The engagement period is a beautiful, but occasionally stressful, time for couples. Emotions are high and the task of planning a wedding may seem overwhelming for some. Knowing the administrative requirements and understanding the process ahead of time can ease some of those tensions. As someone who worked for parishes in the Diocese of Orlando before becoming a Catholic Wedding Photographer filming weddings across the country, here is everything engaged couples need to know about Catholic Marriage Preparation.
Catholic Marriage Preparation Forms
Catholic parishes need three key pieces of paperwork from engaged couples to begin Catholic Marriage Preparation. Those include proof of baptism, “A” Forms, and “B” Forms. Let’s break down what each of these entails:
- Proof of Baptism: The parish will need both the bride and groom’s Baptismal certificates. These certificates should also have notations written on the back recording the other Catholic sacraments each have received.
- Form A: This is a form that the priest will complete when he meets with an engaged couple for the first time. It outlines that the bride and groom consent to the marriage. The bride, groom, and priest will sign this form.
- Form B: These are the forms submitted by witnesses who affirm the bride and groom’s freedom to marry. The bride and groom will each receive two of this form to give to people who have known them for at least five years. It is common to ask parents to complete these forms, but a friend, relative, mentor, or other close figure can submit this form. The forms will need to be notarized. Then, return the final notarized forms to the parish.
Completing these catholic marriage preparation forms as soon as possible will help make the rest of the wedding planning process with the parish easier. Especially if the witnesses live out-of-town, couples will want to start working on these right away to prevent any hold-ups in the parish office. Some parishes let you begin the process as soon as you get engaged, others will want you to wait until 6 months prior to your wedding date to begin preparation.
Catholic Wedding Checklist
Most parishes follow generally the same requirements for marriage preparation. Couples should visit their diocese website or consult with their parish office for specifics, but here is a general checklist of what to expect in the process:
- Complete Preliminary Interview: the couple should meet with the parish priest at least six months before the desired wedding date.
- Most parishes require that at least one person of the couple must be a registered member of the parish at least six months prior to the desired wedding date.
- At least one person of the couple must be Catholic. If only one person of the couple is Catholic, the parish may recommend holding a Catholic Wedding Liturgy instead of the full Nuptial Mass.
- Complete Premarital Inventory Process: The couple should complete the premarital inventory offered through the parish or diocese. Examples include FOCCUS, Fully Engaged, or The Marriage Group. This process usually includes a mentor or facilitator who reviews the results with the couple.
- Complete Marriage Formation: The couple must attend a diocesan pre-Cana retreat or approved premarital course options.
- Some parishes recommend, or may even require, the completion of a Natural Family Planning (NFP) course. Some common courses include Whole Mission, Couple to Couple League, and CWCNFP.
- Submit all required Pre-Nuptial Paperwork: This includes the Certificates of Baptism (when you request these from your parish of baptism, make sure they include all of the other Sacraments you’ve received on the back of the certificate), Form A, and Form B, Certificate of Participation in marriage preparation course, and the Marriage License.
- For special circumstances, other required paperwork may include death certificate of previous spouse, Annulment Decree, or Canonical Dispensation and Permissions.
- Plan Wedding Liturgy: This is when couples will meet with the parish priest and/or wedding coordinators to select scripture readings, prayers, and music.
Remember The Church desires to set all couples up for success based on a foundation of free, total, faithful, and fruitful love. The intent of all counseling, paperwork, and coursework is to help couples achieve a fulfilling and lifelong partnership rooted in Christ.
For more details about Orlando weddings, view the Diocese of Orlando Marriage Preparation resources here.
Cost of Catholic Marriage Preparation
Depending on the specific pre-Cana materials a diocese requires, the cost of a Catholic wedding varies parish-to-parish. Generally, couples can expect to pay a small fee for pre-Cana retreats and any Natural Family Planning (NFP) coursework. Accepted NFP courses in the Diocese of Orlando, for example, are available for $50 or less. On the other hand, couples can expect to pay anywhere between 100 and 300 dollars for Pre-Cana courses.
Couples should also expect to pay a fee to marry at the parish of their choosing. Most parishes offer a discounted price for parishioners, so that’s something to keep in mind when looking for a church. Keep in mind, also, that larger church venues such as Basilicas or Cathedrals will cost more. For example, the St. James Cathedral in Orlando charges $800 for active registered parishioners, $1,500 for active diocesan parishioners, and $5,000 for out-of-diocese couples.
Another cost to be aware of in Catholic Marriage Preparation is the cost to use the parish’s music director, musical accompaniment, or cantors. The parish’s music director will guide the couple in selecting music for the wedding day. They may even recommend cantors or instrumentalists for the Nuptial Mass. Some parishes are more flexible than others when it comes to musical selections. Some churches may only allow traditional organ pieces, while others may allow more contemporary worship music for the liturgy.
Couples don’t need to feel overwhelmed by Catholic Marriage Preparation, especially when they work with a Catholic vendor like Four Loves Photo and Film. The Church is praying for you, your friends and family are praying for you, and I’m praying for you—You’ve got this!
“When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.”
– C.S. Lewis
Ready to take the next steps in your Catholic Marriage Preparation? Submit the form below to contact me about photographing your special day!
Joanna Schnitzer is a Catholic Wedding Photographer and Videographer and founder of Four Loves Photo and Film. She is a devout Catholic, wife, and mother with a passion for serving couples on the most important day of their lives. Before pursuing photography full-time, Joanna spent nearly a decade as a Youth Minister at parishes in central Florida.
