Roman Catholic brides - Lent season question

Is it true that the church won''t allow a Holy Saturday wedding (the day before Easter)? We haven''t decided yet if we''ll be married in my parish or my fiancee''s but we were considering late March-early April as a date until someone told us about the Holy Saturday rule.

Yes, it is true

The church forbids weddings during Holy Week, since it is one of the most somber seasons of the church calendar. Think about it. We are supposed to be in mourning (over Christ's death). Would you want to be married during that time? Here's tip - usually the week just after is nice b/c most churches are still decorated from the Easter celebration. This might help decrease your floral budget for the church. Good luck!

Yes, it is true

It makes sense - I am a bit of a lapsed Catholic and should have remembered the solemnity of Holy Week. I also heard that some people do not have a Mass (do not receive communion), and instead have a different kind of cermony in the church. This was suggested to me as a way around the Holy Week issue, but it`s not something I want to skirt, I just didn`t know. I`d really like a Mass. Thanks for the advice about after Easter, and for confirming what I had heard.

My church doesn`t allow marriage during Lent, at all.

so you should check first.

I'm getting married on a Friday night during lent.

However, the week around Easter is probably off limits.

I got married during Lent

While it wasn`t Holy Week it was during Lent. We weren`t allowed to have flowers in the church which was fine, we donated that money to American Cancer Society in our fathers names. If you prefer a March wedding and don`t mind no flowers, go for it. I have heard like Kaycee said, that some churches still don`t allow it at all during the Lent season though. Good luck.

Wedding During Lent

A good friend of mine got married in March of 1999 during Lent. She was allowed a Saturday ceremony (which is also what we had - not a Mass) but was not allowed any flowers. I think the only week probably off limits is Holy Week...can't hurt to ask!

Off limit days to marry in the Church

Hi there-We were running into similar issues during our planning. Here's what we found out from the Archdiocese (Rockville Centre)-according to canonical law the 'forbidden periods' are from Advent to the Epiphany and then from Ash Wednesday to Low Sunday (Sunday after Easter). A wedding mass during a holy day of obligation is at the discretion of the pastor of your Parish. Call the parish your considering as soon as you can to find available dates!!! Hope this helps. Good luck!!!