Getting married in the church….

As soon as possible, a Catholic intending to get married must contact the priest or deacon in the parish where they live. That applies whether you attend Mass in that parish or not and regardless of whether the wedding will take place in that parish.

The diocesan policy on marriage states that "at least six months’ notice of marriage is normally required". But if you are getting married outside the United Kingdom it is advisable to give more notice, ideally nine months. This is to allow preparation to be undertaken by the couple and the required paperwork to be completed. It is the responsibility of the relevant priest or deacon to ensure that all the necessary documentation is in hand and to see that the documents are sent to the place of marriage.

To avoid possible complications, no wedding date should be fixed until after the first meeting with the priest or deacon. This is to ensure that you have a full understanding of all of the requirements necessary for celebrating your wedding in the Catholic Church and to prevent you from losing non-refundable costs if the wedding date needs to be changed.

This initial visit will determine if both of you are free to marry in the Church and allow the priest or deacon time to guide you through the marriage preparation process.

If your wedding is to take place outside the UK it is essential that you contact your local parish priest or deacon before any arrangements are made with a priest or deacon in the other country.  This is to allow time for essential documentation to be completed and sent in advance of the wedding.

Marriage papers for weddings taking place in other countries travel via the Chancery Office at Archbishop’s House in Southwark Diocese to the office of the relevant overseas bishop, before finally being sent to the place of marriage. Hence the need for additional notice.