How to Plan a Catholic Wedding Ceremony
A Catholic wedding is different to most other weddings. If you are Catholic, your wedding must be according to theRite of Marriageguidelines. This is the book that all Catholic parishes structure their rules and regulations by for a Catholic marriage.
In preparation for the wedding ceremony, couples must contact the parish administration office, after they are engaged. According to a 2005 Catholic Survey of Catholic parishes, most parishes establish a six-month waiting period prior to the wedding date. This fluctuates from four months to twelve months, but the majority of Catholic parishes have a six-month waiting period. During this time, preparations must be started with the parish.
To begin the paperwork process, there are several items that must be considered before applying for a Catholic wedding ceremony. The couple must be free of any impediment to the marriage. A couple must be of a consenting age. They must be free to marry. This means that there is no previous marriage. If there is a previous marriage, the couple must begin the annulment process. This process requires a study by certified individuals to check into the validity of the previous marriage. Another impediment would be an unwillingness on the part either partner to enter into the union. This marriage cannot be a forced one. The other requirement is the acceptance of children into the union.
After these qualifications are met, the couple must takepre-Canamarriage-preparation courses. These courses enable a couple to learn the basic structure of marriage and what is expected in the day-to-day workings of a good marriage. This is a one-on-one course for the couple to share their thoughts with each other and the Parish representative.
Before beginning a pre-Cana course, the couple can select their wedding date. There are some dates that cannot be accepted. These are generally holy days of obligation, Sundays, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Couples are discouraged from planning a ceremony during the season of Lent.
The question arises as to where the Catholic ceremony must be held. It is advisable to hold the ceremony in the Catholic church. If one of the parties is not Catholic and wishes to have it in a non-Catholic church, it is necessary to have an authorized representative of the Catholic Church to witness the wedding.
If the couple wishes a Catholic mass, it is essential that both parties be Catholic. If one is not Catholic, a ceremony, minus the Catholic Mass, is planned.
The couple should select their ownScripturereadings. The list of suggested readings can be found atwww.catholicweddinghelp.com. Some couples prefer a poem instead of these readings, but that is not permitted in a Catholic ceremony.
It is discouraged to use non-religious music at the ceremony.
Some couples wish to write their own wedding vows. This is not permitted in a Catholic wedding ceremony. There are several different choices for vows, offered in the Rite of Marriage manual.
Another common practice is lighting the unity candle. This is a parish by parish decision. Check with the parish administration to see if this practice is allowed in the church. If not, couples choose to light this candle prior to the reception.
Most parishes have a complete guide for couples planning marriage. It is important that the couple check to see what the waiting time is in their particular parish.
