Is a Catholic allowed to be married sacramentally outside of a Catholic church?

[Tommy999]

My parents were married in 1942 in the parlor of my mother’s home in a small wedding with both sets of family present and a few friends. I was married in my bride’s church. My son and his bride were married outdoors at a wedding venue. Can a Catholic get married outside of a Church setting and still have the wedding considered valid? Just curious.

 

[SyroMalankara]

My parents were married in 1942 in the parlor of my mother’s home in a small wedding with both sets of family present and a few friends. I was married in my bride’s church. My son and his bride were married outdoors at a wedding venue. Can a Catholic get married outside of a Church setting and still have the wedding considered valid? Just curious.

Only with a bishop’s dispensation for both having it outside the church, and outside of a Catholic matrimonial rite. Normally, this would be denied by my bishop.

The only exception for a VALID but illicit wedding without the local Catholic bishop’s dispensation, is a wedding by a Catholic to an Orthodox, by the Orthodox priest or bishop - this would be VALID although illicit if not first having permission or dispensation by the Catholic bishop.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

The short answer is yes, it’s possible. Two Catholics would not be given permission to be married outside the Catholic form, but if one of the parties isn’t Catholic they could get permission to be married elsewhere.

There are also lots of couples who entered sacramental marriages long before they ever thought about becoming Catholic. If one or both parties becomes Catholic their marriage remains sacramental.

 

[JimG]

My parents were married in the parlor of the parish rectory, by a priest. At the time, mixed marriages were not allowed to take place in the church. He was a Baptist and she was a Catholic. Since both were baptized, the marriage was both valid and sacramental.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

My parents were married in 1942 in the parlor of my mother’s home in a small wedding with both sets of family present and a few friends. I was married in my bride’s church. My son and his bride were married outdoors at a wedding venue. Can a Catholic get married outside of a Church setting and still have the wedding considered valid? Just curious.

Most Protestant churches accept any civil marriage as valid. Catholics need to marry according to the laws of the Church for the marriage to be considered valid. This normally means marriage witnessed by Catholic clergy in a Catholic church or chapel. One’s bishop can issue a “dispensation from form” if one is marrying a non-Catholic, allowing marriage in a non-Catholic setting.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

My parents were married in the parlor of the parish rectory, by a priest. At the time, mixed marriages were not allowed to take place in the church. He was a Baptist and she was a Catholic. Since both were baptized, the marriage was both valid and sacramental.

Yes, my parents were also married in the rectory. Even though my mother was taking instruction to join the Church, she was still a Methodist at the time.

 

[Catholic1954]

Under certain circumstances, with the proper permissions, a Catholic may get married somewhere else besides a church. It does not happen too often,

 

[Tommy999]

Most Protestant churches accept any civil marriage as valid. Catholics need to marry according to the laws of the Church for the marriage to be considered valid. This normally means marriage witnessed by Catholic clergy in a Catholic church or chapel. One’s bishop can issue a “dispensation from form” if one is marrying a non-Catholic, allowing marriage in a non-Catholic setting.

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

I was mainly curious as to whether so-called “destination weddings” that appear to be popular these days are allowed under Catholicism, provided it is presided by a Catholic priest.

Examples: A marriage at a wedding venue/wedding chapel that is not Catholic-owned, or
a wedding that takes place in another country where the whole wedding party flies to some exotic destination to get married under a veranda somewhere on a beach or something like that.

So far, I’ve gotten the impression that a Catholic wedding between two Catholics is required to take place at a Catholic church or chapel unless special dispensation is given, which is not common. Did I understand correctly?

For me, I’ve always thought that it is more appropriate to be married in a church or chapel because I am more old-fashioned and prefer it to be in the “Lord’s house”.

My son and his bride got married outdoors at a local wedding venue that is not specifically connected with a specific faith tradition because their church is kind of small and nondescript and they wanted a venue that was larger and more picturesque. The pastor of the church where they attend officiated their wedding.

 

[Clevus]

…if one is marrying a non-Catholic,

Itself an issue with the Church.

 

[Della]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

I was mainly curious as to whether so-called “destination weddings” that appear to be popular these days are allowed under Catholicism, provided it is presided by a Catholic priest.

Examples: A marriage at a wedding venue/wedding chapel that is not Catholic-owned, or
a wedding that takes place in another country where the whole wedding party flies to some exotic destination to get married under a veranda somewhere on a beach or something like that.

So far, I’ve gotten the impression that a Catholic wedding between two Catholics is required to take place at a Catholic church or chapel unless special dispensation is given, which is not common. Did I understand correctly?

For me, I’ve always thought that it is more appropriate to be married in a church or chapel because I am more old-fashioned and prefer it to be in the “Lord’s house”.

My son and his bride got married outdoors at a local wedding venue that is not specifically connected with a specific faith tradition because their church is kind of small and nondescript and they wanted a venue that was larger and more picturesque. The pastor of the church where they attend officiated their wedding.

A Catholic marriage is a sacrament, not merely two people getting legally married, or before family and friends, or even before a Protestant minister. Catholics who marry under such circumstances do so without the proper form–one of the requirements for a sacramental marriage in the Church,

Catholics make their vows to one another, not to the person officiating the wedding. A bishop/priest/deacon/lay representative does not “marry” the couple–they marry each other by making sacramental vows before God, usually in the presence of their own priest.

Choosing a venue other than the couples’ own Catholic parish is not acceptable unless they are given a dispensation through the proper channels–and that’s usually because they can’t have the ceremony at their own parish not because some other setting would be prettier or larger or where they want to honeymoon.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

I was mainly curious as to whether so-called “destination weddings” that appear to be popular these days are allowed under Catholicism, provided it is presided by a Catholic priest.

Examples: A marriage at a wedding venue/wedding chapel that is not Catholic-owned, or
a wedding that takes place in another country where the whole wedding party flies to some exotic destination to get married under a veranda somewhere on a beach or something like that.

So far, I’ve gotten the impression that a Catholic wedding between two Catholics is required to take place at a Catholic church or chapel unless special dispensation is given, which is not common. Did I understand correctly?

For me, I’ve always thought that it is more appropriate to be married in a church or chapel because I am more old-fashioned and prefer it to be in the “Lord’s house”.

My son and his bride got married outdoors at a local wedding venue that is not specifically connected with a specific faith tradition because their church is kind of small and nondescript and they wanted a venue that was larger and more picturesque. The pastor of the church where they attend officiated their wedding.

Tommy, if a Catholic marries a non-Catholic outside of the church (for example, a Catholic man marries a non-Catholic woman in her church) with the proper dispensation from the Bishop, the priest or deacon will not preside as the official witness. I had a friend who was a Deacon (may he rest in peace) and his son married a Protestant girl in her church with the proper dispensation. He was not permitted to preside and neither was the parish priest. Her minister officiated. I was quite surprised because I did not know the rule. However, the priest did give them a blessing afterwards. (I am presuming you know that Deacons may also preside at marriages).

 

[exnihilo]

For me, I’ve always thought that it is more appropriate to be married in a church or chapel because I am more old-fashioned and prefer it to be in the “Lord’s house”.

I’m of the same opinion, if circumstances allow. It is worth noting in the Catholic understanding of marriage the bride and groom are the ones performing the marriage. It is their mutual exchange of vows that makes the marriage. The priest or deacon doesn’t marry the two but stands as a witness and representative of the Church.

 

[Glennon_P]

Tommy, if a Catholic marries a non-Catholic outside of the church (for example, a Catholic man marries a non-Catholic woman in her church) with the proper dispensation from the Bishop, the priest or deacon will not preside as the official witness. I had a friend who was a Deacon (may he rest in peace) and his son married a Protestant girl in her church with the proper dispensation. He was not permitted to preside and neither was the parish priest. Her minister officiated. I was quite surprised because I did not know the rule. However, the priest did give them a blessing afterwards. (I am presuming you know that Deacons may also preside at marriages).

This was the situation my brother was in when he was married. His fiance was not Catholic and wanted to be married in her church. They completed marriage preparation with both her pastor and the priest at our home parish. The pastor of her church officiated at the wedding and a deacon friend of the family was there as a representative of the Catholic faith.

By the way, his wife ended up converting to Catholicism a few years later and is an exemplary Catholic today.

 

[OraLabora]

My parents were married in the parlor of the parish rectory, by a priest. At the time, mixed marriages were not allowed to take place in the church. He was a Baptist and she was a Catholic. Since both were baptized, the marriage was both valid and sacramental.

Same with my parents. My father was Anglican, my mother Catholic. I was brought up Catholic, a duty my Anglican father took so seriously that he would take me to Mass if my mother wasn’t feeling well. He wouldn’t receive of course.

Fast forward and now while I’m Catholic, my wife is Anglican. I guess you inherited mixed marriages from my parents

 

[Phemie]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

I was mainly curious as to whether so-called “destination weddings” that appear to be popular these days are allowed under Catholicism, provided it is presided by a Catholic priest.

Destination weddings present their own challenges.

It’s not likely that two Catholics would get a dispensation for this. If it was a Catholic marrying a non-Catholic it might be doable with a dispensation from form and dispensation or permission to marry non-baptized or baptized non-Catholic. Then it would be valid.

 

[Tommy999]

Thanks for the replies and explanations why two Catholics are supposed to be married in a Catholic setting (church or chapel, as I understand it), with a few exceptions, with one being if it is a mixed wedding between a Catholic and non-Catholic. .

As I previously mentioned, I got married in my wife’s church because we are old-fashioned and felt it was right to get married in “God’s house” so I agree with this point of view.

I haven’t mentioned this to some of the people I know who’ve had “destination weddings” and doubt I will unless they bring up the topic, but I suspect they would counter by saying that God’s presence is not limited to a church building and that so long as an ordained pastor or priest is officiating and the wedding is done in a reverential manner, what’s the big deal where it takes place?" “Isn’t God present in His beautiful creation at the beach, in the mountains, or in a beautiful meadow?”

I would have trouble responding to that, except to say that we show we are putting God first in our marriage and are serious about our vows when we get married in a Church sanctuary, but I realize that there are exceptions to that where church weddings are no guarantees against getting divorced and “destination weddings” sometimes result in long-lasting wedded bliss.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

I certainly wouldn’t judge my protestant friends who marry in a secular location. Many are very devout Christians. However, the modern tradition of marriage as a big party has not been a positive trend. The huge amounts spent can become a scandal. In the Catholic tradition, marriage usually happens in our parish church because it is a sacrament done before God and man.

 

[otjm]

I’m of the same opinion, if circumstances allow. It is worth noting in the Catholic understanding of marriage the bride and groom are the ones performing the marriage. It is their mutual exchange of vows that makes the marriage. The priest or deacon doesn’t marry the two but stands as a witness and representative of the Church.

Actually, that only applies to Catholics in the Roman rite. Eastern rite Catholics have a different understanding.