Getting Married at Sacred Heart Church
Our parish community welcomes couples wishing to be joined in holy matrimony at Sacred Heart Church. May God Bless you on your journey.
Contact us if you have any questions
Cynthia Ibarra is our Parish Wedding Coordinator call her at (760) 346-6502 or send her an email at cibarra@sacredheartpalmdesert.com.
Couples seeking marriage must abide by the following policies:
- Allow a minimum of six months for marriage preparation
- Complete all required paperwork
- Submit all required documentation
- Submit all required donation fees
Scheduling the Wedding
Weddings are scheduled at 11:00am and 2:00pm on all Saturdays except the third Saturday of each month. Weddings during the week may also be requested. A tentative date can be assigned, however dates are not finalized until the couple meets with the parish Wedding Coordinator. At the first meeting, the couple's
- freedom to marry is confirmed
- the date and time is secured and
- a non-refundable deposit check (half of the donation fee) is required.
- Your first meeting with a parish priest will also be scheduled at that time.
No reservations should be made with hotels or reception venues or invitations printed until you have met with the Parish Wedding Coordinator and receive confirmation of your wedding date and time.
Special Scheduling Note:
When ceremonies are scheduled it is often well before our parish priests have planned retreats, continuing education seminars, or vacations. Therefore, although it is rare, it may become necessary for the priest who prepares you for marriage to ask another priest to preside at your ceremony.
Wedding Coordinator & Sound Technician
The presence of the Parish Wedding Coordinator is mandatory at all wedding celebrations to conduct your wedding rehearsal and assist you and the priest on the day of the event. The Parish Sound Technician is assigned to all weddings to run the sound system when two or more musicians/instruments are involved. There is no additional fee for either of these services.
Donation Fees
It is appropriate to support the work of the parish by giving your financial support. In the Diocese of San Bernardino, the offering made for a wedding is placed in the general operating fund of the parish.
Parishioners (Low Desert Vicariate) $600.00
Non-Parishioners $900.00
Organist (Optional-payable directly)
Cantor/Soloist (Optional-payable directly)
The first step in the marriage process is to complete & return a marriage application. An application for marriage can be requested by phone, in person from the parish office, or downloaded below.
The application must be signed by both the bride and the groom and returned to Cynthia Ibarra, Parish Wedding Coordinator, either by fax at (760) 773-0843 or email cibarra@sacredheartpalmdesert.com, by mail or in person at 43-775 Deep Canyon Road, Palm Desert, CA 92260. Once complete, couples meet with the Coordinator, who then assists them in scheduling an appointment with the parish priest.
Be sure to Download Application Pages 1 & 2.
Couples with a Previous Marriage
When either the bride or groom has been previously married and subsequently divorced, they must complete page two (2) of the marriage application (above) and submit it along with the regular marriage application. The Parish Wedding Coordinator will assist the couple in determining the annulment process for the previously married party.
Previously married parties - Catholic and non-Catholic - must seek church dissolution of their prior marriages before they can enter into a new Catholic union together. Civil divorce is not recognized by the Catholic Church.