Catholic Weddings

In the Catholic Church, marriage is a

sacrament a man and a woman vow
before their family, friends and, most
importantly, God, that they will love and
be faithful to one another for the rest
of their lives.

A Catholic wedding is first and foremost a

religious ritual
GENERAL GUIDELINES
Wedding Mass?
Two Catholics will normally have a
Nuptial Mass
A Catholic marrying a non-Catholic
Christian will normally not have a Mass.
but may if they wish to
A Catholic marrying a non-Christian may
not celebrate a nuptial Mass there is a
specific rite for such a wedding that
does not include the Mass
Locations?
Catholics must celebrate their wedding
in a church or chapel
Traditionally, the wedding takes place in
the brides parish
Most parishes do require either the
bride or groom (or their families) to be
members of the parish where the
wedding is taking place
 Catholics marrying a non-Catholic
Christian may get married in the non-
Catholic church with their bishops
permission
Catholics marrying a non-Christian may
have a non-religious wedding in a neutral
location
Dispensation of Form permission to get
married in a non-Catholic church with
non-Catholic clergy presiding.

Necessary to receive this before the

wedding if you wish your marriage to be
considered valid in the Catholic Church.
When Can a Wedding Take Place?
You cannot get married on Christmas,
Epiphany, Holy Thursday, Good Friday,
Holy Saturday, Easter, Pentecost, All
Saints Day, or the Immaculate Conception
Weddings during Advent and Lent are
discouraged b/c they are penitential
seasons
Weddings taking place during Advent and
Lent may face some restrictions on
decorations allowed, music used and
prayers chosen b/c of the penitential
aspect of the season
 Weddings taking place on important holy
days (solemnities) may be required to
use the readings for the day
Most churches will not schedule
weddings on Saturday evening or Sunday
if so, you must use the Scripture
readings of the day instead of readings
for a wedding
What is Posting the Banns?
Announcements made from the pulpit or in
the bulletin that a couple is getting
married
Originated in the Middle Ages to give
people an opportunity to speak up if there
was a valid reason why a couple could not
marry
Catholic wedding ceremony does not ask if
anyone knows a reason why the couple
could not be married (Protestant
ceremonies do)
PREPARING FOR THE
WEDDING
Couples are required to first approach
the priest 3 12 months before they
wish to schedule the wedding

Archdiocese of Cincinnati - 6 months

This is true for most religions not just

Catholicism
At the first meeting:

Determine if the couple is able to

contract a valid marriage (age, not
previously married, not related within
prohibited degrees, etc.)
Go over parish regulations
Set the date for the wedding
Set dates for other meetings (3 to 6
usually)
Documentation Required:

Baptismal certificate
Proof of confirmation
For converts, copy of Profession of
Faith
If previously married, proof that you
have obtained an annulment
Other requirements:

Take the FOCCUS inventory

determines how well the couple knows
one another and areas that may cause
problems in their marriage
Participate in a Marriage Preparation
program such as Pre-Cana or Engaged
Encounter
THE WEDDING CEREMONY
The wedding of two Catholics should
normally take place within the Mass
because receiving Holy Communion
together strengthens the couples love
and lifts up all present into communion
with Christ and one another.
Rite of Catholic Marriage, #6
The Entrance Procession
Instrumental music
Anyone in the Wedding
Party may walk down the
aisle
Two commonly used
formats
Opening hymn is sung
once everyone is in the
front of the church
 Order of Procession:
Traditional Catholic

Servers
Priest
Groom (and his parents?)
Bridesmaids with Groomsmen
Bride (with her father or both parents)
* * *
Congregation stands for entire procession
 Order of Procession:
Traditional American

Priest, Servers, Groom enter church from

Sacristy and wait at front of altar rail

Bridesmaids
( perhaps escorted by Groomsmen)
Flower Girl/Ring Bearer
Bride, escorted by father
 Scripture Readings
Three readings:
1. Old Testament
2. Epistle
3. Gospel
There are readings
that have been chosen
specifically for
weddings
Any reading in the
Lectionary may be
chosen if its
appropriate for a
wedding
 First two readings are always read by a
lector
Gospel is always read by a deacon (if one
is present) or the priest
Responsorial Psalm (between the First
and Second Reading) is usually sung
May never substitute or add a non-
Scriptural reading into the Mass
Readings are followed by the homily a
reflection on the readings given by the
deacon or priest
 Exchange of Vows

The most important part of the wedding

This is the Sacrament
Vow Forms

There are three

possibilities for vows
used in Catholic
Weddings in the
United States:
Traditional Catholic
Traditional American
Write your own
Traditional Catholic

Both and bride and the groom will repeat this

vow:

I (name) take you (name) to be my

(husband/wife.) I promise to be true to
you in good times and in bad, in sickness
and in health. I will love you and honor
you all the days of my life.
Traditional American

Both and bride and the groom will repeat this

vow:

I (name) take you (name) for my lawful

(husband/wife) , to have and to hold,
from this day forward; for better, for
worse; for richer, for poorer; in
sickness and in health; until death do us
part.
Writing Your Own Vows

May be allowed with permission from

the parish priest
Vows must include a promise to be
faithful to one another forever
Blessing & Exchange of Rings

The priest will bless both rings. Groom slides ring

onto brides hand and says: Take this ring as a
sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. The bride then takes the grooms ring and
does the same.
 You are now married!
The Mass will continue
as it usually does at
this point, with the
Prayer of the
Faithful
Offertory Procession
Preface to the
Eucharistic Prayer
Eucharistic Prayer
Our Father
Sign of Peace
Communion
Nuptial Blessing
One of the oldest
parts of the Catholic
ceremony it
predates church
weddings!
Originally a blessing
of the bride,
although some
modern forms
include the groom
 Communion
Reception of the Body
and Blood of Christ is
the most important
part of every Mass
even a wedding
Bride and groom
receive first
Communion is always
offered to everyone
not just the wedding
party
The Mass concludes with:

A final blessing of the bride and groom

The final blessing of the congregation
A closing song (if you wish)
 Recessional
Bride and groom
first
Bridesmaids with
Groomsmen
Priest and Servers
Family of Bride
Family of Groom
Rest of congregation
 Signing the Wedding License
Takes place after
the Recessional and
before you begin
taking pictures
Best Man and Maid
of Honor are official
witnesses, along with
the priest
Must be signed for
marriage to be legal!
Optional Elements
Unity Candle

Symbolizes two
becoming one
Not an official part
of the Catholic
ceremony
Usually done without
saying anything, with
appropriate music by
cantor or choir
Devotion at Marys Altar

Asking Mary to bless

the marriage
Traditionally bride
only, who left her
bouquet on the altar
Today often bride
and groom together
Still traditional to
leave flowers
A FEW THINGS TO
CONSIDER . . . .
Music
Music for a Catholic
Wedding should be
prayerful,
accessible, beautiful

Music is to enhance
prayer and worship; it
is not for
entertainment
The Rules for Wedding Music:

All music must be liturgical

Music must be appropriate for the part
of the Mass where it is to be used
Mass parts and Service music should be
able to be sung by the congregation

Many parishes require you to work with

their Music Director in planning your
wedding music
Photography

Wedding pictures are an important reminder

of your special day. There are a few
things you need to keep in mind when
photographing the Wedding Ceremony:
Most churches have rules about where the
photographer can stand and when pictures may
be taken
Taking pictures should never detract from the
ceremony or get in the way of peoples
participation in the Mass
 Flash pictures are generally not allowed during
the ceremony
The time allowed for formal pictures after the
ceremony will often be dictated by the parish
Mass schedule

Most professional photographers will be familiar

with the rules for Catholic weddings and know
how to get good pictures while still following the
parish guidelines
Wedding Programs
Include:
Order of Service
Song numbers or
words
Words for responses
Service directions
Names of Wedding
Party
Any appropriate
thank yous from
bride and groom
Programs are especially
important if you have many
non-Catholic guests!
Decorations

Focus always must

remain on the Liturgy
no decorations can
detract from that
Nothing may be placed
on the altar
There may be come
limitations because of
the Liturgical Season
You may not remove
Liturgical decorations
Who Can You Choose?
Who is Responsible for What?

THE WEDDING PARTY

The Celebrant
May be a priest or a deacon
You may have concelebrants, including
clergy from other denominations
Usually the pastor of the parish if you
wish someone else you must have the
pastors permission
Best Man and Maid/Matron of Honor

Primary Responsibility: official

witnesses that the sacrament/wedding
has taken place
At least one must be Catholic
Best Man:
in charge of the rings
responsible to pay priest, servers, etc.
helps groom with anything needed
 Maid of Honor:
assists bride during the wedding (holds
bouquet, helps with train, etc.)
helps bride with anything that is needed

Note: Although it rarely happens, it is

possible for the brides primary
attendant to be male or for the grooms
to be female
Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
May be anyone
You may have as many as you wish
Number of bridesmaids and groomsmen
should be the same
They have no specific function in the
wedding ceremony
Lectors
There are 3 readings:
First, Second and Petitions
You may have 3 readers
They should be formally
trained parish Lectors
It is not appropriate for
the bride or groom to
read, since the message of
the readings is for them
Gift Bearers

Bring the bread and

wine to the altar
May be anyone,
including the bride
and groom
Eucharistic Ministers
Most weddings will need
one person to distribute
bread (in addition to the
celebrant) and two for
the cup
They must be baptized
Catholics and should be
formally trained
Eucharistic Ministers
If not members of the
parish, the priest will
need to meet with them
before the ceremony
Servers
Ask the Celebrant if
he wants them (he
probably does)
The parish can
provide them if
needed
You should pay them
Ushers
May be the groomsmen
Do not have to be male
Seat people as they
come in
Seat mothers of groom
and of bride last
Unroll the white runner
(if its being used)
before Procession