Are there any rules in the Catholic Church that forbid picture taking at a wedding ceremony in the church?

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I have recently heard that a church that a friend is getting married in will not permit any pictures to be taken during the ceremony, not even of the attendants or mothers of the bride and groom. Is this a common practice? Also, can a Catholic ceremony be preformed outside the church, i.e. a reception hall?

-- Barbara Carroll (math2134@comcast.net), July 25, 2002

Answers

no/yes

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), July 25, 2002.

Barbara,

I have been at a few Catholic weddings where the Priest asked that no pictures be taken during the ceremony EXCEPT by the official wedding photographer. I had no problem with this because I believe people walking up to the altar for pictures is very distracting. One does not appreciate the sacrament if it is distracted.

It is generally not the norm though. Most priests will allow the attendees to take pictures.

If this couple would like to be married somewhere other than a Catholic Church, I believe they need the bishop's permission. Perhaps the pastor of their church can arrange this.

-- Glenn (glenn@excite.com), July 25, 2002.


One of the reasons I love my parish priest is his attitude regarding the small stuff ordered by the Bishop. As he often says " This is my parish!! "

He has been here now over 18 years and once when the Bishop did confront him on a small issue he told the Bishop " Let's not sweat the small stuff - getting them here is often difficult. " BTW this priest has been offered parishes throughout North America.

-- Jean Bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), July 26, 2002.


Jean,

May I ask what "small stuff" means? For all we know he could have been confronted about teaching on contraception (which in most "Catholics" minds is small stuff). I wouldn't be too proud of a priest who is not obediant to his Bishop. Just MHO.

In Christ.

-- Jake Huether (jake.huether@lamrc.com), July 26, 2002.


I myself can't stand it when photographers are all over the place with video cameras and flash bulbs. It is a real distraction. However, I think most professional photographers that have experience with weddings would honor a request to be discreet; if they have the right equipment, they could even do a lot without flash. The priest is being a bit unreasonable.

-- Christina (introibo2000@yahoo.com), July 26, 2002.


I attended a wedding at my church recently and the service was so beautiful. The music was so touching and the singer had the voice of an angel. When she sang the Ave Maria, there was not a dry eye in the church....her singing gave you the chills..

Everything was going so well. The bride looked beautiful, absolutely beautiful. The church was packed.

Just as Father was about to consecrate the body and blood of Jesus, we saw lots of people running up to the altar, but could not figure out why.

The altar boy passed out...in doing so, he knocked over the flowers, and the poor bride turned around and looked at her mother using hand gestures to ask, "What is going on?"

The flowers falling and the altar boy passing out is on video....I guess a good photographer can edit that out...Can you imagine something like that happening?? It will be talked about for years!!

I did not see anyone else taking pictures, just the photographers. I don't see too many people doing that any more..

MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), July 27, 2002.


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