Logistics
Arrival
Wedding mass is at 2:00 PM with reception immediately following. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to avoid interfering with the procession.
Venue
Address: 2811 Poole Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610
The wedding mass will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, east of downtown Raleigh. The reception will take place in St. Monica Hall, just steps away from the western entrance to the church. All entrances to the church and hall are handicap accessible. See parking map below (“overflow parking” is farthest away and either grass or gravel).
Dress Guidelines
We kindly ask guests to wear attire appropriate for a church:
- For Women: Modest, dressy attire appropriate for church (knee-length or longer, shoulders and back covered).
- For Men: A suit and tie is preferred, or dress slacks with a button-down shirt. Closed-toe dress shoes.
Livestream
For those unable to attend, the wedding mass will be live streamed through Youtube. It will be available starting the morning of the wedding. The livestream will be found here: Livestream
Photo Sharing
Alongside the professional photographers, we would love for you to share any special photos you capture throughout the day. We will provide a link at the reception to a shared Google Photos album where you can upload your pictures and view others’ contributions. Uploading requires a Google account, so you may find it helpful to log in or create one beforehand. You’ll find the album here: Photos
Wedding Mass
Meet the Priests
Father Gregory Plow, T.O.R.
Main celebrant
Family friend of the Smiths and Rachel’s spiritual father.
Father Peter Devereux, L.C.
Homilist and Concelebrant
Pastor of Saint Joseph’s and a New Zealander.
Notes for Non-Catholics
Our wedding takes place within a traditional Catholic Mass. If you’re not Catholic, here are a few things that may help you feel more comfortable:
- We are truly grateful you’re joining us. Thank you for making the effort to celebrate with us—your presence means a great deal.
- General etiquette: Please maintain a quiet, respectful atmosphere and silence phones. Food and drink are not allowed in the church.
- What to expect: The Mass includes hymns, prayers (some spoken by the priest, some by everyone), readings from Scripture, and Holy Communion (also called the Eucharist). Our marriage vows occur midway through, when we stand before the priest.
- Sitting, standing, and kneeling: The congregation changes posture at a few points. If you prefer not to stand or kneel, remaining seated is completely fine.
- Holy Communion: Only Catholics who are properly prepared should receive Communion. It is best for non-Catholics to simply remain seated. The priest will give a brief reminder beforehand.
- Catholics believe that the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and receiving Communion signifies both this belief and full communion with the Church.
- While you remain seated, you are warmly invited to join us in prayer as you feel comfortable—thanking God for this joyful day and for the family and friends gathered with us.
Notes for Catholics
- The Gloria will be sung in Latin. The program will list the hymnal page with music and text.
- Because this is a wedding Mass and not a vigil Mass, it does not fulfill the Sunday obligation. If you’re traveling, you can find local Sunday mass times here.
- A friendly reminder of the USCCB guidelines: “In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession.”