Who Can Perform Catholic Weddings And Why?

Catholic weddings are steeped in tradition and liturgy, and the ceremony is considered a worship service, with the priest leading the proceedings. The ceremony involves several rituals, including biblical readings, the exchange of vows and rings, prayers, and music. It is a public ritual, celebrated in a church, and not a private ceremony. The Catholic Church does not recognise marriages performed outside a church, even if a priest officiates. However, in some cases, a priest may give a special dispensation to allow a wedding to be held outdoors or in a different church.

Catholic wedding ceremony order

A Catholic wedding ceremony is a meticulously planned event, rich in tradition and liturgy. It is a public ritual, celebrated in the community prayer space, and is usually held in the morning or early afternoon. The ceremony consists of biblical readings, the exchange of vows, the exchange of rings, the Prayer of the Faithful, the nuptial blessing, prayers and music. Here is the typical order of a Catholic wedding mass:

The Introductory Rite

The wedding party processes into the room with the priest leading the way, creating the sign of the cross. The "Gloria" hymn may be sung, followed by a prayer. The assembly stands throughout.

The Liturgy of the Word

After the prayer, the congregation sits and the lector reads from the Old Testament. The assembly responds with "Thanks be to God". A psalm is sung, followed by another reading from the New Testament, which ends with "The Word of the Lord", to which the assembly responds, "Thanks be to God".

The Gospel Singing

A traditional song called a Gospel Acclamation is sung, and the assembly stands. A gospel reading follows. The priest ends the reading with "The Gospel of the Lord", and the assembly may respond with "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ".

The Homily

The priest delivers a short sermon about the importance of a Catholic wedding ceremony. The assembly is seated.

The Celebration of Matrimony

The priest asks the couple a series of questions, to which they respond affirmatively. The couple then exchanges vows and rings. The priest says a prayer over their marriage. The assembly stands.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

The bread and wine are prepared at the altar, and the Eucharist prayer is recited. A hymn called )"Sanctus" is sung. The assembly kneels before standing for the Communion Rite.

The Lord's Prayer

The Lord's Prayer is recited or sung, kicking off the Communion Rite. The priest offers a blessing, and a Communion hymn is sung. The assembly stands.

The Dismissal

The assembly stands for one last prayer, followed by the dismissal and recessional out of the church.

Catholic wedding traditions

Catholic weddings are steeped in tradition and liturgy. The ceremony is not private but a public ritual, celebrated in a church building, and guests are encouraged to participate fully in the liturgy. The wedding usually takes place in the bride's parish church, though permission may be granted to marry in a different church.

The ceremony consists of biblical readings, the exchange of vows, the exchange of rings, the Prayer of the Faithful, the nuptial blessing, prayers, and music. The Sacrament of Matrimony usually takes place during a Nuptial Mass, celebrated in the morning or early afternoon. The couple may opt for a full Catholic wedding ceremony Nuptial Mass, which includes readings from the Old and New Testaments, hymns, and psalms. If the couple chooses to skip the Nuptial Mass, they will have a Celebration of Marriage, which begins with the Liturgy of the Word.

The Liturgy of the Word includes readings from the Old and New Testaments, a responsorial psalm, the "alleluia" before the Gospel, and a Gospel reading. The selections may be read by the priest or members of the wedding party. This is followed by the homily, or sermon, which elaborates on the marriage theme. The priest may include personal references if he knows the couple well.

The exchange of rings follows the exchange of vows. The best man usually has both rings, which he gives to the priest to bless before they are exchanged. In a double ring ceremony, the blessing and presentation are repeated for the groom's ring after the bride receives hers.

The Prayer of the Faithful may include personal prayers by the couple. During a Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist is said at this time, and the priest offers the Nuptial Blessing.

If the ceremony takes place without a Mass, it concludes with nuptial blessings and a final prayer from the priest, who tells the congregation, "Go in peace with Christ," to which they respond, "Thanks be to God."

If the ceremony includes a Nuptial Mass, the altar is prepared for communion, and the priest delivers the Eucharistic Prayers over the bread and wine for communion. The guests participate in reciting the Lord's Prayer, and communion is distributed to the newlyweds and then the guests. Guests who are not Catholic may be offered a blessing by the priest instead. After communion, the ceremony concludes as it would without a Mass.

Catholic wedding outside a church

A Catholic wedding outside a church is possible, but it is not easy to obtain permission for one. According to Canon Law, a Catholic wedding must be held in a Catholic church or chapel and performed by a Catholic priest. If a Catholic wishes to marry a non-Catholic in a non-Catholic ceremony, they must obtain permission from the diocesan bishop in advance. This permission is usually only granted if there are grave difficulties with having a regular Catholic wedding, such as if the non-Catholic family is anti-Catholic and refuses to attend the wedding if it is held in a Catholic church.

For two Catholics to be married outside of a church, permission must be granted by the diocesan bishop, who has the ultimate decision. This is very rarely granted and usually only in cases where one of the spouses is a celebrity and privacy is a concern. In some dioceses, a bishop may never grant this permission.

If a Catholic couple wishes to be married outside, they may have to settle for a non-Catholic ceremony or have two ceremonies, one Catholic and one non-Catholic. A Catholic couple can also ask a priest to give a blessing at their outdoor ceremony, but this will not count as a sacrament.

In rare circumstances, a Catholic wedding may be held outside of a church due to unusual circumstances such as political, cultural, or safety reasons. For example, if the church building has suffered structural damage due to a natural disaster.

Ultimately, the decision to have a Catholic wedding outside a church depends on the couple's priorities and the approval of the local bishop.

Catholic wedding vows

The Catholic wedding ceremony usually lasts about 45 minutes to an hour if it includes a mass, and 30 to 40 minutes without a mass. The ceremony begins with the wedding party processing into the room with the priest, who leads the way in creating the sign of the cross. The priest then greets the assembly, and the people respond. A hymn, "Gloria", is sung, and then a prayer is said. The congregation then takes their seats, and the lector reads from the Old Testament. This is followed by a psalm, another reading, and then a traditional song called a Gospel Acclamation, for which the assembly stands. A gospel reading is then given, after which the priest says, "The Gospel of the Lord", and the assembly may respond with, "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ".

The priest then asks the couple a series of questions, to which they respond affirmatively. There are three questions that are considered the declaration of consent:

• "(Name) and (name), have you come here to enter into Marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?"
• "Are you prepared, as you follow the path of Marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?"
• "Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?"

The bride and groom respond "I have" or "I am" to each of these questions.

The couple then exchanges their vows, which are usually one of the four options provided in the Order for Celebrating Matrimony. The standard version goes as follows:

Priest (or deacon): Since it is your intention to enter into the covenant of Holy Matrimony, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church.

Groom: I, (name), take you, (name), to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.

Bride: I, (name), take you, (name), to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you all the days of my life.

The couple then exchanges rings, and the priest says a prayer over their marriage. The groom places the wedding ring on his wife's ring finger and says: "(Name), receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." The bride then places the ring on her husband's finger and says the same.

In the United States, Catholic wedding vows may also take the following form:

Groom: I, (name), take you, (name), for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

Bride: I, (name), take you, (name), for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

The priest then acknowledges that the couple has declared their consent to be married, prays for God's blessing on the couple, and declares, "What God joins together, let no one put asunder". This is the point at which the bride and groom become wife and husband.

Catholic wedding music

Music is an integral part of a Catholic wedding ceremony, which is considered a worship service. The music selected should assist the assembled believers in expressing and sharing their faith. While the Roman Catholic Church does not allow secular music in most cases, songs from the popular idiom may be included, especially those that can be seen as referring to the human-divine nature of love.

The music for a Catholic wedding ceremony can be chosen from sacred or classical music. The couple should first consult the priest or the church music minister before finalising their music selections. The couple should also consult the parish STM Guidelines for Weddings booklet for detailed information about planning their wedding liturgy. The music selections should be submitted at least six weeks before the wedding date.

Processional

• Canon in D (Pachelbel)
• Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bach)
• Air: Water Music (Handel)
• Prelude to Te Deum (Charpentier)
• St. Anthony Chorale (Haydn)
• Trumpet Tune (Purcell)
• Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke)
• Christ be Our Light (Farrell)
• Magnificat (sung) (Sherman)

Opening Hymn

• For the Beauty of the Earth (Dix)
• Gather the People (Schutte)
• Gather Your People (Hurd)
• Glory and Praise to Our God (Schutte)
• God Created Earth and Heaven (Beethoven)
• God who Blesses New Beginnings (Hyfrydol)
• O Bless the Lord (Michaels)
• When Love is Found (O Waly Waly)
• Happy the People
• Let Your Mercy Be on Us (Haugen)
• Taste and See
• The Lord is Kind and Merciful (Haugen)
• Blest are Those who Love You (Haugen)

Offertory/Preparation of the Gifts

• Christ be Our Light (Farrell)
• Companions on the Journey (Landry)
• Servant Song (McGargill)
• The Summons (Kelvingrove)
• We are Many Parts (Haugen)
• When Love is Found (O Waly Waly)
• Wherever You Go (Weston Priory)

Communion

• Behold the Lamb (Willett)
• Bread for the World (Farrell)
• Bread of Life (Cooney)
• Bread of Life (Farrell)
• I am the Bread of Life (Toolan)
• One Bread One Body (Foley)
• Seed Scattered and Sown (Feiten)
• Table of Plenty (Schutte)
• Ubi Caritas (Rosania)

Signing of the Register

• Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
• Ave Maria (Schubert)
• Bridal Prayer (Copeland)
• Covenant Hymn/Wherever You Go (Cooney/Daigle)
• For Life and All Its Richness (Klusmeier)
• Live to be Holy (Lawton)
• Panis Angelicus (Franck)
• Paul’s Prayer (Fabing)
• Set Me As a Seal (Maher)
• Wedding Prayer (Ault)
• Wedding Song (There is Love) (Stookey)

Recessional

• Hornpipe /Allegro Maestoso: Water Music (Handel)
• Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bach)
• Prelude to Te Deum (Charpentier)
• Trumpet Tune (Purcell)
• Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke)
• Come, Let Us Sing (Lindh)
• Hark Ten Thousand Harps & Voices (Courtney)

Frequently asked questions