Divine Wedding Center

The Catholic Wedding

To be married in the Catholic Church is to complete one the seven sacraments and enter upon a permanent oath to your spouse in the presence of God.  Because of its seriousness, there are rules and regulations governing the Catholic marriage process.  Here is the basic overview:

Every parish has varying rules about certain things so it’s best to contact the parish you wish to be married in.  The parish usually requires the couple to be registered there and have their Baptismal certificate.  If one of the parties is a non-Catholic, they must still show proof of baptism (in another Christian faith) and get permission from the local bishop (done by the pastor).

Once the couple has requested marriage, they usually have classes or interviews with the priest as a preparation process.  After the priest has decided there is no reason to not marry, a wedding date is chosen.  The couple can now choose the Scripture readings and hymns for the Nuptial mass.  A parish aid offers a walk through and explanation of the marriage ceremony at the parish the night before the ceremony.

The Nuptial mass is like any other Sunday mass except for the addition of the vows at the beginning of the ceremony.  There is a tradition (not mandatory) of the bride presenting a bouquet to the Blessed Virgin Mary while the “Ave Maria” is sung or played.  This usually occurs towards the end of the mass.

There are other factors to keep in mind when planning a wedding that is going to take place in a church.  Traditional Catholic churches do not approve of revealing wedding gowns e.g. those that are too short, show too much cleavage, are strapless, etc.  A monetary donation is expected so as to help cover the cost of operating the church.  Some churches may have rules against dropping flower petals, throwing rice and other traditions that may have caused legal issues in the past.

For those marrying someone whose family is not Catholic there a few additional things to consider.  A wedding program would be helpful for those who do not know what to expect during the nuptial mass and can double as a nice keepsake of the celebration.  It might also prove helpful to explain what they can expect so that they are not as stressed about possibly skipping a beat.

This all may seem overwhelming but remember that the priests, parish workers and volunteers have the necessary experience to help you in the decisions you face when preparing a Catholic wedding.

Photo courtesy of David Pezzat

Posted in: Wedding Planning

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