If you want to know how to have a Catholic wedding, familiarize yourself with the Catholic marriage requirements, get what you need with the Parish for the Catholic wedding, and learn how to prepare for Catholic weddings. We will also discuss if Catholics can only marry Catholics.
Are you attending a Catholic wedding yourself? Read what to wear to a Catholic wedding for the proper etiquette.
Everything To Know How To Have A Catholic Wedding
Requirements for a Catholic marriage
Before having a Catholic wedding, you must make sure to accomplish the requirements of getting married within the Catholic Church. Here is a list of what you must have or do to be considered:
- The couple should be Catholic; if only one of them is Catholic, the other needs to be a baptized Christian
- The couple should not be blood-related
- The couple should be of the opposite sex for Catholic weddings
- There should be consent from both parties
- Both the bride and groom should be free to marry and not previously married; if one of them has a deceased spouse, then the person must provide a declaration of nullity from the Church
- The Catholics should have no proven immoral behavior or have a “good standing” in the Church; it doesn’t mean having a complete attendance, but the couple should have no scandals
Contact your Parish for your wedding ceremony
- After checking if you and your partner can have a Catholic wedding, the next step is to discuss your wedding with your Parish
- Contact your Parish and talk about your wedding; you will need to get your permission to be married in the Catholic Church from them
- Discuss with the clergy to know about the requisite fees for the Catholic wedding
Prepare for your wedding in the Catholic Church
- Usually, you’ll take a mandatory marriage preparation course within the Catholic Church before you can have your wedding
- You must also provide various documents to the Catholic Church; they include baptismal certificates, Holy Communion and Confirmation certification, Freedom to Marry affidavit, marriage license, and the certification to prove that you have finished the marriage preparation course
After these requirements for Catholic weddings, you can begin planning your big day. Start with choosing the date for the wedding and accomplish all the elements and vendors you’ll need to have a wedding.
If you want someone to assist you, here is how to choose a wedding planner. It may benefit you to have this vendor as they have contacts with venues for the reception, wedding florist, and more.
Can A Catholic Marry A Non-Catholic?
A Catholic can marry a Non-Catholic, and the Catholic Church allows the marriage. It is called “mixed marriage,” but you’ll need permission from a local bishop even if it’s unnecessary to become Catholic before marrying a Catholic.
If you’re not Catholic and want to marry a Catholic, you can also choose to go through RCIA to become Catholic. If you haven’t been baptized as a Christian, your marriage with a Catholic requires an express dispensation from the bishop; otherwise, it won’t be considered valid.
Can You Kiss In A Catholic Wedding?
The Priest doesn’t usually say “you may kiss the bride” in a Catholic wedding ceremony. Kissing the bride is not part of the Rite of Marriage, so it’s not expected in a Catholic wedding.
Do You Have To Have A Mass For A Catholic Wedding?
Catholics are not required to celebrate Mass during their wedding, but it’s expected. The Church encourages couples to celebrate their marriage within the Mass because it’s a way to show that the couple remembers the connection between the marriage covenant and the New Covenant established in Jesus Christ.
On the other hand, if a Catholic marries a non-Catholic, it’s advised to have the wedding without Mass. This is because the non-Catholic partner won’t be able to receive the Eucharist.
If you choose to have Mass, you can check the Order of Celebrating Matrimony for options. But if you’re marrying someone who is not baptized, you must follow the order of celebrating marriage between an unbaptized person and a Catholic.
Do You Have To Be Catholic To Have A Catholic Wedding?
You don’t have to be Catholic to get married in a Catholic Church, but it’s crucial that your partner is Catholic or you’re a baptized Christian. Likewise, the bride and groom-to-be don’t need to be Catholic to be married in the Catholic Church, but they should be baptized Christians.
If your partner is not Christian, you must get express permission from the bishop. And if both of you are not Christians, you cannot get married in the Church and receive the sacraments.
How Does A Catholic Wedding Work?
- Introductory Rite
- Liturgy of the Word
- Gospel
- Homily
- Celebration of Matrimony
- Liturgy of the Eucharist.
- Lord’s Prayer
- Communion
- Dismissal
Conclusion
And that’s it! You just learned how to have a Catholic wedding by fulfilling the marriage requirements, talking with your Parish, and accomplishing all the certificates.
We hope you also understand that non-Catholics can get married in the Catholic Church as long as they’re baptized. Otherwise, the Catholic partner must get express permission from the bishop.
Let us know below if you want to know more about specific religious weddings.