FAQs
Question
Where should I park?
Answer
There is ample free parking at Mary Our Queen Catholic Church. Complimentary parking for the cocktail hour and reception will be in the Battery Delta Deck at Truist Park, from where you will have quick access to our venues inside the Braves' stadium. There will be signage directing you to the Delta Deck the day-of. However, please also put this address into your GPS to get to the Delta Deck: 655 Battery Avenue SE. If you choose to stay in one of our hotel blocks at the Omni Hotel or ALoft Hotel at The Battery, we recommend you walk to the cocktail hour and reception from the hotel's parking deck. Further information on our hotel blocks may be found on the "Travel & Lodging" page.
Question
Is there a bag policy?
Answer
Like any good sports stadium, Truist Park has a bag policy. Truist Park allows bags that are 16" x 16" maximum. They do not have to be clear or see-through. Medical bags and diaper bags of any size are allowed.
Question
May I bring my kids?
Answer
Yes, children are welcome at all events of the wedding weekend!
Question
May I take photos on the baseball field at the reception?
Answer
During the reception you will have access to the lower seating bowl directly behind home plate, from which you can take photos. We will not have access to the field or dugouts. Please note there will be a high school exhibition baseball game being played on the field during the cocktail hour. The game should be finished around the time the reception begins, from which point you will be able to take photos of the field without anyone on it.
Question
Will your wedding be livestreamed?
Answer
Yes, our nuptial Mass will be livestreamed for our friends and family who are unable to join us in person. Check the home page of our wedding website the week of the wedding for the link.
Question
Are the Braves going to win the World Series this season?
Answer
They've done it before, and they can do it again! Let's go Braves!
Question
What can I expect at a Catholic Mass?
Answer
You can expect to be welcomed. The Church welcomes all. John and Elizabeth recommend this beautiful video for an introduction to what takes place in a Catholic Mass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55hPqxWAt9A The Catholic sacrament of marriage normally takes place within the context of Mass, because the Eucharist both reflects and strengthens the bonds of love between the bride and groom, and between the couple, the Church, and Christ. Thus, it is fitting to celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony in conjunction with Christ's sacrifice in the Eucharist on the altar.
Question
Can someone who is not Catholic receive Communion at a Catholic wedding Mass?
Answer
Only Catholics should receive the Eucharist (communion). A video that explains why can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jxwGIXfoOo For those not receiving Holy Communion: At the time of communion, you may approach the altar with your hands crossed over your chest; the priest will then bless you. Alternatively, you may remain in your pew, if desired.
Question
If I am Catholic, may I receive Communion?
Answer
A person may receive (eat) the Eucharist (communion) if all three of the following conditions are met: 1) You are a practicing Catholic who has received your first Sacrament of Communion. 2) You are in a state of grace. (This means you do not have any mortal sins on your soul. A mortal sin refers to any sin that is committed with full consent and full knowledge and that pertains to grave matter. Grave matter is any action that breaks one of the Ten Commandments or is one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Of note, missing Mass on a Sunday or other Holy Day of Obligation constitutes a mortal sin. Most importantly, all mortal and venial sins are erased through the Sacrament of Confession, in which God's mercy is presented to us and our souls are washed clean! Amazing!) 3) You have observed a Eucharistic fast. This entails abstaining from all food and non-water drinks for at least 60 minutes before reception of the Eucharist. (Because our wedding Mass will begin at 1:00pm, in order to observe the Eucharistic fast you must abstain from food and drink beginning at 12:30pm.)
Question
What is the Eucharist?
Answer
The Eucharist (communion host) is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. Wow! We recommend reading the Gospel of John 6:53-59 for a fuller understanding of the Eucharist. This reading can be found here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+6%3A53-59&version=NIV And here's an amazing video of a Eucharistic miracle that took place in 2022 and is under investigation: https://youtu.be/747s-WgS7a0?si=WVDxxDs-STFx1NY8 Finally, here is an artistic depiction of what happens during the consecration of the Eucharist in Mass: https://youtu.be/txqFQpqjK18?si=GgmKkuztyVB_jq2K
Question
Do Catholics worship the Virgin Mary?
Answer
(Excerpted from "Aleteia," an online Catholic magazine:) No. Catholics believe that adoration and worship are due to God alone. When Catholics pray to a specific saint, such as the Virgin Mary, they do so asking the saint to intercede for them on their behalf before the throne of God in heaven. The prayer is not meant to be a type of “sacrifice” directed to the saint, but a simple request made between two creatures. Also, what’s fascinating is that even though God can do all things without the help of mortal beings, He chose the Virgin Mary to be an instrument of His divine grace. He chose her to be the “Mother of God,” bearing the Son of God in her womb. While upon the cross, Jesus gave His own mother to us all when He said, “Behold your mother” (John 19:27). Catholics love the Virgin Mary not as a “goddess” in a strange pantheon of gods, but as a spiritual “mother” who can lead us to her son, Jesus Christ. To read more, please visit: https://aleteia.org/2019/03/26/do-catholics-worship-the-virgin-mary/