Can you help with these civil ceremony problems?

[kconnor]

Hello.
I am Catholic and my partner is CofE although he does not regularly attend church. We are getting married in April next year. Due to high prices over here, we decided to opt for a small wedding in Malta. This package includes a civil ceremony. We wanted to then have a ceremony when we arrived back here to be welcomed and recognised as a marriage by both the law and church. My priest has said he cannot do this and the only way is for me to have a religious wedding over there. This would almost double our cost and we just don’t have that money. Is there any other way around this please?
Many Thanks.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

I guess I’m a little slow, but I don’t understand how you can’t afford the high prices now but are alright with them when you get back from Malta. Is it that you will be having a more extravagant reception in Malta than when you return home?

If that is the case, you are putting more emphasis on the trappings than on the actual wedding. This is unfortunate. You need to have one Catholic wedding where the two of you are validly committed to one another in Christ. The rest is window dressing and comes and goes. But the sacrament prepares you for heaven. Life is short; always put first things first. I know of couples who were married in one place and then had a simple evening reception in another to include those who couldn’t attend. The brides wore their bridal clothes and they had a wedding cake and that was it.

Further, you mentioned your fiancé as your partner. I truly hope that you are not already living together. If this is so, you already have the cart before the horse. I strongly suggest that you read the book: “Good News About Sex and Marriage” by Christopher West. It is available through shop.catholic.com. You are in my prayers.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.