Wedding Photographers & Videographers at St. Raphael Catholic Church, Springfield

A wedding at St. Raphael Catholic Church on East High Street in Springfield begins with one of the most striking church fronts in the city. Two tall sandstone towers rise over three entrances, a grand setting for a picture of the whole wedding party on the way out. Inside, pointed-arch windows two stories tall line the sides of the church, so daylight reaches the pews, and your photographer and videographer can work with that light during the processional and the vows.

The wedding ceremony is the focus here, and the long nave of a Latin-cross church gives you a real walk down the aisle, which looks lovely on wedding video. The tallest, widest windows sit above the front doors and in the projections near the sanctuary, so plan with your photographer for where the light falls at the hour of your wedding day. A large stone church can carry sound, so ask your videographer to listen during a visit and plan microphones for the vows.

St. Raphael is now part of the St. Rose Family of Parishes, together with St. Joseph and St. Charles. The parish asks couples to make arrangements before setting a date, and the St. Rose Family's marriage page lists the priests to contact. Start there before you book a reception hall, since your ceremony time will shape the rest of the day and your wedding photos.

• Contact the parish before you set a date.
• Plan time for marriage preparation; ask the parish what it requires.
• Ask about photography and video guidelines in the church.

A little about St. Raphael Catholic Church

Founded in 1849, the parish worships in a Gothic Revival church of Berea sandstone that was consecrated in 1898. Its main tower reaches 184 feet, and the church has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976.