If you are a Practicing Catholic ..do you have to get married inside a church for it to be legal in God's eye

Question

p.s. what if I wanted to get married in Mexico ...could i have a catholic priest marry me there?

Answer 1

Constantine,

I am sorry for the ignorant folks who have piped in before you got a valid answer to your valid question.

Now, because my sister went through this let me explain a few things for you, okay?

There are 2 types of weddings there -- the civil ceremony done by a judge, which is recognized throughout the world as legally changing from single to married, and the non-denominational wedding which does not officially change you from single to married outside of Mexico. From what I've read, it's possible to have both ceremonies done together -- including the spiritual one being in a Catholic church -- if you meet some additional requirements. Looks like you've got to get permission from your local Catholic church to be married outside of that church.

There are beautiful, charming Mexican Catholic churches so I think it'd be quite nice. Here's some more info I found online, about the place my sister married Playa del Carmen, Mexico:

"A Catholic wedding in Mexico is easy to arrange and is recognized as an official Catholic wedding when all the official documentation and requirements have been fulfilled. Catholics can be married in local Mexican parish churches. Permission from your parish priest to marry outside of your parish is required and this permission must be approved by your parish's diocese.

the marriage couple must complete the Pre-Cana classes, the required pre-marriage courses, and the Pre-Cana certificate is required prior to the wedding.

All official documents required for a Catholic wedding must be received 30 days prior to your ceremony. Rarely are their exceptions to this 30 day rule.

In some parishes, the Catholic Wedding and Mass are held in Spanish only. On the Riviera Maya, there are two priests who can perform a Catholic wedding and mass in English.

Catholic churches in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya:

Nuestra Senora del Carmen, downtown Playa del Carmen
Nuestra Senora de Fatima in the Ejido neighborhood of Playa del Carmen
Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe in the Colosio area of Playa del Carmen
Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe en Puerto Aventuras
Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi in Xcaret
Chapel in Pueblo Akumal
Mission church in Tulum
The actual cost for a Catholic wedding is approximately $250 US, not including our fees (additional donations are appreciated). Translators can be provided at additional costs for the ceremony.

Requirements for Couples from Outside the Diocese
Requesting to Be Married in the Diocese of Cancun-Chetumal, Quintana Roo Including Catholic Churches located in Playa del Carmen, the Riviera Maya, Xcaret, Puerto Aventuras, Tulum and Cancun

If you have not already done so, please contact your parish priest/deacon regarding marriage preparation. He is responsible for your marriage preparation and instruction.
Your parish priest will assist you with obtaining the necessary documents, permissions and dispensations (if needed).
He is responsible for forwarding the following information and documents to the chancellor of your diocese for review:
a letter of recommendation stating that:
you have been prepared according to the marriage preparation guidelines of your diocese;
permission has been granted for the marriage to be celebrated in Mexico (Canon 1115);
a current original copy of the Baptismal certificate of the Catholic party.
an Affidavit of Freedom to Marry for each party signed by a competent person (e.g. parent, relative or close friend) and the signature witnessed by a pastor/priest/cleric of the person vouching for your freedom to marry.
the completed Pre-nuptial Investigation form used in your diocese.
Color photos of the Bride and Groom if applicable:

a dispensation for disparity of worship

a dispensation from canonical form
permission for Mixed Religion
decree of nullity of a former marriage
(If either party was previously married, a declaration of nullity for a lack of form or formal annulment must be obtained.)

When all the required information is received by the Diocese of Cancun-Chetumal, a Nihil Obstat will be granted and sent to the priest/deacon officiating at your wedding in Mexico along with all pertinent documentation.

Contact Ajua Weddings at least (three (3) months prior to the date of your wedding) to make arrangements for a priest/deacon to officiate at your wedding and to reserve the church as well as schedule a rehearsal.

Provide the following information:

Bride and Grooms names, addresses, home and work phone numbers;
the name of the priest/deacon responsible for the marriage preparation;
the name of your parish, address, phone and fax numbers;
the name of the priest/deacon responsible for the marriage preparation;
copy of your Pre-Cana class reservation and your certificate, when completed;
copy of the documentation forwarded to the Diocesan office to Ajua Weddings
Other Helpful Information

The sacred nature of marriage demands that the couple have an understanding and acceptance of the spiritual aspects of their mutual commitment. Having been duly prepared for this commitment, the couple welcomes the opportunity to marry according to the prescribed laws of the Catholic Church. Therefore, the marriage of TWO CATHOLICS is to take place in a sacred place (a Catholic church or officially recognized Catholic chapel).

When a CATHOLIC plans to marry a person who is CHRISTIAN but not CATHOLIC, the couple, if there is a good reason, may send a request in writing to the Office of the Chancellor, Diocese of Cancun-Chetumal, to obtain the permission of the bishop to grant a dispensation for the marriage to take place in the church of the non-Catholic partner.

When a CATHOLIC is going to marry a person who is NON-CHRISTIAN and wishes to have a non-Catholic minister or a civil official officiate at the wedding rather than a Catholic priest/deacon, the couple may send a request in writing to the Office of the Chancellor, Diocese of Cancun-Chetumal, to obtain the permission of the bishop to grant a dispensation to delegate the authority to either the non-Catholic minister or a civil official.

Requirements Licensing Priests From Outside the Diocese To Officiate at a Specific Wedding

If you are inviting a priest/deacon from outside the Diocese of Cancun-Chetumal to officiate at your wedding, please ask him to:

contact the pastor of the parish where the wedding is to take place to seek permission.
write to the Chancellor of the Diocese of Cancun-Chetumal for a letter of recommendation asking that a license to officiate at the marriage be granted. Include with the request for permission

a letter from his Bishop, Vicar General, or Major Superior stating that he is in good standing in his diocese and he has permission to officiate at a wedding in the Diocese of Cancun-Chetumal..

the names of the bride and groom, the specific date, the church and/or location of the wedding.

The priest officiating at the wedding must see that all necessary entries regarding the marriage are entered in the marriage register of the parish where the wedding took place.

Will your Wedding be Recognized in your State or Province?

Once you are married, your official marriage certificate and papers will be forwarded to your parish and recorded in your parish records. If you wish these to be sent by Fed EX, an extra charge would apply. If not, it normally takes about six weeks for your papers to arrive at your parish.

State and province regulations vary. A Catholic wedding in Mexico is an official Catholic wedding in the United States under Catholic Canon Law. It is your responsibility to see if your official Catholic wedding in Mexico will be recognized under the laws of your state, as a civil marriage. Many states allow the priest in Mexico to sign your state's marriage license. It is your responsibility to verify your state's requirements and if this would be valid under your state's laws.

Document Shipping Instructions: Documents are to be shipped directly to Nuestra Se�ora del Carmen in Playa del Carmen. Please follow instructions below.

Required Shipping Agents: Fed Ex or DHL (No UPS, USPS or US Post Office Priority Mail)

DO NOT USE the US Post Office International Priority Mail, it may not arrive and cannot be tracked beyond the US border. The minimum arrival time of US Priority mail, if it gets delivered, can be three weeks to three months. UPS also is not recommended.

Please Note: If you do not follow our instructions, you will be responsible for assuring the documents arrive in Playa del Carmen.

Shipping Address for Documents:

Nuestra Se�ora del Carmen
Calle 12 Norte entre 15 y 20 Avenidas Norte
Col. Centro
77710 Playa del Carmen, Q. Roo
Mexico

Tel: 011-52 [phone]"

Answer 2

No matter where you get Married, Catholic Canon Law requires that a Catholic exchange vows in a Church. You can get permission from your Bishop to Marry in a non-Catholic church. But you must Marry according to Canon Law for it to be valid. A Catholic is never allowed to Marry outdoors. You need to speak with your pastor. There would be no reason you could not Marry in another country. However your Pastor must give his permission and insure that all the necessary investigations and paperwork as well as Marriage preparation is complete. He will coordinate with the other parish for you.

Answer 3

It is really amazing just how ignorant people are of God, and what is "legal" to Him. God could honestly care less about where a couple gets married. What the church thinks is just that, what the church thinks, and is only to control it's people with rules and regulations that are NOT in the Bible. The bondage of the church is not recognized by God as being something that He wants. Get married where you want to. If you are a Christian, take communion as you choose, most people get that wrong anyway, so why be concerned with where you were married.

Answer 4

Yes, you must be married according to Church rules, which means either:
A.- you prepare with a priest and marry in the Church

or

B.- you prepare with a priest and get a dispensation to marry in another church/temple. ( usually VERY hard to get permission for non- church type settings. Marriage is a sacrament, not haveing it in a church denies the involvement of God- churches are there to help us be closer to God)

If you don't do one of these- here or any country- you are not married in the eyes of the Church OR God. You would need to check with civil authorities about the civil aspects of getting married in mexico.

Answer 5

As long as your marriage is recognized by the Catholic Church, it is recognized by God. If you want to get married in Mexico, I'm sure it can be done; just ask your local priest about how to be sure it will be recognized by the Church.

Answer 6

Yes, I believe so. I'm not a practicing Catholic although I was raised in a catholic home and my parents believed that and would not take communion because of it, since they were married by a city hall.

Answer 7

Don't know about Mexico, but in order for the church to accept the wedding it has to be done inside of a church.

Answer 8

The usual practice is for a Catholic marriage to be celebrated is in a parish church.

The bishop can give permission for the marriage to be celebrated in another suitable place.

With love in Christ.

Answer 9

God is not concerned about the legality of your marriage.

But in this day and age I would never ever get married without making God the third party to have a stake in keeping your marriage together.

Answer 10

No, but it does have to be done by a priest.
And yes, your Mexican wedding would be fine.