Weddings at St John Paul II Parish; celebrated at the churches of Our Lady of Lourdes, Armadale & St Peter’s Catholic Church, Toorak.

‘The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.’

—Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1601’

Celebrate your wedding at our parish

The Sacrament of Marriage

Catholic marriage is a sacrament, a sacred and unbreakable bond placed on your souls. In this sacrament, God unites a man and a woman in a faithful, free, life-giving, and exclusive union. Married love is called to reflect God’s love: generous, enduring, and directed toward the good of the other. In this vocation, each spouse is called to help lead the other closer to God, and to be open to the gift of life.

A man and woman sitting on a green sofa, looking at a laptop screen together in a cozy, modern living room with large windows, plants, and books.

Apply to get Married at our Parish

We’re here to help you prepare for your wedding. Please note, couples must allow at least 6–8 months before your preferred date. The following steps are needed to book a wedding at the parish:

  1. Speak with our parish priest, Fr Dean or your celebrant to confirm availability

  2. Check that you are happy with all the details and requirements on this page, including our music policy, floral guidelines, and all details in our ‘Important Wedding Planning Details’ section.

  3. You have collected all documents in the checklist below.

  4. Complete the ‘Wedding Application Form’ below

    • You have read and are satisfied with all the information regarding how weddings are celebrated at St John Paul II Parish, including our music policy, floral guidelines, and all details outlined in the ‘Important Wedding Planning Details’ section.

      Please ensure you have the following documents ready for your wedding preparation:

    • Birth certificate or current passport

    • Baptism certificate (issued within the last six months)

    • Confirmation certificate (for the Catholic party)

    • Photo ID (driver’s licence or passport)

    • Letters of ‘Permission’ and ‘Freedom to Marry’ (if you are not local to the parish)

A bride and groom sitting during a wedding ceremony inside a church, with the bride holding a bouquet of flowers.

Marriage Preparation

Marriage is a significant step in life and faith. It is a serious decision which merits careful consideration and thought. Couples preparing to marry are required to complete a Marriage Preparation Program, ideally early in the engagement period. These programs help you explore topics essential to married life: communication, faith, values, and shared expectations. Fr Dean (or your celebrant) will guide you in choosing a program. We highly recommend the CatholicCare Pre-Marriage Education Course.

An elderly man with white hair and glasses, dressed in a black suit, standing behind a wooden podium and speaking or performing in a dimly lit room with wood-paneled walls. Some audience members are visible seated in the background.

Our Wedding Music Policy

Both churches are equipped with organs, with St Peter’s featuring one of the finest pipe organs in Melbourne. In keeping with the sacredness of the liturgy and the beauty of our churches, only liturgical music is permitted. As such, secular love songs, portable keyboards, acoustic guitars and pre-recorded tracks cannot be used. Music must be approved and coordinated through our Director of Music, Conrad Helfrich. Conrad’s fee is to be discussed directly with him.

Interior of a church altar with large flower arrangements of pink and white lilies, roses, and greenery, against a wooden altar and stained glass windows.

Floral Guidelines

Flowers can complement the beauty of the church and mark the significance of your wedding day. They help create an awe inspiring and welcoming space. All floral wedding arrangements are organised through our parish florist, Leigh Clark (Florian Florist), who will ensure they are appropriate to both the space and the Church’s calendar.

  • Flowers at St Peter's Toorak - Weddings at St Peter's Catholic Church Toorak
  • Wedding at Our Lady of Lourdes Armadale Prahran
  • Flowers at St Peter's Toorak - Weddings at St Peter's Catholic Church Toorak
  • Indoor scene of a church with a large arrangement of pink, white, and purple flowers, green foliage, stained glass windows, and wooden religious decor.
  • Flowers at St Peter's Toorak - Weddings at St Peter's Catholic Church Toorak
  • A church with stone walls, arched doors, a bell tower with a modern red and glass structure on top, and a cross at the peak of the tower.
  • Flowers at St Peter's Toorak - Weddings at St Peter's Catholic Church Toorak
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Armadale. Part of the parish of St John Paul II, serving the communities of Armadale and Toorak, Melbourne, VIC
  • A wedding ceremony inside a church with stained glass windows, a bride and groom holding hands, surrounded by bridesmaids and groomsmen, officiant, and floral decorations.
  • A bride and groom sitting and smiling inside a church during their wedding ceremony, with the bride wearing a white wedding dress and veil, and the groom in a black tuxedo.
  • Large floral arrangements with white lilies, hydrangeas, roses, and green foliage in vases and on a pedestal in an indoor setting with pink walls and stained glass window.
  • A bride and groom standing outdoors, facing each other and smiling, with greenery in the background.
  • Bride and groom dressed in wedding attire walking outside near a stone building and green trees.
  • Getting married at St Peter's Toorak, the bride an groom standing on outdoor stairs, with bridesmaids and groomsmen flanking them, and a young girl in a white dress at the bottom left.
  • Bride and groom holding hands and walking through a garden with lush green trees and white flowers
  • A bride and groom walking hand in hand through a lush green garden, surrounded by trees and flowering bushes.
  • A bride in a white wedding gown and a man in a black tuxedo standing outside a historic stone building with arched windows and a gate.

Our Parish Churches

You can choose to celebrate your wedding at either of our beautiful and historical churches:

Our Lady of Lourdes 631 High St, East Prahran
St Peter’s Toorak 581 Toorak Rd, Toorak

St Peter's Catholic Church, Toorak. Part of the parish of St John Paul II, serving the communities of Armadale and Toorak, Melbourne, VIC
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Armadale. Part of the parish of St John Paul II, serving the communities of Armadale and Toorak, Melbourne, VIC

Important Wedding Planning Details

Liturgy & Ceremony

  • You may choose a:

    • Wedding Ceremony (without Mass)

    • Nuptial Mass (with Holy Communion)

    Your celebrant will guide you through the liturgy options, scripture readings, and how to prepare a booklet (Order of Service). If Fr Dean is your celebrant, he’ll provide a booklet template during your first meeting.

  • Most couples choose to be married by their parish priest, but another Catholic priest or deacon may officiate, provided they are a registered celebrant and have permission from the Archdiocese. Please let us know your chosen celebrant when submitting your application.

  • Catholic weddings are celebrated according to the rites of the Church. At least one person must be a baptised Catholic (preferably confirmed), and both parties must be free to marry.

    If either party is divorced or unsure about eligibility to marry in the Church, please speak with a priest before making any plans. Each situation is unique and will be considered with care and understanding.

    • Your celebrant will assist you with preparing the booklet

    • A draft must be submitted for parish approval before printing

    • All hymns must include copyright acknowledgements

    • A final file must be supplied to the parish for archiving purposes

Practical & Logistics

  • St Peter's Toorak and Our Lady of Lourdes Armadale are available for weddings on most days during the year.  Please note that Marriages are not celebrated on Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday or during the Christmas period (20 to 25 December).

    Weddings at both Churches are available to commence on the following days/times:

    Saturday: 11:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm 

    Sunday:  1:30pm, 3:30pm

    Weekday weddings: Can be accommodated, please be in contact to discuss availability.

    Your booking includes use of the church and grounds for 1.5 hours.

  • Church Booking Fee

    The church booking fee is $1,750, which includes the use of the church, its grounds, and preparation support.

    Breakdown:

    • $750 non-refundable deposit to secure your date

    • $1,000 balance due one month before the wedding

    Other Costs

    • The cost of music and flowers is not included and should be arranged directly with the Director of Music and the parish florist.

    • A separate offering of $500 is payable to Fr Dean if he is your celebrant

    Please ensure your wedding begins on time. A delay of more than 15 minutes may affect musicians, guests, or following ceremonies.

    Please note: No flower petals, confetti, rice, bubbles, or other items may be thrown or released inside or outside the church.

    • One professional photographer and one videographer permitted

    • No flash, flood lighting, or artificial lighting

    • The Sanctuary is off-limits during the ceremony

    • No general parking at St Peter’s – bridal party vehicles only

    • Limited parking at Our Lady of Lourdes – bridal party vehicles only

    • Please check local signage and discuss group transport with the parish if needed

Apply using our online form

Apply to get Married at our Parish

We’re here to help you prepare for your wedding. Please note, couples must allow at least 6–8 months before your preferred date. The following steps are needed to book a wedding at the parish:

  1. Speak with our parish priest, Fr Dean or your celebrant to confirm availability

  2. Check that you are happy with all the details and requirements on this page, including our music policy, floral guidelines, and all details in our ‘Important Wedding Planning Details’ section.

  3. You have collected all documents in the checklist below.

  4. Complete the ‘Wedding Application Form’ below

    • You have read and are satisfied with all the information regarding how weddings are celebrated at St John Paul II Parish, including our music policy, floral guidelines, and all details outlined in the ‘Important Wedding Planning Details’ section.

      Please ensure you have the following documents ready for your wedding preparation:

    • Birth certificate or current passport

    • Baptism certificate (issued within the last six months)

    • Confirmation certificate (for the Catholic party)

    • Photo ID (driver’s licence or passport)

    • Letters of ‘Permission’ and ‘Freedom to Marry’ (if you are not local to the parish)