Does the Catholic church allow you to get married in church to make it offical with the them after if have already had a court house wedding? My Fiance' is in the army, we are going to get married soon, we don't have time to plan a church wedding b/c we don't know where he is going to be in 6 months a year from now. so we are going to get married at the court house soon, so am i allowed to still have a catholic cermony later, or what is the procedure?
2007-11-09 09:46:38 · 6 answers · asked by amy s 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Hi Amy:
Yes, you are allowed to do that and many couples have. It's called a "convalidation of a marriage." Here is an article to read about it:
http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0604.asp
It would be good to possibly speak with your priest about it. Good luck!
2007-11-09 11:43:24 · answer #1 · answered by iloveweddings 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is a big difference between a court wedding (civil union), and a church wedding. Yes, the Catholic Church will let you marry. A court wedding does not implement a spiritual side to marriage. It is a legal contract, more or less. The Catholic Church will only protest a marriage if you have a unresolved divorce, are not Catholic, etc. If these issues are not present, there is no problem. When one marries in the church there is a combination legal / spiritual contract.
The Church will make you take some classes before marriage, though this is standard for everyone. I wonder, however, why are you asking this question here? If you plan to get married in the church, set a good standard and discuss these questions with the priest!
Good luck!
Jay
2007-11-09 09:53:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
When you present a Marriage License to an officiant and that officiant pronounces you Husband and Wife you are married, and it does not matter if that ceremony takes place at the County Court House or your grandmother's backyard. But what you cannot do is secretly or discreetly get married at the Court House in March or April and then mislead your hometown minister for several months because sooner or later your hometown minister is going to ask for your Marriage License (and you won't have one). So, I strongly suggest, that you discuss your plans with the clergy man or woman who will officiate at your December wedding because THEY DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE conducting a second ceremony (and many of them do). Also, you can only have A RECEPTION on the day you are officially married. You can have A PARTY or A CELEBRATION any time but you cannot have A RECEPTION after the church wedding in December unless you call it a party or a celebration. Answered by: A Certified wedding specialist / A Professional bridal consultant / A Wedding ceremony officiant
2016-04-03 04:26:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is this a first marriage for both of you? Are you both Catholic? If so, it should be easy. If not well lets just say be prepared for classes, a church annulment, and a wait! My husband and I were married 5 years ago in a civil ceremony. This was not a first marriage for either of us. I was raised baptist and he was a cradle catholic. I was willing to convert to Catholicism and we wanted to marry in our own church so we began going to the local Catholic church. Once we found about the ordeal we would have to go through we decided to find a different church home. We found a wonderful church and will renew our vows (with communion) June 21st, 2008. We love our church (Methodist) and became members on Easter Sunday.
2007-11-09 10:00:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
See jay the Diver. Yes, you can have a church wedding later.
2007-11-10 07:36:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Been there, did that. YUP!
2007-11-09 09:51:31 · answer #6 · answered by ed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋