St. Lawrence Catholic Church

Ceremony

Purcell Friendship Hall

Reception

Our Wedding

Date/Time/Location

🗓️ Our Traditional Latin Mass ceremony will take place on Saturday, January 10, 2026. 🕜 The ceremony will begin promptly at 1:30 PM, so please plan to arrive by 1:00 PM to allow time for parking and seating. The Mass will last approximately 75–90 minutes, concluding around 2:45–3:00 PM. 📍 St. Lawrence Catholic Church 110 State St, Harrisburg, PA 17101

Parking

There are two parking options available near the church: 1. Paid Street Parking is available on State Street and nearby streets. Parking costs $4 per hour and can be paid at on-street kiosks or through the ParkMobile app. 2. Free Garage Parking is available at the South Street Parking Garage (220 South St, Harrisburg, PA 17101), located roughly 900 feet from the church (about a 4 minute walk). There is no ticket to pull upon entering - simply drive into the garage. Parking must be validated before exiting the garage or you will be charged. Validation is free, and does not require creating an account. To validate your parking, please use <a href="https://bit.ly/SouthStreetGarage" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this link</a> and enter your license plate number. Once validated, the exit arm will automatically lift as you leave - no further action needed! A map with walking directions from the South Street Parking Garage to the church is provided below.

What to Expect at a Traditional Latin Mass Wedding

Our wedding ceremony will take place at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, a traditional Catholic parish in Harrisburg that celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass. At a Traditional Latin Mass wedding, the marriage vows are exchanged at the beginning of the Mass, shortly after the couple processes into the church. Once the vows are complete, the Mass continues in the same way a Traditional Latin Mass is ordinarily celebrated. Our ceremony will be a High Mass, meaning many of the prayers of the Mass are sung or chanted in Latin rather than spoken. In this traditional form of worship, certain elements common in modern Masses may be absent or more subdued, and for much of the Mass the priest faces the altar rather than the congregation. At various points during the Mass, members of the congregation may stand, sit, or kneel; guests are welcome to remain seated throughout if they prefer. Many of our guests may not be Catholic or familiar with the Traditional Latin Mass, and we want you to know that no participation is expected. You are more than welcome to simply observe and be present with us! Missal booklets will be available in the church that explain what is happening during the Mass and provide Latin text with English translations for those who wish to follow along, though using one is completely optional. During Communion, Catholics who are properly prepared to receive the Eucharist may do so. All other guests are kindly asked to please remain seated during that time. We chose this ceremony style for its beauty, tradition, and deep meaning to us, and we are so grateful to share it with you!

Ceremony Details

Location

📍 Purcell Friendship Hall 109 McCorkle Rd, Hershey, PA 17033 🚗 Purcell Friendship Hall is roughly 16 miles (about a 25 minute drive) from the church. Guests will be responsible for their own transportation between the ceremony and reception. Please feel free to head to Purcell as soon as the ceremony concludes! 🅿️ There is ample free on-site parking available at Purcell. You are welcome to park in any of the parking lots on the grounds.

Cocktail Hour

Cocktail hour will begin around 3:30-3:45, featuring a jazz trio and an open bar. Cocktail hour will be held upstairs and is accessible by both stairs and elevator. Signage and friendly faces will guide you up!

Dinner

A European, family-style dinner will be served, featuring a generous spread of appetizers, salads, and chef-prepared entrées, with seafood, meat, and vegetarian options. There will not be assigned seats, but tables will be assigned. Please sit at your designated table, which will be listed on a sign near the entrance. Due to our caterer’s requirements, older children will be seated at a kids’ table featuring kid-friendly meal options. Parents will be seated adjacent and are welcome to sit with their children during dinner, or children may join their parents after they finish eating.

Reception Details

Dress Code: Cocktail / Formal Attire

Cocktail or midi-length dresses and suits are encouraged. Long dresses are welcome, but not required.

Ceremony Attire

As our ceremony will be a Traditional Latin Mass Catholic wedding, we kindly ask guests to please dress modestly and respectfully for the chuch.

What to Wear

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

Please use <a href="https://www.thehotelhershey.com/qr/I1VERDR0V8/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this link</a> to book under our room block by&nbsp;December 17th.

The Hotel Hershey

Courtyard by Marriott Hershey Chocolate Avenue

Travel

No trip to Hershey is complete without a stop here! Explore the sweetest place on earth, where you can find the&nbsp;world’s largest Hershey bar&nbsp;and sip on one of the best milkshakes you’ll ever have. 🍫

Hershey's Chocolate World

Home to Sebastian’s favorite beer, Perpetual IPA, and our shared obsession — the rosemary brown butter popcorn!

Tröegs Independent Brewing

Learn how Milton Hershey built the town that chocolate made! Don’t miss the&nbsp;Chocolate Tasting Experience&nbsp;— a one-of-a-kind way to sip and compare rich chocolates from across the globe.

The Hershey Story Museum

🍳 The Hershey PantryA charming breakfast spot loved by locals and visitors alike. Don’t miss their famous&nbsp;Home Fries&nbsp;— crispy, perfectly seasoned, and Ashlie and Sebastian–approved!

The Hershey Pantry

Stop by this charming market for local goodies, fresh produce, and Ashlie’s favorite cheese — 🧀 the Canadian aged sharp cheddar. A great place to grab a bite or explore a taste of Hershey!

Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square

☕Enjoy a warm coffee and a little piece of our story — this is where Ashlie and Sebastian first crossed paths while working at the front desk and concierge at The Hershey Lodge. Though life took them separate ways, fate (and an invisible string) brought them back together during their undergraduate years at Penn State in State College, PA.

Cocoa Beanery At Hershey Lodge

Things to Do

Registry

As our ceremony will be a Traditional Latin Mass Catholic wedding, we kindly ask guests to dress modestly and respectfully for the church.

Sebastian & Ashlie