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

A wedding at St. Patrick Church brings you to East 4th Street near the Erie bayfront, where the parish calls itself the "Spirit of the Bayfront." Step inside and the first thing you notice is the open space: the church is known for its column-free design, so nothing stands between your guests and the altar, and your photographer and wedding videographer have clear lines down the aisle from almost anywhere in the pews.

The walls hold the church's two famous features, massive hand-painted windows and life-size, hand-carved wooden Stations of the Cross, both lovely in the background of your wedding photos. The parish's wedding booklet says professional photographers and videographers may take pictures during the wedding ceremony and set up in the choir loft, which gives video a high view of the processional, though no one stands in the sanctuary itself. If your videographer uses wireless microphones, they are asked to check with the parish first because of the church sound system.

On the wedding day the bride can get ready in the Bride's Dressing Room in the southwest tower, which opens two hours before the ceremony (it isn't air-conditioned, so summer brides may prefer to dress elsewhere). Each couple has about 90 minutes from the start of the ceremony to finish pictures and leave, so plan formal portraits with that in mind. The church hosts the ceremony only; your reception will be at another venue. Music is planned with the parish wedding team, and guest singers or players are welcome during the prelude if the music director approves.

• Call the parish office at least six months, and preferably twelve, before your date, then complete the online inquiry form.
• Ask whether weddings are still limited to registered, active parishioners, as the parish booklet states.
• Ask for the current photo and video guidelines and walk the church with your photographer.

A little about St. Patrick Church

St. Patrick dates to 1837 and is the oldest Catholic parish in Erie. The present church, its third, was begun in 1897, held its first Mass on Christmas Day 1906 and was restored in 2012.