or state, ICSJ is happy to assist you in completing the required Catholic marriage preparation.
Marriage preparation through ICSJ includes:
Preparation of required Church paperwork
Completion of the FOCCUS marriage inventory
Meetings with parish staff to review and discuss the results
The fee for this preparation is $300.
To begin the process, please complete our Marriage Preparation Intake Form. This form gathers the information we need to begin preparing the required Church paperwork and schedule your preparation meetings.
START HERE→ Marriage Preparation Intake Form
After reviewing your form, we will contact you with next steps and instructions for submitting the preparation fee.
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If you plan to be married at ICSJ, the following steps will help you prepare for your wedding ceremony and celebration. After we receive your Couple’s Information Form, we will begin working with you through this process.
Secure Your Wedding Date
After your date has been confirmed with our Sacramental Coordinator and pastor, Fr. Larry Lisowski, you may secure the date by submitting the $500 non-refundable deposit. Submit Your Wedding Deposit →Plan Your Wedding Music
Our Director of Music will work with you to plan the musical portions of your ceremony. Approximately four weeks before your wedding, couples will complete our Wedding Music Planner to help select instrumentalists, vocalists, and music for each part of the wedding liturgy
Attend an ICSJ Wedding Fair
ICSJ Wedding Fairs are 60–75 minute group meetings held periodically on Saturdays and serve as the initial introduction to preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage at ICSJ. Please contact the parish office for upcoming dates.
Become Familiar with ICSJ Parish
Couples are encouraged to attend a few Sunday Masses at St. Joseph Church so they can experience the parish community and become familiar with the liturgical setting of their wedding. The 11:00 a.m. Mass is a great opportunity to hear Fr. Larry Lisowski’s homily (please see our weekly bulletin for his schedule), listen to our Director of Music, Liam Marchant, and meet our sacristan, Toni Gamble, along with other members of our parish staff. You may also view the St. Joseph Church floorplan to see how the church is arranged for wedding ceremonies.
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ICSJ Wedding Fee — $3,000
($500 deposit + $2,500 balance)
The wedding fee includes:
Marriage preparation meetings
Preparation of required Church paperwork
Music planning and consultation
A pianist and cantor
An organist for the procession and recession (by request)
Wedding sacristans and/or event coordination at your rehearsal and wedding day
Use of the church and parking lot for your rehearsal and wedding day (certain date restrictions may apply)
▶ Payment details and timing will be reviewed with you once your wedding date has been confirmed.
▶ Fees also help support the ongoing care and maintenance of our historic church.
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Marriage Preparation for Weddings in Another Parish or State
If you will be married in another parish or state but would like to complete your marriage preparation through ICSJ, the preparation fee is $300. This includes preparation of the required Church paperwork and completion of the FOCCUS marriage inventory. To begin marriage preparation through ICSJ, please see the Getting Started section above.
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▶ PARISH & SCHEDULING
Do we need to be registered parishioners at ICSJ Parish to be married here?
No, you do not need to be a registered member of the parish, but we do ask that you are actively involved in a parish. Being married in the Catholic Church is a sacred bond, one that should not be taken lightly. Celebrating your faith weekly helps strengthen and grow your relationship before and during marriage.
What qualifies someone as an active parishioner?
An active parishioner is someone who is known to the parish and to Fr. Lisowski, attends Mass regularly, and participates in the life of the parish through giving or ministry.
How far in advance should we schedule our wedding day?
At least six months in advance of your requested wedding date.
▶ CEREMONY & MUSIC
Can we have our own priest preside at our ceremony?
ICSJ Parish welcomes clergy who are in good standing with the Catholic Church to celebrate a wedding here. There is no additional fee, but we do ask that visiting clergy complete the Visiting Clergy Agreement, which is available from our Sacramental Coordinator.
Can we bring outside musicians?
No. Wedding music at ICSJ is coordinated through our Director of Music, who works with a group of approved musicians to ensure the music is appropriate for the wedding liturgy.
Can we hire additional musicians to play our wedding?
Yes. If you would like to include additional musicians, our Director of Music, Liam Marchant, can help you select from ICSJ’s list of approved musicians. Additional musicians are considered vendors hired by and paid directly by you. Fees should be coordinated directly with the musicians.
▶ FACILITIES & LOGISTICS
Is the church accessible for guests with mobility needs?
Yes. Guests needing assistance may enter through the Parish Center doors located at sidewalk level. From there, a ramp provides access into the church. Accessible stalls are available in both washrooms, along with a single washroom for those who need additional assistance.
Is there a room for the bridal party before the ceremony?
Yes. Both the bride and groom have separate rooms available before the ceremony. A bridal room located just inside the Parish Center entrance comfortably seats 6–8 people and has easy access to the women’s washroom. For the groom and groomsmen, a conference room in the Parish Center offices can accommodate up to 10 people and has access to a nearby single-person washroom. The rooms are separated enough that, with help from the wedding party, the bride and groom can remain apart before the ceremony if they choose
Is the church temperature controlled?
Yes. The church is fully air-conditioned during the summer months and heated during the winter. The Parish Center is also climate-controlled.
How long do we have to use the church?
Each wedding is given a two-hour window for using the church: 30 minutes prior to the ceremony start time for the bridal party and guests to arrive, a 60 minute ceremony, and 30 minutes afterward for pictures. If the ceremony runs longer than 60 minutes, photography time may be shortened.
Can guests leave cars in the parking lot following the ceremony?
Unfortunately, no. Another wedding may follow yours or another event may be scheduled at the school/church which requires the use of all the spaces. Cars left overnight may be towed at the owner’s expense.
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The following resources will help guide you as you prepare for your wedding at ICSJ Parish. They include important information about planning your ceremony, working with vendors, and preparing the liturgy.
More questions? We’re happy to help. Please feel free to contact:
Tina Norton, Sacramental Coordinator
Email • 312-787-7174, ext. 1Liam Marchant, ICSJ Director of Music
Email • 312-787-7174, ext. 5
We’re Committed to Ensuring a Wonderful Wedding Experience for Every Couple
• See What Other Couples Have to Say
We’re proud of the feedback we receive from couples who have been married at ICSJ and invite you to read their reviews here.
Weddings at ICSJ
Congratulations to Kathryn and Michael! Video produced by Wholehearted Wedding Films
Congratulations to Ashley and Kirk!

