A Catholic Wedding After Civil Ceremony: Is It Possible?

If you're a Catholic who has had a civil wedding ceremony, your marriage won't be considered valid by the Catholic Church. If you want your marriage to be recognised by the Church, you'll need to have a convalidation ceremony. This is a type of marriage ceremony where a couple who married outside of the Catholic Church can have their union validated within it. The word convalidation comes from the Latin word meaning to firm up or to strengthen. The ceremony is not that different from a traditional wedding ceremony, but it does involve an expedited marriage preparation process.

The Catholic Church's view on civil marriages

The Catholic Church does not recognise civil marriages as valid if one or both parties are Catholic. In this case, the Catholic individual(s) are asked to refrain from receiving Holy Communion until the marriage is recognised as valid by the Church. This is because the Church views marriage as a spiritual reality, rather than a legal formality.

The Church invites couples who are married civilly to take part in the Sacrament of Matrimony, which is called a convalidation. This is a process that involves an expedited marriage preparation process to determine that there is no impediment to the marriage, and a simple celebration of the sacrament of marriage. Another process, called radical sanation, may be used to recognise a marriage as valid without a formal exchange of consent.

Convalidation is the same as a traditional wedding ceremony, but it may be less lavish as the couple has already had a civil marriage. It is a way for couples to deepen their faith and their commitment to each other. It is a binding ceremony, not simply a renewal of promises, and the day of convalidation is the day the marriage begins in the eyes of the Church.

In some countries, a religious ceremony cannot be legally binding, so a civil ceremony must be performed first.

Convalidation and its meaning

Convalidation is the process of bringing a civil marriage into the Catholic Church. It is a recognition of the marriage by the Church, but it is not a simple blessing of the existing union. Instead, it requires a new, free act of consent by each spouse, which is essential to marriage. The words the couple expresses outwardly signify the gift of self that they exchange.

The Catholic Church requires that Catholics marry before a priest or deacon. If they do not, and marry outside the Church without permission, the marriage is not considered valid. In such cases, the Church invites couples to convalidate their marriage, bringing it into the Church. This involves removing the impediment (usually a lack of canonical form) and making a new exchange of vows in the Catholic form.

The process of convalidation is similar to any couple getting married in the Church. It involves providing sacramental records, evidence of freedom to marry, a copy of the civil marriage certificate, and normal pre-marital paperwork. The couple must also exchange vows before Catholic clergy and two witnesses.

Convalidation is derived from the Latin word meaning "to firm up" or "to strengthen". It is not a renewal of previous vows but a new act of consent, creating a valid marriage in the eyes of the Catholic Church.

Requirements for a valid Catholic marriage

A Catholic marriage is more than a contract; it is a sacrament. It is a "covenant by which a man and woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life". The Catholic Church has requirements that must be met for a marriage to be considered valid.

Firstly, the spouses must be free to marry. This means that there must be no impediment according to canon law. Some impediments to marriage include age, previous marriage, being relatives, and fear. For example, both parties must be old enough to contract marriage according to local civil laws and the Church's minimum age requirement.

Secondly, the spouses must freely exchange their consent. In other words, by an act of their will, they must irrevocably give and accept each other to establish marriage. The assisting priest or deacon will ask the couple three questions to ensure their consent:

• Have they come to enter the marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?
• Are they prepared to love and honour each other for as long as they both live?
• Are they prepared to accept children lovingly from God and bring them up according to the law of Christ and the Church?

Thirdly, their consent must be given in the canonical form. This means that it must be given in the presence of two witnesses and before a properly authorized Church minister. Exceptions to this last requirement must be approved by Church authority.

In addition to the above, the Catholic Church also requires that the couple participate in marriage preparation programs to develop a better understanding of Christian marriage and evaluate their readiness to live married life.

Civil marriage first, religious ceremony later

A civil marriage followed by a religious ceremony is a common practice for couples who cannot afford their dream wedding or who need to get married quickly. This is also a requirement in some countries. However, the Catholic Church does not recognize a civil wedding ceremony as valid when one or both parties are Catholic. If a Catholic marries a non-Catholic in a civil ceremony, the Catholic partner is asked to refrain from receiving the Eucharist until the marriage is recognized as valid by the Church.

A Catholic couple married outside of the Church may want to have their union recognized by the Church through a process called convalidation. This is a type of marriage ceremony where couples married outside of the Catholic Church want their marriage to be validated within it. Convalidation is derived from the Latin word meaning "to firm up" or "to strengthen." It is a religious ceremony for a Catholic couple to be legally wed under Canon law. The ceremony legitimizes the marriage in the eyes of the Church and God.

To initiate the convalidation process, couples should contact their local priest or parish for guidance. Couples in the Diocese of Little Rock, for example, must begin their marriage preparation at least six months before their tentative wedding date. The priest or the parish will help explain the ins and outs of a convalidation ceremony, if it is appropriate for their specific situation, and if there are any requirements to fulfill before the convalidation, such as an annulment.

The convalidation ceremony is similar to a traditional wedding ceremony, although it may be less lavish since the couple may have already had a civil marriage celebration. If both spouses are Catholic, the convalidation is fittingly celebrated within Mass. If one spouse is not, convalidation may be celebrated outside of Mass in a separate ceremony. Couples can invite anyone they want to witness their convalidation ceremony, but any non-Catholic guests should be reminded not to receive Communion if they have not been baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church.

The role of the priest

In the eyes of the Catholic Church, a marriage is only valid if it is performed by an authorised priest or deacon. Therefore, a Catholic couple who chooses to have a civil ceremony first must later seek the assistance of a priest to have their marriage recognised by the Church. This process is known as convalidation, and it involves the priest guiding the couple through an expedited marriage preparation process. The priest will determine if there are any impediments to the marriage and will ensure the couple understands the Catholic sacrament of marriage. The priest will also likely recommend a simple celebration of the sacrament of marriage, witnessing the couple's consent to be married.

If there has been a previous marriage for either spouse, the priest will advise the couple to seek a declaration of nullity or an annulment from the Church. The priest may also be involved in formational sessions with the couple, helping them prepare for sacramental marriage.

In some cases, a Catholic may marry a non-Catholic, and the priest will be responsible for granting special dispensation for the wedding to take place outside of the Catholic Church.

Overall, the priest plays a crucial role in guiding the couple through the process of having their civil marriage recognised by the Catholic Church and ensuring they meet the necessary requirements to be considered validly married in the eyes of the Church.

Frequently asked questions