Marriage Preparation
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Some are more concerned with the exterior details, with the banquet, the photographs, the clothes, the flowers... These are important for a celebration, but only if they point to the real reason for your joy: the Lord’s blessing on your love. Make it so that ... the exterior signs of your celebration reveal the Lord’s presence and remind you and everyone present of the origin and the reason for your joy.
Pope Francis, Meeting with Engaged Couples at the Vatican, St. Valentine’s Day 2014
Marriage Preparation
Congratulations on your engagement! The next months will likely be a blur of planning and anticipation. Amid all the plans, we encourage you to invite God into this beautiful next step in your relationship. Embracing marriage as a sacrament will deepen your love as a couple and help you both to grow in the strength and virtues needed for married life.
While the process can seem complicated, you don’t have to tackle it alone. Your local parish is there to help you through the steps and support you in your marriage.
Practical next steps for getting married
in the Catholic Church:
1. Contact your parish
If you have a parish, contact them as soon as you get engaged and before you set the wedding date. At minimum, contact should be made six months before the wedding. The pastor and parish team will be there to guide you through the rest of the steps.
If you don’t currently have a parish, check out our parish finder tool and find the one that matches your location and language.
2. Choose a marriage preparation course.
Couples in our Archdiocese are required to complete a marriage preparation course prior to getting married. The goal is to strengthen your connection as a couple and prepare you for the transition to married life.
Some parishes offer their own marriage preparation, while others connect couples with existing courses. Your pastor must approve of your selected course, so touch base with him first to discern the best option.
3. Submit your marriage prep ‘Proof of Completion’ to your pastor.
Your marriage prep course, no matter which you choose, will equip you with practical tools for living as a married couple. At completion, you’ll receive a certificate. Submit this certificate to your pastor for parish records.
4. Make time for additional meetings.
Preparing for a wedding is a complex process! Be prepared for additional meetings to go over the wedding liturgy, finalize paperwork, or follow-up after your marriage preparation.
5. Obtain a Civil Marriage License.
A Civil Marriage License must be delivered to your chosen parish before the wedding in order for your marriage to be recognized by the government. Please see the Province of Ontario website for details.
