Wedding certificate

[GWright]

Hi all,

I would appreciate some advice, if anyone can help. The situation is:

• Im getting married in September (yaaah!)
• We go on honeymoon (Italy) almost immediately.

Now, part of our honeymoon is spending some time in Rome (read as “Vatican State” lol). We want to attend Papal General Audience, as held every wednesday.

The thing is, there is a “newlyweds” seating section, where catholic newlyweds (within 2 months I think) can be seated. But in addition to booking your place, info I have seen says that you need to show the Swiss Guards your marriage certificate - to prove you are indeed newlywed - before they will admit you.

Question is - does the Church issue its own marriage certificates, and is this the proof needed?

I ask because - in the UK anyway - one the Church feeds back to the State, the state issues its own Marriage certificate. However, this takes a little time and we will have left for our honeymoon before we can get the State’s certificate.

Thanks if you can advise!
Cheers!

 

[MissBorgia]

I would think a Church certificate with a proper seal and the signature of the witnessing priest would be enough. I would contact your Diocese.

 

[jeninmn]

We attended a papal audience in the Sposi Novelli section on our honeymoon 6 years ago. I believe we brought an unofficial copy of the certificate signed the day of the wedding along. Ours took a few weeks to go through the processes here before we had the official certificate, so we were not able to bring that with us.

If I recall correctly, we were not asked to present it when we got to St. Peter’s Square. However, this may be because we worked with an American church in Rome to get our special tickets. I believe the priest who performed our wedding provided them with something that fulfilled the requirement. We also presented our unofficial copy when we picked up our tickets.

Not sure if this helps, but this was what my experience was.

 

[figs]

Hi all,

I would appreciate some advice, if anyone can help. The situation is:

• Im getting married in September (yaaah!)
• We go on honeymoon (Italy) almost immediately.

Now, part of our honeymoon is spending some time in Rome (read as “Vatican State” lol). We want to attend Papal General Audience, as held every wednesday.

The thing is, there is a “newlyweds” seating section, where catholic newlyweds (within 2 months I think) can be seated. But in addition to booking your place, info I have seen says that you need to show the Swiss Guards your marriage certificate - to prove you are indeed newlywed - before they will admit you.

Question is - does the Church issue its own marriage certificates, and is this the proof needed?

I ask because - in the UK anyway - one the Church feeds back to the State, the state issues its own Marriage certificate. However, this takes a little time and we will have left for our honeymoon before we can get the State’s certificate.

Thanks if you can advise!
Cheers!

Hey! Congrats! The Honeymoon sounds fantastic!
Ok, I’m not sure how it is up there in Scotland, but I know in our Parish, down here in Kent, we issue one from the church, w/ the church seal etc.etc.
Check with your Parish. I know I would, rather then miss that oportunity!

 

[Garyjohn2]

In America you get the marriage certificate from the State, and the Priest signs it. The church may have its own document as well…but the “official one” is the state one.

 

[Phemie]

In America you get the marriage certificate from the State, and the Priest signs it. The church may have its own document as well…but the “official one” is the state one.

In Canada, certificates are issued by the Provinces but the Church also issues them (properly sealed and signed) and they are valid for use for passports, pensions, etc. I would think that for a Mass in Rome the Church certificate would suffice.

 

[GWright]

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and advice.

I will check with my parish priest just to be sure, as advised.

I expect the Church’s own document would carry more weight at the Vatican, than something from the British Government, buts its definitely worth checking!

Thanks again