Catholic Wedding Process

Had signed up a few months ago thinking this was an absolutely wonderful site to share & gather opinions. Unfortunately haven't had the chance to try it myself as the wedding planning had to be put on hold until now.

Had always dreamt of having a short & sweet outdoor ceremony at the reception site, however after talking with the folks that won't be possible as legally Catholics need to get married at the church for the marriage to be recognized...sigh. Fiance isn't catholic but is willing to take the pre-cana classes to appease my family. I had a few questions as we start off our wedding planning hoping I can get some help on:

1) Are there any chance I can still have my dream outdoor ceremony with a priest & still be recognized as a legal marriage?

2) What options do you have for the ceremony & what does it entail; full mass or a shorter version?

3) How long are the pre-cana classes? Does it need to be with your home parish? I've moved to different locations the past few years & don't have a home parish except for my parents church which may be far from any possible RH that we're interested in.

4) Any recommendation on where I can sign up for pre-cana class that will be interesting, not so stale, boring & easy to follow for the fiance who has never been exposed to the catholic traditions?

you can ethier have the ceremony or full mass, the church will let you know your pre cana options....I still haven't heard back from my church after leaving 4 messages and one visit.....first step, step up a meeting with the priest or Msgr...also look up your diocese website for additional pre cana info

1) of course it will be legal - not sure if it's technically looked upon as legal in the catholic church, but you'll be married legally in the country. Definitely check with a priest on this one.

2) i'm only doing a ceremony - but i can do the full mass if we choose to (and we're getting married on a sunday)

3) pre-cana can be a weekend thing - we're doing a friday evening and a full day saturday thing. there are plenty of options to choose from. pre-cana is done through the dioceses - it doesn't need to be done in the diocese you are marrying in - you get a certificate and its good for any catholic parish. many parishes will marry non-parishoners (we're getting married in FH's childhood church, but it's currently not his parish and definitely not mine - mine was booked for our date)

4) pre-cana will be explained to you by your priest - they offer inter-faith pre-cana counseling. like i said already - there are lots of options out there.

---

Posted by HDW


1) Are there any chance I can still have my dream outdoor ceremony with a priest & still be recognized as a legal marriage?

The only way a priest/deacon will marry a Catholic outside a church is if it is to a non-christian. It also must be under a structure! I lucked out that the chateau briand has that big thing out in the back- A gazebo is a no go in the catholic church

2) What options do you have for the ceremony & what does it entail; full mass or a shorter version?
Either

3) How long are the pre-cana classes? Does it need to be with your home parish? I've moved to different locations the past few years & don't have a home parish except for my parents church which may be far from any possible RH that we're interested in.

Some churches will marry non parish catholics. I think it depends on how busy they are There are weekend precana's and weekly ones.

4) Any recommendation on where I can sign up for pre-cana class that will be interesting, not so stale, boring & easy to follow for the fiance who has never been exposed to the catholic traditions?


I dont know if my parish does wedding for not parish members... but I started tonigth with my fiance who is jewish. It really isnt boring its more just talking and discussing!

---

Fm with any questions

Thanks everybody for the comments!

Harts2976, you had bought up an interesting point I didn't know about where a 'priest/deacon can marry a Catholic outside a church is if it is to a non-christian. It also must be under a structure!'. Is this discretionary based on the priest / deacon you talk to b/c I've heard varying comments regarding this? Would be so excited if it was the case What exactly would constitute a 'structure' if gazebo is a big no in the Catholic Church?

1.) At my church the priests won't leave the church to do ceremonies else where. So we are getting married in the church.

2.) We are getting married my Catholic Church, and we are having a ceremony not a full mass. With the ceremony you still have 2 readings and a gospel, but no communion.

Sorry I haven't done precana yet.