Planning a Roman Catholic Wedding

Planning a Roman Catholic wedding

If you are planning a Roman Catholic wedding ceremony, there are many things to consider.  The ceremony is taken very seriously.  It is called the Sacrament of Matrimony.  It is one of the seven Sacraments that Catholic receive throughout their lives beginning with Baptism and ending with the Last Rites.   The Sacrament of Reconciliation, commonly called confession, is required before receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony. 

There are several requirements imposed upon the bride and groom when planning a Roman Catholic wedding.  Both must be Catholic, baptized, confirmed, and obtain a letter of free state from the bride’s parish and the groom’s parish.  A priest will interview the couple in what is known as a pre-matrimonial investigation to ensure that they are entering into marriage under their own free will.

Pre-Cana conferences are required of the couple.  The couple will participate in group discussions with other couples to discuss the sanctity of marriage.  These conferences may be assisted by long-term married couples.  There may be variations among the dioceses.

The couple may also be required to attend a weekend retreat for engaged couples.  Priests and married couples lead the soon-to-be-wed through discussions meant to help them uncover their true feelings about marriage, each other, sex, family, and the role of the church in marriage.

If you are planning a Roman Catholic wedding ceremony, you should select a minimum of three readings from the Bible.  Because a Roman Catholic wedding is held in a public place, a church, anyone may attend without invitation.  Roman Catholic weddings are traditionally held in the bride’s church.  They are very rarely held outside of a church building (e.g. a park).

Although a couple should hold their wedding in the bride’s church, the rites of the mass should defer to those of the groom in cases where the couple is of mixed rites.  These are details that need to be discussed with the Catholic Church where the ceremony is to be held.

A Roman Catholic wedding ceremony is very much like a regular mass with an exchange of vows.  The ceremony will include the exchange of vows, the exchange of rings, prayers, music, and the nuptial blessing.  When a mass includes an exchange of vows, it is called a Nuptial Mass.

The custom of announcing your upcoming marriage is not required when you are planning a Roman Catholic wedding ceremony.  However, if you wish to remain traditional, you can have the marriage announced for three consecutive weeks in the church bulletin.

When you are planning a Roman Catholic wedding ceremony, you have some flexibility in selecting Scripture readings, hymns, and prayers.  All decisions will need to be finalized with the priest.  There will not be a great opportunity for creativity when you are planning a Roman Catholic wedding ceremony because the event is so deeply bound by tradition.