St. Thomas Aquinas Parish oversees the weddings at St. Thomas Aquinas Church and those Catholic weddings scheduled at the UVA Chapel on grounds. We can witness marriages where either the bride or groom is Catholic and both are free to marry. If you are a parishioner or associated with the University of Virginia, a priest or deacon will be assigned to oversee your preparation and witness your marriage. If you are a UVA alumnus or from out of town but want to be married at the UVA Chapel, or you have a relative who is a Catholic priest whom you would like to perform the ceremony, you will need to speak to our parish priest or deacon assigned to you.

It is strongly advised that you not secure rental agreements (e.g.: for a reception hall) until you first have checked your wedding date with St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and spoken with the priest or deacon preparing you.

Here’s a short list of how to proceed:

  1. Please read through our Marriage Prep Guidelines (see Documents below).
  2. Fill out our form (below).
  3. Your information will be passed on to a priest or deacon at St. Thomas Aquinas who will then contact you to set up a meeting and go over the details.
  4. If you do not hear back from us within a week or so, please contact Marianne Jablonski to inquire about the status of your request.
  5. After your initial meeting with the priest, contact Brian Dean Sousa, our parish Organist and Choirmaster, to discuss music for the wedding. Although the ceremony may be some time away, please get in touch with him early on to confirm music choices and availability to play at your wedding.
  6. Any church fees/donations are due by your rehearsal. They may be submitted to St. Thomas Aquinas Church in the Parish Office at any time.

Your preparation will include the following:
  • Prayer
  • Individual meetings with the priest or deacon preparing you
  • FOCCUS premarital inventory (we will set this up for you) and discussion of the results
  • Pre-Cana weekend, such as Engaged Encounter or Unveiled
  • Course in natural family planning (NFP)
  • Liturgical and music planning (with your priest/deacon and the music director)

Our prayers are with you in this time of vocational preparation.