Wedding Photographers & Videographers at St. James Church (Erie), Erie

A wedding at St. James Church on Buffalo Road in Erie happens inside a Gothic-style limestone church, and the parish welcomes photographers and videographers as long as they work quietly and without getting in the way. Weddings here are usually at noon or 2 PM on a Saturday, with ordinarily one wedding that day, so the church is yours for the ceremony. That midday timing means daylight for your wedding photos, and the long center aisle gives your videographer a clear view of your processional from the back of the church.

Here you can choose a Nuptial Mass for your wedding ceremony, or a ceremony within the Liturgy of the Word if one of you isn't Catholic. There's a bridal room in the church, and the bride and bridesmaids may also use the ladies' room downstairs at the front entrance to get ready. The parish asks couples to keep the receiving line for the reception, because a line at church eats into the time you have for pictures afterward.

The parish organist and soloist ordinarily play for weddings, and other musicians need the priest's approval. Ask your wedding videographer to plan for the organ, which carries through a stone church. Rehearsals are usually the night before your wedding day and last about 45 minutes. Flowers are welcome, but aisle runners aren't allowed, and rice, confetti and birdseed aren't permitted on church grounds. Alcohol and smoking aren't allowed anywhere on church property.

• Contact the parish at least six months ahead; no date is set until you meet with the priest.
• Plan for Pre-Cana, Engagement Encounter or NOVA.
• Read the parish's wedding page and ask about photo and video guidelines.

A little about St. James Church

St. James Parish began in 1921 with Masses in a pool room in Wesleyville. The present limestone church was dedicated in 1949, and in 2024 St. Mark the Evangelist and Mt. Calvary joined the parish.