Contrary to popular belief, “Basilica Monday” — which is this Monday — is not the only day of the year people can make a wedding reservation in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Lady Chapel or Log Chapel.
That doesn’t stop prospective brides and grooms from flooding Amy Huber, administrative assistant for the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, with calls starting at 8 a.m. Monday trying to reserve their dream date.
“I always find it funny when the grooms have not yet asked, and they ask me to keep it on the low-down,” she said. “I always have a couple of those a year — I’ve already had some calls this year asking to make sure it wasn’t announced.”
A few of those overeager brides and grooms have had to call to cancel their reservations, Huber said.
Overall, Huber said she will probably take 60 or 70 reservations Monday, most for spots in the summer of 2018.
“Just to give you an idea, we have 134 spots available for weddings for 2018,” she said. “Eight of those dates go to Sacred Heart Parish parishioners. All of the afternoon summer spots will go that day, and that’s why we have such an influx of calls.”
Huber said the calendar opens in March so she can figure out which weekends are “blocked out” because of home football games and other events on campus, such as Welcome Weekend, Junior Parents Weekend and Holy Orders for priests.
“The football schedule just came out [Thursday], so I’m crazy busy fixing my database, because what I thought was the football schedule has changed a little bit,” she said.
For weekends that aren’t “blocked out,” wedding times are Saturdays at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., with summer Fridays slots at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
To be married at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, either the bride or the groom must be a member of Sacred Heart Parish, current Notre Dame student, an alum or — starting last year — a current faculty or staff member who has been employed by the University for a minimum of five years.
“All of my Saturdays in May, June and July — afternoon slots — will go,” Huber said. “I usually will have leftover Friday mornings. I still have 9 a.m.’s left in 2017 that are available. It’s not like the calendar totally books every year. We always have open slots; it’s just not as desired dates as what people want. We still have some December dates for this year.”
Huber also takes the reservations for other events in the Basilica, including baptisms.
“I’ve been here long enough that I’m now scheduling the baptisms for couples I helped make reservations [for],” she said. “So it’s nice to see they’re still together and starting a family.”
For those hoping to get their dream date, Huber said to be persistent.
“Be patient and keep trying,” she said. “I just called OIT [on Friday] and had my voicemail shut off. When someone is calling me, they’ll hear a busy signal. Just be patient and keep hitting redial. The calls should go quickly.”
