Getting married in the Catholic Church is a beautiful experience, but usually provokes many questions. We’ve done our best to answer the most popular questions from newly-engaged couples. With the marriage vows we aren’t just committing ourselves to our spouse. We are also saying in a very specific way that we will follow Christ. Marriage is inherently connected to Christianity, and it’s not just about us.
What do we do if we are getting married in one diocese but live in another?
Contact your pastor and the pastor of the parish where you intend to marry. You and your fiancé will prepare for marriage where you live rather than where you will be married. If you are getting married outside of the United States, allow at least two months after finishing preparation and before the wedding to allow for the proper transfer of your marriage file.
Can we get married in the Church if we are already civilly married?
Canon law ordinarily requires baptized Roman Catholics to marry before a priest or deacon. Unless they received a “dispensation from canonical form,” Catholics who exchange vows in the presence of ministers from other religious traditions or civil officials are not considered validly married in the eyes of the Catholic Church. Regardless of what happened in the past, the Catholic Church invites you to bring new meaning to your lives by embracing the vocation of marriage and dedicating your family’s mission to sharing God’s love. In most cases, preparation for convalidation is very similar to the marriage preparation process. Contact your parish to begin this process. Learn more about convalidation.
What if one of us has been previously married?
If either party has been married before, whether in the Catholic Church or by any other civil or religious authority, you will need to obtain an annulment before beginning marriage preparation. This is for both Catholic and non-Catholic parties. For more information, please contact your parish and ask to speak to their marriage preparation coordinator or nullity minister.
What if one of us isn’t Catholic?
Only one party is required to be a baptized Catholic in order to marry in the Catholic Church. The Catholic party must agree to do everything in his or her power to practice the faith and baptize and raise any children in the faith, and the non-Catholic party must assent to this as well.
How do I reschedule a class if I can’t make it?
If you are unable to make a class, you can reschedule with no penalty up to two weeks before the class. If you need to reschedule or cancel a class within two weeks of the class date, you will be charged a $25 reschedule fee. Please call the Marriage Office at (602) 354-2122 to reschedule.
What if we work weekends and can’t attend the classes?
We encourage you to make the classes a priority in the nine months of your marriage prep. If you cannot rearrange your schedule to attend the two Saturdays in the nine month time period, check with your parish to see if they offer evening classes to satisfy the Married Life Skills course. You can also call the Marriage Office to find an alternative option.
When should we begin our marriage preparation?
The Diocese of Phoenix currently requires a minimum of nine months of preparation for the Sacrament of Matrimony. We encourage you to consider beginning the process a year or more before your anticipated wedding date.
How do I schedule my wedding?
The first step is to set up a meeting with your local parish. While the preparation for the Diocese of Phoenix is universal, the requirements for a wedding at a specific parish is unique to each parish.
Outdoor Weddings and Catholicism
I want to get married outside, but my priest says that I can’t. My fiancé and I love the outdoors, and it is really meaningful to us, why can’t this be a part of our wedding day?
A: You are asking a question that more and more couples find confusing. It is a good question and I am glad that you are seeking an answer. Of course, this can be a very sensitive issue. Many brides (and grooms!) have dreamt of their wedding day for years. To then have the Church say “no” to any of your plans can feel like it is coming from out of nowhere. It can feel like the Church imposing some arbitrary rule on your big day. I’ve known individuals who have actually used this issue as a reason to leave the Church, and so I hope that this response will help anyone who has been confused and hurt by this teaching. Read More
Fr. Mike Schmitz explains why a Christian marriage has to be in a church.
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