Please dress in your best formal attire. Since the ceremony will take place in the Catholic Church, one should dress in a way that reflects our reverence for God and the dignity of the Liturgy. We encourage men to wear suits if they are able and to avoid wearing shorts or jeans. We encourage women to wear midi or full-length dresses or an elegant pants suit, and wear a modest shoulder cover for the ceremony, if needed.

No, the ceremony does not fulfill your Sunday obligation. St. Elias offers the Liturgy of the Eucharist every Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Bryant and Queenie will attend the 10:30 a.m. Liturgy on Sunday, May 25th, and all are welcome to join!

The reception will take place in the Main Church Hall at St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church immediately following the ceremony.

Yes, dinner will be served at the reception. Please notify Queenie or Bryant of any food allergies.

The many Traditions within the Catholic Church that arose as the Apostles traveled to the great cities of the time have historically been grouped into two halves: the West and the East. Most Catholics belong to the Western half, and in particular the Latin (Roman) Church. The Remaining 2% of Catholics belong to one of many Eastern Churches. These Eastern Churches are derived from one of five major Traditions (or Rites): 1) Byzantine (Constantinopolitan); 2) West Syriac/Antiochene; 3) East Syriac/Assyrian; 4) Alexandrian; and 5) Armenian. The Maronite Church is derived from the West Syriac or Antiochene Rite and in part from the works of St. James. The liturgical language of the Roman Catholic Church is Latin, while Syriac is the official language of the Maronite Catholic Church.

The Mystery of Crowning (known as the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony in the Latin Church) is the covenantal joining of two persons to a life of free and mutual self-giving, and as such is known as one of two Mysteries of Vocation. The other being the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The Mystery gets its name from the crowns that are placed on the bride and groom which signifies, among many things, their coronation as king and queen over their domestic church and, as St. John Chrysostom believed, their victory over selfishness.