Wedding Invitation Wording for Catholic marrying a non-Catholic (Episocpalian)

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iamkasia

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Hi, I am a Catholic and am getting married to an Episcopalian (who was baptized in the Episcopalian Church) in a Catholic church, but we are not having mass. My parents are throwing us wedding. How can I word the invite?
 
iamkasia said:
Hi, I am a Catholic and am getting married to an Episcopalian (who was baptized in the Episcopalian Church) in a Catholic church, but we are not having mass. My parents are throwing us wedding. How can I word the invite?
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Hi, there.

We’ll assume that, as a Catholic, you have done the following as part of your wedding planning:
  • You have spoken to your diocese, starting with your Catholic priest, to receive a **dispensation **to marry a non-Catholic.
  • You have **received ***approval *from your local Catholic bishop.
You need these arrangements beforehand, else you may create an invalid marriage in the eyes of the Church. You as a Catholic can’t receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist and will place yourself in mortal sin without this dispensation (which, by my understanding, is easy to obtain).

That said, there are plenty of wedding etiquette books with suitable wording. A trip to a bookstore or a decent Google search will yield what you need. How your invitation is worded will depend on the location and type of wedding. There is no liturgical or canonical requirements for such a thing. Since you are not having a nuptial Mass, and the matrimonial sacrament of Episcopals will be seen differently, you may not need to use invitations worded in such a fashion.

One example:

Mr. and Mrs. Jane Bridename
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Susie Bridename
to
Michael Doe
son of
Mr. and Mrs. John Doe
Saturday, the second of April
two thousand fourteen
at three o’clock in the afternoon
Greystone Country Club
123 Main Street
Anytown, New York

Good luck with your wedding!
 
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Joseph McCabe

request the honour of your presence

as their daughter

Mary Francis

and

Mr. Peter Paul Thompson

are united in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony

Sunday, the twenty-second of December

Two thousand and eight

at nine o’clock in the morning

Saint Matthew’s Roman Catholic Church

Westport, Connecticut
 
Yes, of course we’ve done all our prep work!

I should have been more clear.

I would love to address the invitation as 1KE suggests:

"Mary Francis

and

Mr. Peter Paul Thompson

are united in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony"

However, can I write this if my fiance is not Catholic (but is baptized Episcopalian)? Thanks!
 
iamkasia said:
Yes, of course we’ve done all our prep work!

I should have been more clear.

I would love to address the invitation as 1KE suggests:

"Mary Francis

and

Mr. Peter Paul Thompson

are united in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony"

However, can I write this if my fiance is not Catholic (but is baptized Episcopalian)? Thanks!
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It is not a sacrament if one of the parties is unbaptized. As your fiance is baptized (and the baptism is accepted by the Church which the Episcopalian baptism is), it is a sacrament.
 
iamkasia said:
Yes, of course we’ve done all our prep work!

I should have been more clear.

I would love to address the invitation as 1KE suggests:

"Mary Francis

and

Mr. Peter Paul Thompson

are united in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony"

However, can I write this if my fiance is not Catholic (but is baptized Episcopalian)? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Just my opinion: If the Episcopals call it “the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony,” then I would do–ahem–what the Romans do, and use the phrase. I think you noted that the wedding will be more Episcopal in theme, so that sounds appropriate.
 
1ke said:
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Joseph McCabe

request the honour of your presence

as their daughter

Mary Francis

and

Mr. Peter Paul Thompson

are united in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony

Sunday, the twenty-second of December

Two thousand and eight

at nine o’clock in the morning

Saint Matthew’s Roman Catholic Church

Westport, Connecticut
Click to expand...
This is precisely how it should read. You are NOT “inviting them to a wedding”, but you are being united in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

My wedding is coming up; if you want a copy of the invite to see mine drop me a PM.

AND CONGRATS!!!
 
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