Q&A for How to Be Married in a Catholic Church

Absolutely! These smaller celebrations are often called microweddings. You can invite less than 10 or up to 30 of your closest friends and family. Smaller celebrations let you focus on the moments that matter to you the most. And after the ceremony, you can even keep things simpler with an intimate dinner at a restaurant, yours or someone else's home, or even outdoors. A smaller guest list also lets you add personal touches, like handwritten notes for each guest, heartfelt vows, or a cozy, family-style meal. The beauty of a micro-wedding is how warm and connected it feels. It’s less about putting on a big production and more about celebrating your love with the people who mean the most to you.

Yes, but you may need to get a dispensation.

Yes. My fiance is not Catholic at all, but we are still getting married in a couple weeks in a Catholic church with a full mass.

Yes, that shouldn't be a problem. Just make sure you notify the priest first.

You can be married in the Catholic church as long as at least one of the spouses is Catholic.

Yes, as long as the non-Catholic person agrees to raise the kids Catholic.

Talk to your girlfriend's pastor. You will probably be able to get married, but you may have to complete pre-marital counseling through the church.

Yes, you can depending on the Priest which is celebrating your marriage. You could also choose to convert to Catholicism.

Yes, as long as the previous marriage(s) is/are annulled. Marriage is limited to one man and one woman.

You can, but both of you have to confess fornication. After you are absolved and complete your penances, you can get married.

Lent is about fasting and abstinence, but even though it commemorates the trials and tribulations of Jesus Christ, it also celebrates his resurrection. It is a period of solemnity and thought, but also of joy. Since it lasts forty days, it can be difficult to plan a wedding outside this window. As you don't plan the wedding day on any of the important days (Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, etc.) to avoid the obvious association, there's no reason why you shouldn't get married during Lent.

The priest will ask if you have been married before and if so, when and how, in case the marriage requires a Catholic annullment. You also get a questionnaire for the both of you about your values. Your answers should match. You also have to agree to Pre-Cana classes. Good luck.

You and your intended are required to apply for a marriage license from the government in order for your marriage to be legal. The priest doesn't need to "notify" the state, because you already will have applied. The priest may need to sign your certificate to let the state know that the ceremony was properly presided over.

If he has never been married by the Catholic church, the divorce won't matter; he can get married by the Catholic church. If he was previously married by the Catholic church then legally divorced, he is still married by Catholic church rules. Your fiancé would need to get an annulment by the pope.

That's a broad question. You get married by finding someone you want to spend your life with and asking that person to marry you. Then you apply for a marriage license and get a judge or a religious leader to perform a marriage ceremony.

Get your two previous marriages annulled. Then, once you've done that, you can get married in a Catholic church.

It is not likely. Each is a sacred sacrament in the Church, and doing both at once would be cheapening both, in its eyes.

The two will need to complete the sacraments before they are married. They are part of the initiation sacraments and Catholics are not in full communion with the church without them. A priest may be consulted to further demystify.

As long as you've fulfilled the requirements for marriage by your fiance's church and it's where you want to be married, the officiator makes no difference. All Roman Catholic churches operate under the same canon as appointed and governed by the Holy See.

Yes, although it is likely that either the bride or groom will have to be a member of that parish.

You would need to get an annulment first. Your local priest should be able to help get the process started.

No, your marriage was done by someone from the government (a registrar), so you should be good for the legal aspect of marriage.

No, the marriage must take place either in a parish church or chapel in the jurisdiction the priest resides in or the dispensation may be granted by the bishop for a different location so long as it is under a roof.

Ye,s you can. Although your local priest may recommend you sit for class towards it and get confirmed prior to it or right after marriage.

Yes. Catholic marriage certificates are legal. Since the religion is legal, their marriages are legal as well. However, depending on where you live, you may also need a civil office certificate as well.

Yes, a couple has a right to marry as many times as they seek permission to and at as many temples and churches as they have applied and have been okayed to.

It depends upon the church. There might be some meetings with the church fathers and some marriage counseling days. You can ask your church directly and they'll confirm the timeline.

Counseling is often voluntary. It addresses many things related to marriage that you might not anticipate or have a different perspective about. It would help if you take it. If not, it's totally up to you.

Yes, most often this is not a problem. You can contact your church or any church where you'd like to get married and arrange the ceremony to follow the civil one. Getting married after a civil marriage is not a problem as such, but being a member of a church might be required.

The church might have its own rules on this. Usually, if one of the person from the couple is a member of the church, it might be okay. However, you can ask the church and see what they have to say. Merely stating the your names could be a better start than mentioning that one is non religious.