Thank you for considering the Chapel of the Incarnate Word for your wedding.The Chapel of the Incarnate Word and its sisters and staff welcome you and are happy to share our beautiful space. The information below will help you decide if the Chapel is the right place for you to be married.

 

Please read through all the below information, and if you have questions, you may contact the Chapel wedding coordinator at iwchapelweddings@gmail.com

 

After having read our policies and procedures below, please COMPLETE THIS FORM. to inquire about having your wedding at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word. The wedding coordinator will respond within one week with next steps if the date you requested is available. 

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Policies

A full list of policies can be found here. 

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Our policies and guidelines are in keeping with the policies of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Weddings must be scheduled at least six months in advance.

 

Couples typically are married in their home parish, but we understand that the Chapel may be a place of significance to some couples. To be married in the Chapel of the Incarnate Word, either the bride or the groom must have a direct connection and relationship with the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, one being significant and long-term. During the application process, you will be asked to describe how you have built a relationship and community with The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. Weddings for persons who have no direct connection to the Congregation or its ministries will not be scheduled.  They are encouraged to contact their home parish.

 

Only Catholic weddings take place in the Chapel of the Incarnate Word. At least one of the couple must be a practicing Catholic and registered in a Catholic parish. Both parties must be free to marry in the Catholic Church.

 

The number of weddings per month is limited to the availability of the Chapel, and the Wedding Coordinator. Weddings take place on Saturday, normally at either 2:00 pm or 4:00 pm. Before you select a date, please check if the date is available by accessing the Chapel calendar.

 

Since the chapel is not a parish with a presiding priest, it is up to the couple to request a priest to perform the ceremony. The Chapel Office requires a Letter of Commitment from the Presiding Priest (and the priest who is preparing the couple, if different) within six months of the wedding date.  

 

Couples typically marry in their home parish church. All couples wishing to be married in the Chapel of the Incarnate Word are to speak to their parish priest to determine their freedom to marry. We request a completed form from the couple’s home parish(es) granting permission to marry outside the parish.

 

The couple is responsible for contracting with an organist and may only contract from the list of approved organists.

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NB. While COVID policies have been suspended in the Chapel of the Incarnate Word, we still have not implemented receiving Holy Communion in both forms. Weddings must adhere to this policy, with the exception of the bride and groom. If they so choose, a separate cup will be available for the bride and groom to receive Holy Communion under both species.

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Fee

 

A fee of $2,000, payable to the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, will confirm the reservation of your wedding date and time. This fee covers administrative and operation expenditures; access to the Chapel is limited to 1.5 hours for the rehearsal the day before, and 2.5 hours on the day of your wedding.  

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Payment of $2,000 is broken up into 3 parts:

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• The first is a $500.00 non-refundable deposit, given when the Chapel is booked.

• The second payment of $ 750.00 is due within 3 months of booking when the contract is signed.  

• The last payment of $1,050.00 is due at the 30 Day Appointment.  This amount covers the last payment of $750.00, plus the security deposit of $300.00.  

• The security deposit of $300.00 will be refunded after the wedding, provided there are no breaches of contract, overages of time, or damages to the property.

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Process

 

Be assured that the Chapel staff and wedding coordinator will assist you as you in the process of preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage and the celebration of the Wedding Liturgy. If you have any questions, please email iwchapelweddings@gmail.com

All forms (besides those sent through docusign) can be found here.

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Inquiry:

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Couples should COMPLETE THIS FORM to inquire about having their ceremony at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word. The wedding coordinator will respond within one week. 

 

If a couple is eligible, and the date is available for a wedding, there will be a temporary hold placed on the chapel calendar. This date will be held for two weeks. If the couple does not respond with the appropriate forms within two weeks of the wedding coordinator’s email, the date will be released. 

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The wedding coordinator will respond via email to the couple directing you to officially request to be married in the Chapel of the Incarnate Word. This includes completing the General Information Form (Form 1). Baptism and Confirmation dates are required on your general information form (as applicable); the Chapel Office does not need a copy of the certificates. Additionally, you must write a letter officially requesting your desire to be married in the Chapel and explaining your direct connection to the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. Please refer to the sample letter (Form 2) to guide you in your request. 

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​The Wedding Coordinator and Chapel Coordinator will review both these forms, and notify you within two weeks of the decision. 

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Review Chapel and Policies:

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The wedding coordinator will reach out to schedule a first meeting which can be either virtual or in-person. If the meeting takes place in person, a tour of the Chapel will be given, along with all of the areas that will be available on the day of the wedding (dressing areas, etc.).

 

Note: If the first meeting takes place virtually, a couple can email the wedding coordinator to request a tour of the Chapel at a later time. 

 

The wedding coordinator will review and explain all policies, processes, contracts and forms during the first meeting. This is the best time to ask questions. 

 

Due within two weeks of the first meeting is the $500 non-refundable deposit. 

 

If you are confident you wish to proceed with holding the wedding at the chapel, you may bring it to the first appointment. If you wish to wait until after the meeting to further review the policies (or if the meeting is virtual), you can drop off the payment or mail your deposit along with Payment 1 Form within two weeks of the first meeting. 

 

Once the deposit is received, the temporary hold will be replaced with a permanent hold on the calendar.

 

Note: If another couple inquires about having a wedding on a date that is temporarily held, both couples will be notified of the inquiry and hold on the calendar. The second couple may start the process of officially requesting and touring the chapel while a temporary hold is still in place, but the date will not be given to the second couple unless the first couple does not submit their materials on time. If the first couple does not send in their forms or payment within the due date(s), the temporary hold will be released. Whichever couple officially requests, is approved, has the first meeting, and sends in the deposit first will have the permanent hold on the calendar and the other couple must request a different available date.

 

Forms Due:

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After the first meeting, the wedding coordinator will send the contract and waiver through docusign. These two forms, along with the second payment, are due three months after the send date of the forms. The due date will be noted on the forms. 

 

The second payment of $750 may be dropped off in-person or mailed along with Payment 2 Form.

 

The Chapel Office requires a Letter of Commitment from the presiding priest (and, if applicable, the preparing priest) within six months of the wedding date. It is best to give the instructions (Form 5) to the priest(s) as soon as possible. This letter is due 6 months before the ceremony.

 

Note: It is an Archdiocesan requirement for the priest to have at least six months of preparation time with the couple for the Sacrament of Marriage.  

 

All couples wishing to be married in the Chapel of the Incarnate Word are to speak to their parish priest to determine their freedom to marry. We request a completed form (Form 4) from the couple’s home parish(es) granting permission for them to marry outside the parish. This form is due 6 months before the ceremony. 

 

Final Appointment: 

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The final appointment with the Chapel Wedding Coordinator is scheduled 30 days before the wedding. This meeting can be virtual or in-person, but it is preferred that it is in person; this is a very important meeting.  All the details of the ceremony will be discussed, including the order of the procession, details of the service, and names of all participants. ​Couples should come prepared with the following:

 

• Form 3 which is the information for the Chapel’s official register

• Form 10 which is the day-of information for all vendors, procession and liturgy 

• Payment #3 which includes the security deposit. If the meeting must be virtual, the payment is due within two weeks of the meeting. 

 

The wedding coordinator will send a form during the third meeting allowing the security deposit to be refunded via direct deposit within 1 week of the wedding.  

 

Rehearsal: 

 

The rehearsal takes place the Friday before the wedding ceremony. The rehearsal will be led by the chapel wedding coordinator. Though not required, a wedding planner and/or priest is welcome to attend. The doors will be opened at 5:00pm, with the rehearsal starting at 5:30pm and ending at 6:30pm. 

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The Chapel capacity is limited to 500; keep in mind that parking is often limited as well.