jp before Catholic Wedding

Instead of going to the courthouse, are you doing a first look or first touch? You could read your personal vows to each other then. The church will expect to sign the marriage license and that is going to leave some questions if it has already been signed by the JP.

I don't think you can do a JP wedding and not have it count legally. I agree with the first look idea. That way there's no confusion as to which ceremony was the legal one.

What's the point of having the JP if they aren't signing anything? Just say your vows to each other whenever you want to.

A JP might not do it. If you're not looking to make it legal, have you best man and MOH say some words to make it the ceremony you both want before the legal ceremony in the church.

The catholic church doesn't recognize JP weddings as a catholic wedding, but the JP is a legal state license. The catholic church requires that they process your wedding license with the state.

If the ceremony doesn't have to be legal, you don't need a JP. You could just have a friend act as the "officiant" for a private ceremony.

I'm also getting married in a Catholic church. FH and I wrote our own vows to say to each other later that night or the next day.

I would suggest doing them after your official Catholic vows.