Catholics Attending Outdoor Weddings: Is It Allowed?

Attending an outdoor wedding as a Catholic guest is not addressed by the Catholic Church. However, the Church has strict rules about where Catholic weddings can take place, and until recently, it was against canon law to marry outside of a Catholic church. Now, in two US cities, Montana and Baltimore, Maryland, priests or deacons can officiate weddings in another suitable place. The Catholic Church considers marriage a sacrament, and so it must be conducted in a dedicated, sacred, and consecrated space.

Can Catholics get married outside a church?

For centuries, it has been against Catholic canon law to get married outside of a Catholic church. According to canon law, marriages are meant to be performed by a Catholic priest inside either the bride or groom's parish church. If a Catholic couple were to wed in another venue, such as a beach or rooftop, the couple would not be considered married in the eyes of the Catholic Church.

However, in recent years, the clergy has started to make some changes. The Church is now giving permission for couples to tie the knot outside of a church, but only in two cities in the US: the Archdiocese of Montana and the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland. In these cities, a priest or deacon can officiate a wedding in "another suitable place." Other dioceses allow it on a case-by-case basis, but generally don't promote the policy.

In addition, there are certain circumstances in which a Catholic can marry outside of the Church and still have the marriage recognized by the Church. If a Catholic is marrying a baptized non-Catholic Christian, there may be legitimate reasons for the couple to want to marry in the non-Catholic's church, such as a long-standing relationship with a minister there. In this case, the couple would complete Catholic marriage preparation, and the Catholic party would attest to their intention not to leave the Catholic Church and to baptize and raise any children in the Catholic faith. The non-Catholic party would promise not to interfere with these commitments. After this preparation, the priest would petition the bishop on the couple's behalf for a "Dispensation from Canonical Form," or permission to be married outside of the Catholic Church. With this permission, the marriage would be valid in the eyes of the Catholic Church.

It is important to note that these dispensations are rarely granted and usually only for very good reasons, such as serious illness or injury. Additionally, even with a dispensation, the local bishop must still give permission for the wedding to take place outside of the Catholic church.

Therefore, while it is technically possible for Catholics to get married outside of a church and have their marriage recognized by the Church, it is a complex and rare occurrence. The Church strongly prefers that Catholic marriages take place within a Catholic church to maintain a sense of the sacredness of the occasion.

Why are outdoor weddings not allowed?

The Catholic Church has historically prohibited outdoor weddings, requiring that marriages be performed by a Catholic priest inside a church. This tradition is rooted in the belief that marriage is a sacred sacrament and should be treated with the utmost seriousness and respect. While some couples may find the idea of an outdoor wedding appealing, the Church argues that a church setting is more conducive to the solemnity and sanctity of the occasion.

Canon Law, which governs the rules of the Catholic Church, states that a marriage between Catholics or between a Catholic and a non-Catholic baptised party should be celebrated in a parish church. While permission can be granted to hold the wedding in another church or oratory, outdoor locations are generally not permitted. The Church teaches that marriage is a sacred moment given by Jesus and, as such, should be held in a dedicated, sacred, and consecrated place.

In recent years, there has been a shift towards more standardised practices in the Catholic Church, and outdoor weddings have become increasingly discouraged. The high divorce rates and "silly stunts" of modern weddings have also influenced the Church's decision to emphasise the seriousness of Christian marriage. While bishops can grant exceptions for certain circumstances, such as a family member being unable to attend the wedding due to illness, they are less likely to approve outdoor weddings due to the concern that they may detract from the sacredness of the vows.

However, it is worth noting that there have been rare instances where bishops have granted permission for Catholics to marry outside of a church, particularly in cases involving celebrities or privacy concerns. Additionally, as of 2019, the Archdiocese of Montana and the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland, have allowed priests or deacons to officiate weddings in "another suitable place," including some outdoor venues.

While the Catholic Church's stance on outdoor weddings may evolve over time, it is currently not a common practice due to the theological and traditional significance placed on the sacrament of marriage.

Can a priest bless a non-Catholic marriage outdoors?

The Catholic Church has strict rules about where a wedding can take place. For centuries, it has been against canon law to marry outside of a Catholic church. However, there are some circumstances in which a priest can bless a non-Catholic marriage outdoors.

According to canon law, "Marriages are to be celebrated in a parish where either of the contracting parties has a domicile… With the permission of the proper ordinary or proper pastor, marriages can be celebrated elsewhere." This means that, with the authorisation of the local bishop, it may be possible for a priest to officiate a wedding outside of a Catholic church. However, this authorisation is rarely granted, and usually only for serious reasons such as illness or injury.

In recent years, the Church has started to make some changes. Currently, in two US cities, the Archdiocese of Montana and the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland, priests or deacons are allowed to officiate weddings in "another suitable place". This includes outdoor venues, as long as they are not bars, clubs, or boats. In other dioceses, this may be allowed on a case-by-case basis.

If a couple wishes to have their marriage blessed by a priest outside of a Catholic church, it is best to work with their parish priest to find a suitable location and ensure that all necessary requirements are met.

Can I have two wedding ceremonies?

Having two wedding ceremonies is becoming increasingly common, especially with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. There are several reasons why a couple might opt for multiple ceremonies. For instance, they may want to have a destination wedding and a local celebration, either because the destination wedding will be small or because of complicated legal requirements.

Another reason is that the couple may be from different countries and want equal opportunities to celebrate with both families. Some couples also plan two weddings if they've eloped and want to follow it up with a grander or more religious ceremony. In some countries, such as Germany, it is standard to have the legal marriage at a different time from the symbolic or religious ceremony. This is because there are specific locations and people legally allowed to perform marriages, so if your wedding venue isn't one of those places, you'll need to have two weddings.

If you're planning two weddings, it's essential to be realistic about budgeting and managing the workload. You may want to prioritise one wedding as more customised and make the other less detailed to reduce stress and costs. It's also important to let guests know that they're not obligated to attend both weddings, although you may want to send invitations for both events to your immediate family and closest friends.

Can I personalise my Catholic wedding?

While there are many traditions and requirements for Catholic weddings, there are still ways to personalise your special day.

Readings and music

You can select which readings and music are used during your ceremony. There are nine options for the reading from the Old Testament, 13 from the New Testament, and 10 from the Gospel. Each reading has a unique context and theme, so you can browse the options with your partner and choose the ones that resonate with you.

When it comes to music, there is no list of pre-approved wedding songs. However, your priest or parish has the right to reject your song choice. They will use three criteria to decide what is appropriate for a holy celebration: prayerfulness, accessibility, and beauty.

Wedding program

You can design your own wedding program, which can include a short note of gratitude to your guests, as well as the lyrics to congregational songs to encourage participation. You can also include a short note explaining the Catholic tradition of communion and who should receive it.

Vows

While couples generally don't exchange their own wedding vows in a Catholic ceremony, some priests might let you change the wording of the traditional vows slightly.

Traditions

There are many Catholic wedding traditions you can choose to incorporate into your wedding mass, such as the Croatian Crucifix, bringing flowers or praying a consecration prayer to Mary, or consecrating and bringing flowers to St. Joseph or the Holy Family.

Frequently asked questions