Office of Worship
Planning a Catholic Wedding
The Catholic Church reverences marriage so deeply that we consider matrimony one of our seven Sacraments, a powerful source of grace that increases throughout the whole of married life. A Catholic wedding reflects our beautiful belief that a marriage is not just an agreement between two people; it is also a spiritual contract sealed by God himself, which is witnessed, celebrated, and supported by the entire family of the Church. Further, it reflects the unfathomable love between Christ and his bride, the Church, which is why it ideally culminates in the celebration of the Eucharist at Mass.
The following resources are here to assist you in planning your Catholic wedding, though your primary resource will always be the priest or marriage preparation coordinator at your parish.
We're engaged... now what?
Step 1: Contact your Parish
Get in contact with the priest or marriage preparation coordinator at the parish you plan to get married at. They will walk with you through the process of preparation leading up to your marriage.
Step 2: Marriage Preparation
As you meet with your priest or marriage preparation coordinator, they will walk you through the Church’s teaching on marriage, discussions on healthy communication within marriage, and planning the wedding liturgy. Typically, you must begin marriage preparation at least six months before your wedding is scheduled.
Step 3: Planning the Wedding Liturgy
The wedding liturgy is the most important event of the whole wedding day, as the moment when your consent to one another in marriage vows forms a holy bond of love between you and your beloved. The more beautiful, dignified, and sacred this ceremony is, the more truly it will show forth the incredible reality that is occurring. The wedding liturgy can take three forms:
Matrimony without Mass (usually used if one party is Christian, but not Catholic)
Matrimony of a Catholic and a Non-Christian (one who is unbaptized)
Planning the Wedding Liturgy
Wedding Readings
Wedding Music
Additional Resources:
ForYourMarriage.org - a resource of the USCCB
Frequently Asked Questions regarding Catholic teaching on marriage
““That is why a man leaves his father and mother
and clings to his wife
and the two of them become one body.”
”