Has anyone had a Catholic Ceremony in a non-catholic church (chapel)?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news . . . you cannot have a Catholic ceremony outside of a Catholic church or chapel.

We hired a minister that is willing to add two religions into the ceremony. However from what I've heard most outside church weddings are not recognized by the Vatican. Make sure they assured you your ceremony is legit. Good luck

So i looked into this too, because my mother wants me to get married in the church. my fh has been married before so he would need an annulment. too much of a hassle. so i found a retired priest that is willing to marry us outside the church. so look into retired priest around where you live.

I looked into this before as well, I wanted to have the ceremony at the Botanical Gardens and when I asked around, I got a big fat NO. So we ended up going with the traditional church (but hey we got to move our date up)... and I'm Catholic as well and planning for a Catholic wedding

Like Jessica said, I've never heard of a Catholic priest or deacon performing a ceremony outside a Catholic church or chapel.

Catholic weddings can't be outside. However, weddings in a chapel are allowed, but the problem is most priests won't do it. Also, the priest whose "territory" encompasses that geographic area has to give his consent as well. It's a hassle. We had to rearrange plans because of this issue.

FH's uncle is a priest and when we asked him if he could marry us at our venue he said he couldn't because they are not allowed to do weddings outside the church. I don't think he'll even be able to say a blessing during the ceremony or reception. Neither FH or I wanted to get married in the church so we are having my brother marry us instead. It will still be personal and in the venue of our chosing. Plus, we get to have the music we want.

It's my understanding and a lot of other's understanding as well, that priests won't do a Catholic wedding outside of the church. I grew up Catholic, and my fiance is not of any religion affiliation at all. In order for us to be married in the church, he would have to be baptized and confirmed as a Catholic. Something we don't want to do. (Personal reasons.)

My friend's FH is Greek Orthodox, and in order for them to get married in the church, she would have to become affiliated with that religion as well, and she won't because she does not agree with there traditions.

I do know that the ladies who said you can not be married by a Catholic Priest outside the church are correct but a Priest CAN give a blessing at the beginning of your reception. Also, I'm pretty sure you don't have to become Catholic to have a Catholic ceremony, as long as ONE of you is a practicing Catholic.

Our priest told us (and my dad and step mom when they got married 5 years ago) that we could not get married in the Catholic church if both of us were not Catholic.

That's just what he said, maybe it's just his preference. IDK.

My mom got married in a Chapel that she thought was pretty (vs a Church) by a catholic priest. When we were looking into how to have a catholic ceremony outside (which I know Roman Catholic priests are forbidden from doing) she recommended finding a priest associated with a University as they tend to be more open.

We ended up going a different route and getting a priest associated with The Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch (or Independent Catholic ... same fundamental beliefs just not ruled by roman rite)

Hope that helps.

BTW we are getting married outside ... The Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch doesn't have the same strict rules as Roman Catholic about where you have to be married.

1)Both people do not have to be Catholic to be married in the Catholic church. One of them must be, and the other must be a baptized Christian. It does not matter what denomination. (My first marriage was in the Catholic church to a baptized Lutheran.) It is left up to the pastor of the specific church if they will marry a catholic and an unbaptized person since this marriage would only be considered valid and not sacramental.

2) The Catholic Church does allow a dispensation that will allow you to have a marriage outside of the church that would be considered both sacramental and valid. I highly doubt though that a Catholic Priest would perform this marriage. Might check around though because it is something that is up to each personal priest.

You don't have to both be Catholic to have a Catholic ceremony. My FH isn't Catholic and we are having a Catholic ceremony. Some priests won't perform a Mass if both bride and groom aren't Catholic, but that is also personal preference. You can have a Catholic wedding ceremony, not a mass, if your FH isn't Catholic. Catholic-Jewish couples, Catholic-Hindi couples, and Catholic-Muslim couples have all had Catholic ceremonies at my Roman Catholic church.

As a general point, the fact that priests impose their preferences as Catholic rules or as coming from the Vatican, when it doesn't, really upsets me and I feel is a very strong reason why so many people abandon the Catholic church. It's really a shame. Ok, mini-rant over

We're having a Catholic wedding, and FH was Tibetan Buddhist when we started planning. He's since decided to become a Catholic for reasons unrelated to the wedding, but he planned to wear his yellow sangha robe in the cathedral and everything. We won't have Mass--it would seem inhospitable since neither of the families is Catholic.

If priests are denying you a wedding because your FS isn't Catholic (i.e., claiming that both parties have to be Catholic or another Christian flavor), he is violating your rights according to the church. You may take this up with the diocese where you live.