How to Marry in the Catholic Church
Marriage in the Catholic Church is one of the seven sacraments of the faith with a very long tradition worldwide. Couples planning to marry in the Church first need to speak with a pastor. For two sacramentally confirmed Catholics in good standing who have not been married previously, the process is easy. If either party is non-practicing, previously married, or desires to become Catholic, a pastor will help. While the Catholic Church encourages both parties to be practicing Catholics, they are free to marry baptized non-Catholic Christians, or non-Catholics. Catholic wedding ceremonies usually take place in Catholic churches, but may take place outside the Church with either a Catholic priest present, or proper dispensation or permission from the bishop.
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Things You'll Need
- State-issued marriage license
- Baptismal records (and in some cases, records of all sacraments) of applicable person(s)
- Two witnesses
- Marriage preparation course
- Catholic priest
Instructions
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Careful Planning
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Call the church you are considering for your ceremony, and make an appointment to speak with the pastor. If you are planning on marrying in a state or location different from your home parish, speak to your parish pastor first. If you are not a registered parishioner at any church, speak to the pastor about joining.
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Call the church where you (and, if applicable, your fiance/fianceé) were baptized and ask how to obtain a copy of your baptismal record for your wedding. If you and or your fiance/fianceé have not been baptized, and would like to practice the Catholic faith, you will need to go through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). This process usually begins every September and concludes at the Easter Vigil Mass the following spring.
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3
Sign up for marriage preparation (Pre-Cana) classes. This is pre-marriage counseling and/or retreat where engaged couples discuss fundamental aspects of being in a Christian marriage. Couples learn more deeply about expectations and realities of married life. For example: defining marriage as a sacrament, communication, children and parenthood, finances, and spiritual life.
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Planning marriage in the Catholic Church also requires the couple to be free to marry as defined by canon law (church law). This means the couple has not been previously married. If one or both parties have been married previously, they will need to speak with their pastor before they plan their wedding.
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Select your witnesses. Catholic weddings require two witnesses, one standing on behalf of each person. Witnesses do not need to be Catholic.
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Discuss with your fiance/fianceé your openness and intentions of having children, as well as your plans to raise them in faith. The Catholic wedding includes the vow to be open to having children, and a promise from the Catholic to do their best to raise their children Catholic.
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Tips & Warnings
Marriage is one of the seven sacraments in the Catholic Church. The sacrament of marriage is taken extremely seriously, and marriage is a vow for life.
Contrary to popular understanding, Catholics are free to marry on Sundays. However very few parishes permit Sunday ceremonies due to the schedule of Masses, and events. Check with your pastor.
The marriage ceremony itself does not incur a fee. Any costs associated with a wedding ceremony are in relation to hiring musicians, decorations, or other inclusions, as regulated by the diocese. Donations given to the parish or to the priest are encouraged, but not mandatory.
