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Just Said Yes November 2020

Catholic Wedding Questions

Makenzie, on January 10, 2020 at 5:52 PM Posted in Wedding Ceremony 0 7

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Hi guys! I am Catholic and my fiancé is not. He was never baptized, but considers himself to be Christian. My family is very Catholic and it’s very important to them that we have a marriage that is recognized by the Catholic Church. This is important to me as well, as I want my children to be brought up in the Catholic faith. We don’t really want to do a traditional church ceremony with all of our wedding guests (also since he is not baptized we wouldn’t be able to I don’t believe) but would be open to doing a small ceremony with just our families before our wedding date. Is this something that the church would be willing to do? Just a private ceremony not in mass with a priest or deacon to officiate? I understand that our marriage will not be a sacrament unless my fiancé chooses to get baptized, but it can still be recognized by the church.

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Latest activity by Veronica, on January 16, 2020 at 11:44 AM

Devoted September 2019
Meaghan · on January 10, 2020 at 5:57 PM
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You really would have to speak with your parish priest. They get to decide if they will marry any couple who seek a Catholic wedding.

If what you are asking is if you can have a Catholic wedding followed by a non-catholic ceremony, that may also be problematic in the Catholic faith. Again, I would suggest you discuss with a priest as Canon Law is very specific when it comes to marriage.
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Dedicated October 2020
Mary · on January 10, 2020 at 6:00 PM
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I think this should be ok, but speak to your parish/priest/diocese to verify. I'm Catholic, my fiance isn't religious at all, but we are still doing a Catholic wedding. It's just not the full, hour long sacramental mass, because he's not Catholic. But in order for the wedding to be still recognized/blessed by the church, you'd still need to do it in a Catholic church, with a Catholic priest (deacons may not officiate). And you'd both have to do the proper prep and paperwork.
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Dedicated December 2020
Nikki · on January 10, 2020 at 6:43 PM
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You can get married in a Catholic church without him being baptized. Talk to your priest, you would have to do the pre-cana still. The priest will have to present a dissentation form to the bishop of the diocese stating that while he is not catholic, you will raise your children as catholics. My fiance, while baptized, considers himself norse pagen, and has told the priest such, and the priest doesnt have an issue with us getting married in the church. We're just doing the ceremony, not the mass, since most of his family is not catholic. Im sure they see it all the time, just start with talking to your priest and see what he says!
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Dedicated April 2021
Erin · on January 10, 2020 at 7:05 PM
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My fiancé is also not baptized or raised in a religion. We are having a Catholic Scripture Service, which is essentially a mass without communion. We still have to go through the marriage prep as set by our diocese, but as far as I know, I am still receiving the sacrament of marriage. I’d recommend you speak to your home parish for more clarification!
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Champion October 2009
2d Bride · on January 10, 2020 at 8:48 PM
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He would be able to have a Catholic ceremony. See this page:

https://www.foryourmarriage.org/rite-for-celebrating-marriage-between-a-catholic-and-an-unbaptized-person/

However, the Catholic church frowns on having a Catholic wedding plus a second ceremony, because it would suggest that the Catholic wedding wasn't enough. You will need to talk to your priest about details.
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Super August 2020
Nicole · on January 10, 2020 at 9:28 PM
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I'm Catholic, my fiance isn't. But he's going through the steps to be baptized Catholic so that we can get married which is required by our parish. I'm not sure how other Catholic parishes are, but judging from our parish you would have to be married in church if you're Catholic as it is one of the holy sacraments. It just seems like there are a lot of rules or steps you have to follow being Catholic. I would just inquire with your parish to be sure though.
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Veronica · on January 16, 2020 at 11:44 AM
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Seconding this. There is usually not an issue with a Catholic person marrying a non-baptized person in a Catholic wedding, as long as the proper dispensation is requested from and given by the bishop; HOWEVER, you will not receive very enthusiastic support from your priest/parish if you go in suggesting that you want to essentially pretend that you didn't have the Catholic ceremony and have some larger, non-religious ceremony before your reception. Also, if you are in the US, the Catholic ceremony if performed before your "wedding date" has to be the legally binding ceremony.
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