Here is everything you need to know about planning your wedding at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, one of the most beautiful Catholic churches in Denver and Colorado for weddings.
As Catholic photographers, we take seriously our duty to be reverent to capture the solemness and beauty of the nuptial wedding Mass. At the Cathedral Basilica, photographers are generally allowed down the center aisle and along the aisles on the left and right sides of the church. We have photographed at the Cathedral Basilica for years, largely with weddings, ordinations and other special Masses, so getting access to the choir loft is usually not a problem. We do not enter the sanctuary at any point during the Mass or ceremony.
We photograph easily in the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver without flash photography because the walls of the church are white, which makes for bright and easy scenes. Still, the church is large, with seating for some 1,500 people, and that requires longer lenses to reach. We generally like to shoot on fixed focal-length lenses (sometimes called prime lenses), because the images are sharper than zoom lenses. At the Cathedral, we rely heavily on our 135mm f/1.8 and our 70-200 mm f/2.8 lenses to capture moments throughout the nuptial wedding Mass. We also use mirrorless cameras so that those in attendance don’t hear shutter clicks throughout the Mass. We will not use flash during the ceremony.
During family photos in front of the altar after the Mass, we will sometimes use an off-camera flash with a large umbrella because it allows us to properly expose the altar and tabernacle in the background while ensuring that the faces of our subjects are sufficiently lit. Sometimes, the natural light in the church is enough to avoid flash.
For couples who do not want to see each other before the ceremony, the steps just outside of the church basement — where the bride and bridal party get ready — is an ideal place to arrange a first touch prayer. We’ll work to arrange the groom with his back to the door, and then bring the bride out for them to have a prayer. The space is against the Cathedral and in the shade, which allows us to get softer light, especially during the summer months.
After taking family and wedding party photos inside the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, couples usually want to venture outside for photos together or with their wedding party. While many will want to head closer to their reception venue, there are options along the way or near the Cathedral. Here are some of our favorites.
Civic Center Park is a few blocks down from the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, walkable or drivable depending on your preferences. It contains a Greek Amphitheater, finished in 1919, and the The Voorhies Memorial on the north end of the park, also completed in 1919, as well as the McNichols building and Carnegie Library, which were designed in Greek Revival-style architecture in 1909. During the spring and summer, gardens between all of these memorials offer another element we can use in photos, and the whole plaza is surrounded by the Colorado State Capitol building at the east side of the park and the City and County Building to the west side.
City Park in the heart of Denver is about a 10-minute drive East from the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. It’s ideal during the summer months because it features large, bushy mature trees that offer lots of shade during the mid-day after the Cathedral’s 1:30 p.m. or 12 p.m. nuptial Mass times. It’s easy to do couples poses and wedding party pictures all at once.
The park offers a picturesque view of the skyline of the city against mountain backdrops, though this can sometimes be difficult to navigate with bright sun and crowds.
The Cathedral books weddings only on Saturdays during two times: 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and as with nearly all Catholic churches, weddings don’t take place during Lent or Advent. Prime dates in the Saturdays during the summer and fall book quickly, so reach out first to Abel Cobo at the Cathedral via email to begin the process.
In general, couples must complete the marriage preparation requirements for the diocese in which they live. So, if you live in Phoenix and come to Denver to get married, couples should follow the requirements of the Diocese of Phoenix. For couples who live in the Archdiocese of Denver, a minimum of eight months is required, which includes a FOCCUS inventory and review, an approved theological course or retreat and an approved natural family planning course.
Costs: The Cathedral costs $2,000 to book and requires a $500 non-refundable down payment that goes toward the total fee. The couple is also required to submit a $750 security deposit that is eventually returned so long as Cathedral rules and norms are observed during the wedding.
