Since the Rite of Marriage involves a commitment to the Church on the part of the couple, as well as to the couple on the part of the Church, a sacramental marriage between two Catholics normally takes place within the context of the community’s Eucharistic gathering. This public exchange of vows in the Church is what we call a “wedding” (from an old English word meaning ‘to pledge’). If celebrating the Rite of Marriage outside Mass is pastorally appropriate (for interfaith or ecumenical couples, for example), then other options can be explored. Since it is the couple themselves who administer the sacrament to each other, the Rite of Marriage only requires the additional presence of a Church representative who presides over the Rite (typically a priest or deacon), as well as two additional witnesses.
As a couple nears the conclusion of their preparation process for marriage, they naturally begin to focus more on preparing and planning for the wedding itself. Please scroll down for a list of recommended resources and materials to assist you in planning for the big day. For more information on the marriage preparation process itself (which typically begins 9-12 months before the wedding), please click here.
Catholic Wedding Resources
- Catholicweddinghelp.com: Great resource from Our Sunday Visitor on planning your Catholic wedding.
- Planning a Catholic Wedding: Fantastic resource on the USCCB’s For Your Marriage website with a wealth of information on getting married in the Church.
- Together for Life is a classic resource for helping couples plan their Catholic wedding. Many parishes will provide this booklet to you, but you can also purchase one your own. The Together for Life website has a great webpage on Understanding Your Catholic Wedding Ceremony, as well as an outline of Catholic Wedding traditions.
- Spoken Bride: They are no longer active as a ministry, but their website still maintains a wonderful array of articles, tools, and other resources to assist couples in preparing for their wedding.
- Click here for diocesan guidelines on wedding music.
- Click here for some faith-filled ideas from Engaged Encounter couple Kris & Maria Saradpon to incorporate into your wedding!
- Feel free to call the Office for Family Life & Spirituality for referrals on vendors familiar with the Catholic wedding liturgy.
PS. Naturally, San Diego attracts a lot of “destination weddings”. If you are getting married in San Diego but don’t plan to reside here, please reach out as soon as possible to your local parish/diocese for guidance on marriage prep!
Contact Information
Staff
- Director: John Prust
- Associate Director: Janelle Peregoy
- Associate Director: Wendy Baez
- Administrative Assistant: Angie Rosario