FAQs

Please RSVP by visiting the form available on our website. We ask that you RSVP no later than November 20th to ensure that we can accommodate all of our guests.

The Mass will begin promptly at 1:00PM in the Our Lady Star of the Sea Historic Church. We will begin the procession at 1PM, so please plan to arrive 15-20 minutes early.

Because the church has a vigil Mass at 4PM and limited parking, we needed to celebrate our Mass early enough to avoid interfering with the regular Mass schedule. The cocktail hour will be very informal and you are not required to attend if you find a fun acticity to do and would like to enjoy for a bit longer. The bride and groom will not be in the reception space until after 5:00PM.

There is PLENTY to do in Solomons and nearby areas. Check out our Local Attractions page to learn more about nearby happenings and recommended sites.

Great question! While the Lord delights in knowing that you've taken time out of your weekend to witness the couple enter this sacrament, it does not fulfill your Sunday obligation. Even the bride and groom will still need to attend Mass the following day.

Fortunately, Our Lady Star of the Sea does offer a vigil Mass at 4PM, so if you wanted to attend Mass later in the day to fulfill the obligation before the reception, we invite you to do so. OLSS also offers an 8AM, 11AM, and 4PM Mass on Sunday. If you're staying on the other side of the bridge, there are other nearby churches to attend. Visit CatholicMassTimes.org to find your Mass! We'll see you there!

Don't worry! We will have programs available to make sure you are comfortable and aware of what to do throughout the Mass. We encourage you to follow along an participate!

We would also just like to note that, as Catholics, the Eucharist or Communion, is the source and summit of our Faith. We believe that during the consecration, the priest, through the grace of God, transforms the hosts and wine into the body and blood of Christ. This being the case, only Catholics in good standing are able to receive Communion. Non-Catholics present are encouraged to process up to the altar with their arms crossed on their chest to receive a blessing from the priest.

If you are staying at the Hilton or one of the other hotels we recommend, getting to the church is relatively simple.

From the Solomons Hilton (We have a block of rooms reserved at this hotel) - From the parking lot of the hotel, turn right onto Dowell road. At the 4 way stop, be sure to stay in the left lane and turn left onto HG Trueman Road. Proceed straight through the 4-way stop next to the CVS and Burger King. Be cautious at this intersection as traffic from MD Rt. 2-4 does not stop. Continue on HG Trueman Road for 1.8 miles. Note that HG Trueman Road becomes Solomons Island Rd S once you pass the foot of the Thomas Johnson Bridge. Proceed with caution as this is a heavily patrolled road. On your right hand side, there is a split rail fence. At the end of this fencing, there is a public parking lot which is located right across the street from the Church.

From the Holiday Inn Express & Suites - Lexington Park/California - From the parking lot of the hotel, proceed onto Park Place Way. Turn right from Park Place Way onto Three Notch Rd (MD Rt. 235). Stay in the right most lane and proceed straight through the stop light at California Blvd. At the next intersection (Patuxent Beach Rd & MD Rt. 235, make a right turn onto MD Rt. 4 N. Be cautious in this intersection, note that the right lane on Rt 4 ends after about a half mile, so be sure to get into the left lane. Continue 3.5 miles, making your way across the Thomas Johnson Bridge. At the foot of the bridge, take the right hand exit onto Lore Rd. At the stop sign, make a sharp right onto Solomons Island Rd S and proceed about a half mile. Proceed with caution as this is a heavily patrolled road. On your right hand side, there is a split rail fence. At the end of this fencing, there is a public parking lot which is located right across the street from the Church.

Country Inn & Suites - Lexington Park - From the parking lot of the hotel, turn right onto Worth Ave. At the stop sign, make a right onto FDR Blvd. At the light, make a right onto MD Rt. 4 N. Proceed straight through the intersection of MD 4 and MD 235 (Three Notch Rd). Be cautious in this intersection, note that the right lane on Rt 4 ends after about a half mile, so be sure to get into the left lane. Continue 3.5 miles, making your way across the Thomas Johnson Bridge. At the foot of the bridge, take the right hand exit onto Lore Rd. At the stop sign, make a sharp right onto Solomons Island Rd S and proceed about a half mile. Proceed with caution as this is a heavily patrolled road. On your right hand side, there is a split rail fence. At the end of this fencing, there is a public parking lot which is located right across the street from the Church.

Parking at the church is somewhat limited as the lot is shared with the community. If possible, those staying at the hotel are encouraged to carpool to the church to take up fewer spaces on the campus. Please see the map, which highlights suggested areas to park, particularly for those needing handicap spaces.

Yes, of course! Both the Church and Providence Room are handicap accessible. If you are in a wheelchair or have difficulty with stairs, please enter the Church by using the double doors to the right of the main entryway of the Church. Upon entering the lobby, turn right to take the elevator up to the Church.

Cocktail Hour/Reception -- The Providence Room (Reception Hall) is downstairs from the church. Take the elevator down and make a sharp right once off the elevator. There you will see doors that access the Providence Room.

We are so glad to have you join us on our special day! To maintain the reverence of this sacred space we have opted for an unplugged ceremony; we ask that you do not take any pictures during the Mass. We've invested a substantial amount in a professional photographer and will happily share our photos right here on our website after we get them back. We're also trying to eliminate the awkward photo of someone taking a photo. Please be present and leave it to the photographer.

You are highly encouraged to snap as many photos as you would like during our cocktail hour and reception! Our wedding hashtag is #NerinoNuptials2022. Please be sure to tag our wedding instragram, @nerino_nuptials2022

We try and keep things simple around here! The Mass and Reception are in the same location, with the Mass celebrated in the Historic Church.

Mass will end around 2PM and we have a brief window of time for you to either explore the area or just relax before the cocktail hour at 4PM in the Providence Room. To enter the Providence Room, walk out the front doors and down the stairs. Turn right, take the small set of stairs, and enter through the double doors. We will have a signs to guide you.

The reception will be indoors however we will have activities and firepits set up outside for you to enjoy. S'mores anyone?

Our dress code is semi-formal. We are aiming for elegance and define semi-formal as jacket and tie for men and a dress or pant suit for ladies. Layers are recommended as Decembers in Maryland can be frigid or mild depending on the year. Layers will give you options in the event that you are too hot or cold at any point during the ceremony or reception.

When dressing, please be mindful that our ceremony is being celebrated in a church during the Sacred Mass.

Weather in Maryland can be temperamental. As a life-long Marylander, I've experienced frigid Decembers and those on the milder side. That's why I highly recommend layers so that you can stay comfortable throughout the day. Typical December temperatures fall between 36 and 48.

Of Course! We will have different things for them to do to keep them entertained. Please be sure to indicate that you have children coming on your RSVP so that we will have enough supplies.

We will have hors d'ouvres available during the cocktail hour in addition to a variety of beer and wine options. We will also have a coffee/cocoa bar available and Iced Water and Tea. Dinner will be served buffet style and will include meatless options. If you have a specific dietary need, please be sure to let us know when you RSVP.