Wedding Photographers & Videographers at St. Boniface Church (Erie), Erie

A wedding at St. Boniface Church means a country church on Wattsburg Road, a few miles south of I-90 and Route 8 in Erie's Greene Township, where the parish still calls itself a rural community center. Inside, the high altar, the sanctuary and the statues of Mary and Joseph give your wedding photos a traditional Catholic setting, and the parish has shared video tours of its nave, medallions and hidden images, a good way to preview the space with your photographer and videographer before the day.

Your wedding ceremony takes place in the church. The parish also rents its facilities for events: Coleman Center, an air-conditioned gymnasium with a very large kitchen that holds up to 350 people, and a cafeteria with a full kitchen for groups under 80. Ask the parish office whether either one is available for your wedding reception, since keeping everything on one property makes for an easy day for guests coming out from the city.

Wedding planning starts with the parish priest. St. Boniface asks couples to get in touch as soon after the engagement as possible, and at least six months before the wedding day, and every couple completes the diocese's Pre-Cana marriage preparation. When you meet, ask about the music and where your wedding videographer can set up, so the vows and the organ come through clearly on your film.

• Call the parish office at least six months ahead to talk about your date.
• Plan time for Pre-Cana.
• Ask about photo and video guidelines, and about renting Coleman Center or the cafeteria.

A little about St. Boniface Church

St. Boniface was founded in 1857 by German and Irish farm families from the area known as "The Beechwoods," who had been walking to Erie for Mass. It has served as a country parish ever since.