Catholic Wedding Ceremony Questions

[OutinChgoburbs]

His parish has a separate chapel besides the church and I am sure it has been utillized in similar situations like ours. That is a question that will be asked but definite plans will be held off until a Decree of Nullity is awarded. .

That’s a good plan.

My family didn’t come to my wedding. I only had 9 people there including the priest. We all went to a nice restaurant after. Just because it’s small doesn’t mean you can’t be indulgent and elegant.

It was, however, good to hear from the tribunal that it would not take nearly as long due to their not being any children involved. If everything goes well, 6-9 months is the time period they are estimating.

I’m glad it’s coming along, but whether or not your FH has children should be irrelevent to a decree of nullity. Children are not made “illegitimate” by such a decree, and they should have come after the wedding. A tribunal invesitgates what happened up to the vows being said, to see if there was indeed a marriage, or just a wedding. For a good book on the subject, read Anullment: The Wedding That Was by Foster.

 

[EasterJoy]

Just because it’s small doesn’t mean you can’t be indulgent and elegant.

Very true!

There are a fair number of Catholics who have big weddings almost out of necessity. I have 40 cousins on my dad’s side, and I’m not talking aunts and uncles, spouses or children. This is one side of one family! If you decide to invite more than about a dozen or two dozen guests (i.e., your immediate families), all of a sudden you’re at 200 people.

I’m glad it’s coming along, but whether or not your FH has children should be irrelevent to a decree of nullity. Children are not made “illegitimate” by such a decree, and they should have come after the wedding. A tribunal invesitgates what happened up to the vows being said, to see if there was indeed a marriage, or just a wedding. For a good book on the subject, read Anullment: The Wedding That Was by Foster.

If there are no children, though, it lends evidence to a couple’s contention that the attempted marriage was entered with the enduring intention to avoid openness to children, does it not? I would think the importance of that depends on the case.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

If there are no children, though, it lends evidence to a couple’s contention that the attempted marriage was entered with the enduring intention to avoid openness to children, does it not? I would think the importance of that depends on the case.

I see your point, but I am probably knee-jerking to the reaction that people assume a decree takes longer because of children. Children that exist should have nothing to do with the matter.

 

[AMDGtoo]

If there are no children, though, it lends evidence to a couple’s contention that the attempted marriage was entered with the enduring intention to avoid openness to children, does it not? I would think the importance of that depends on the case.

There are a few impediments to a valid marriage–some to do with age and maturity, some to do with absolute free-will (no well the girl was in “trouble” and marriage was the “right thing to do”), some to do with a Catholic obeying the marriage laws, and more. The Tribunal will look at a “snapshot of time” at the very moment the vows were said. Whether there are children or not from the natural marriage isn’t the question.

 

[EasterJoy]

I see your point, but I am probably knee-jerking to the reaction that people assume a decree takes longer because of children. Children that exist should have nothing to do with the matter.

In general, your point is the more important one. If a marriage was invalidly or disingenuously attempted, then that doesn’t change with the passage of time or the arrival of children.

If the marriage was validly and honestly entered into, then it is still a marriage, no matter how badly one or both in the couple might choose to botch it up later.

 

[AmyMarie71]

In general, your point is the more important one. If a marriage was invalidly or disingenuously attempted, then that doesn’t change with the passage of time or the arrival of children.

If the marriage was validly and honestly entered into, then it is still a marriage, no matter how badly one or both in the couple might choose to botch it up later.

Even though I am well aware of the annulment process, I believe that this is getting off topic. I originally asked for advice on the CATHOLIC WEDDING CEREMONY…not the annulment process. Moreso, thanks anyway.

On the topic of the wedding ceremony, it is customary (but not a rule) that the ceremony take place within the parish the bride belongs to. If a decision is made for us to be married in my FH’s parish, will a dispensation be needed?

 

[Phemie]

Even though I am well aware of the annulment process, I believe that this is getting off topic. I originally asked for advice on the CATHOLIC WEDDING CEREMONY…not the annulment process. Moreso, thanks anyway.

On the topic of the wedding ceremony, it is customary (but not a rule) that the ceremony take place within the parish the bride belongs to. If a decision is made for us to be married in my FH’s parish, will a dispensation be needed?

No, no dispensation. Which parish are you approaching for marriage? If you do the paperwork in your parish and want to marry in his, it requires transfers of documents. If your FH’s parish is in another diocese it gets a little more complicated, you need your bishop’s permission to marry outside your diocese and his parish priest needs his bishop’s permission to celebrate the wedding. Paperwork has to go back and forth.

DH and I prepared in separate provinces and all his paperwork was transferred to my parish where our wedding took place.

It’s not a complicated process really. Just allow the time to have it done.

 

[AMDGtoo]

If a decision is made for us to be married in my FH’s parish, will a dispensation be needed?

The wedding ceremony is usually conducted in the Catholic’s parish. If it is done outside the Catholic party’s parish (even in another Catholic parish like mine was) a dispensation is needed. The first step in getting one is to talk with the priest.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

The wedding ceremony is usually conducted in the Catholic’s parish. If it is done outside the Catholic party’s parish (even in another Catholic parish like mine was) a dispensation is needed. The first step in getting one is to talk with the priest.

Since both parties are Catholic, the wedding could take place in either parish. No dispensation would be needed.

 

[EasterJoy]

Even though I am well aware of the annulment process, I believe that this is getting off topic. I originally asked for advice on the CATHOLIC WEDDING CEREMONY…not the annulment process. Moreso, thanks anyway.

On the topic of the wedding ceremony, it is customary (but not a rule) that the ceremony take place within the parish the bride belongs to. If a decision is made for us to be married in my FH’s parish, will a dispensation be needed?

You’re right, that was off-topic.

Your diocese may have marriage policies posted on their web site. If not, the Archdiocese of Portland has published marriage policies which note which of the listed rights, requirements, permissions and policies are canonical and which are perhaps peculiar to our archdiocese. These could answer some of your questions, too:

archdpdx.org/liturgy/marriagepolicy.pdf