A wedding is a very significant moment in the life of any couple and we welcome those who wish to be married in our lovely churches, and we wish them all the very best in life and ask God’s blessing on their life together.
A Catholic church is governed by the regulations of the Church regarding marriage and there are certain prerequisites that must be fulfilled.
- At least one party of the couple must be a Baptised and Confirmed Catholic.
- Both parties must complete a Pre-Nuptial Enquiry form with their current parish priest and demonstrate that they are free to marry in a Catholic church.
- Notification of Marriage must be given to the State and the Church not less than three months before the intended date of the ceremony.
- The ceremony must follow the requirements and guidelines of the Church not simply to ensure a very good ceremony but to ensure the validity of the Marriage Sacrament itself.
- A Pre-Marriage course with Accord should be completed before the wedding day.
Please note: Given the large number of weddings that are celebrated in the parish each year, those wishing to be married in one of our churches, and who are not currently resident in the parish, should bring their own priest to officiate at their wedding.
Application to be Married in our parish
To be married in a church in our parish, each couple must complete an Application Form and return it as soon as possible – no booking is taken without receiving a completed form. Forms are available from the Parish Office.
Useful documents for those considering a Catholic Church wedding:
Together for Life in Marriage – Texts, readings and prayers for the ceremony.
Wedding Guidelines and Practicalities
Accord – Catholic Marriage Advisory Council
Marriage in a Catholic Church
The Wedding Day
It is important to remember that two things will happen on the day of a wedding: the first is that the couple will formally get married, which is the most important thing that takes place that day. This takes place in the church building, in the House of God, which the Church takes very seriously because it is a lifelong commitment, and so certain things must be done properly for validity. It is also taking place in a sacred place wherein the couple will ask God’s blessing on their union and future life together and that place and blessing is deserving of respect which also reflects the importance and seriousness of the commitment being made. It is key that this part of the day be prepared very carefully and in plenty of time and to remember that there are instructions and regulations around what can and cannot take place in the church.
The second thing to happen on the day will be the celebration of the wedding in the hotel. This will be celebrated with family and friends in any way the couple wish to mark the beginning of a new stage of life together and to celebrate the lifelong commitment made in the church earlier on. Any music or poems that the couple could not use in the church liturgy can be used here and can add greatly to this celebration.
Paperwork
There is certain paperwork to be completed for both bride and groom and the parish priest where they normally reside is responsible for completing the marriage papers regardless of who will officiate at the ceremony or where it will take place. There are also certain documents which each individual needs to provide him with, and which can take some weeks to gather, so it is important that the couple begin this process as soon as possible as any delays in paperwork can have an impact on the day itself. At the same time keep in mind that some of the documents the couple will need to provide – such as an original Baptismal Certificate – cannot be more than six months old, so this will delay the completion of the papers but not the overall preparations. Until the first part of the paperwork is complete, the church is provisionally booked for the wedding.
The Church also requires that the couple complete a recognised Pre-Marriage Course and this should be undertaken sooner rather than later. Accord is found in every diocese in Ireland and they provide the accredited courses for the Catholic Church, and they will provide the couple with a certificate on completion which needs to be included with the rest of the paperwork given to the priest.
The couple also needs to give notice to the State Registrar (if marrying in Ireland) of their intention to marry and the Registrar will then issue the couple a licence to marry, and they will also give permission to the nominated priest (solemniser) to solemnise the wedding.
If getting married in a church abroad, be aware that the paperwork completed with the parish priest must be sent to the Diocesan Offices where the couple reside for approval, before being sent to the Diocesan Office in the country in which they wish to marry before finally arriving at the church where the marriage is to take place. Therefore, the paperwork needs to be attended to very early on. If getting married abroad, the couple also needs to apply to the Department of Foreign Affairs for a Nulla Osta.
Which form of ceremony?
The wedding ceremony can take two forms and the couple should discuss early on which form they wish to follow. Both forms are straightforward and the readings, prayers and vows are the same in both and both are equally valid. The key element is the Rite of Marriage, which is identical in both.
- In Mass: The first form has the Rite of Marriage centred within Mass. Mass takes place as normal with the Rite of Marriage taking place between the Homily and the Offertory. Where regular, weekly attendance and reception of Holy Communion by the couple and those who will be attending is the norm, then this is something with which the couple will be quite familiar and comfortable.
- Outside Mass: The second form has the Rite of Marriage taking place as a standalone ceremony but not including Mass. The ceremony takes place in the church with the very same readings, etc., but here the Rite of Marriage becomes more obvious as there is no Offertory, no Eucharistic Prayer, and no Holy Communion as there would be in Mass. Where regular attendance at Mass and Holy Communion is not the norm for the couple or the majority of those attending, then it is recommended that the couple give consideration to this ceremony as it would be more appropriate.