Four Loves Photo and Film has photographed everything from full Traditional Latin masses in massive cathedrals to intimate convalidation ceremonies in local parishes. In every format, our goal is the same: to prayerfully capture your witness of love while maintaining respect for the sanctity of the church. If you are a couple preparing for marriage in a Catholic Church, here is a basic overview of the Catholic wedding formats that we have experience photographing:
Catholic Wedding Mass
This is the most common Catholic wedding that Four Loves Photo and Film captures; also known as a Nuptial Mass. It is the typical “Norvus Ordo Missae” (meaning “new order of the mass”) where two Catholics marry in a Catholic Church. The ceremony includes Liturgy of the Word, the Sacrament of Marriage, and Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Wedding in Latin Novus Ordo
Latin “Novus Ordo” simply refers to the Nuptial Mass that we celebrate today. However, instead of celebrating in the vernacular (English, in the United States), the mass is celebrated in Latin. Most recently, Four Loves had the joy of documenting Shelby and Brian’s Latin Novus Ordo wedding in Indianapolis.
Catholic Wedding Liturgy
Some couples opt for a Catholic Wedding Liturgy instead of a full mass. Typically, this is a wedding between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic Christian. The ceremony is often shorter as it only celebrates Liturgy of the Word and then Sacrament of Marriage. This Catholic wedding format does not celebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist (there is no Holy Communion). The Church still recognizes the marriage sacramentally in this format. We loved capturing Mark and Jenna’s Catholic Wedding Liturgy last fall!
Catholic Convalidation Ceremony
A Convalidation ceremony occurs when a couple elects to make their existing civil marriage sacramental through the Catholic Church. Convalidation can occur within the mass or outside of it, although couples are encouraged to celebrate within the context of mass. Four Loves has witnessed this beautiful strengthening of a couple’s marriage when we photographed Catherine & Travis’ convalidation ceremony at St.Theresa Catholic Church in Belleview, FL.
Traditional Latin Mass Catholic Wedding
If you are a Catholic couple planning to celebrate the sacrament of marriage in a Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) setting, Four Loves Photo and Film has experience participating in this format. One of my favorite TLM weddings was Keia & Davis’ at the stunning Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, MA.
About the TLM
The Traditional Latin Mass (TLM), also known as the Tridentine Mass, is an extraordinary rite of the Roman Catholic Liturgy. It follows the 1962 Roman Missal, and only certain dioceses with expressed permission from their bishops can celebrate it. You can learn more about this mass form here.
Catholic Marriage Preparation
The United States Council of Bishops recommends that couples begin marriage preparation with their parishes six to nine months prior to their expected wedding date. This is to ensure proper time for the couple to prepare for a lifetime of marriage. Part of that preparation includes choosing one of the Catholic wedding formats in which to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage. To learn more about each Catholic wedding format, visit the US Council of Catholic Bishops and your local diocese’s website. It is also helpful to be in communication with your parish’s wedding coordinators or marriage directors.
Once you begin marriage preparation and choose a Catholic wedding format, it’s time to start planning the rest of your wedding day details. Remember to book the right photographer to capture your day—Submit the form below and connect with a Catholic Wedding Videographer.
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.
