How to Set the Date of Your Catholic Wedding
- 1). Know what days that you aren't allowed to get married in any Catholic church. Weddings cannot be performed on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. These are predetermined dates and no matter what the reason, your priest will not be able to go against this rule. Note the times of the year that your parish is busy. Avoid planning your wedding during Advent as a variety of activities go on in preparation for Christmas. The same goes for Lent which is determined by the forty days that lead up to Easter. You can technically get married during these times, but your priest may try to deter you.
- 2). Decide how important it is for you to choose the readings that the priest will read at your wedding. Some couples allow the priest to pick the readings on his own, while others have strict preferences. There are certain days in which you have no choice as to what is read during your wedding. This is the case if your wedding coincides with a holy day of obligation, a Sunday, or a feast day. On these days, your priest is required to read scripture from the Lectionary.
- 3). Attend your premarital interview. During this interview the priest will evaluate your potential dates. He is also likely to ask you a variety of personal questions regarding your relationship and your relationship with the church. Be ready to answer questions concerning prior marriages, pregnancy, and family background. Couples who are related are not allowed to get married in the Catholic church. Likewise, couples that have been married to other partners can only marry within the Catholic church if the previous marriage(s) were deemed to be invalid for whatever reason, or if a prior spouse has passed away.
- 4). Complete your marriage prep program. Though your priest may allow you to set a tentative date, that date will not be official until you and your spouse complete the program. This program can vary between parishes. Some couples are required to attend a certain number of counseling sessions with the priest, while other couples are required to attend a retreat.
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