Matrimony

Newly engaged? Congratulations!

The commitment you make to each other at your wedding will shape the rest of your life and can profoundly impact your faith as well. We’re happy to help you prepare for the sacrament and host the service. Here’s a quick rundown of the process.

Step 1: An initial meeting with the priest to compete some paperwork

“Form A” (creative name!)

Before we can set a wedding date, the priest determines if the couple is free to marry in the Catholic Church. This isn’t based on his opinion, your level of faith, or anything similar. In some ways this is like the civil marriage license you’ll obtain before your wedding. The state won’t let you marry if, for example, you are too young or too closely related to your fiancé. The Church has similar rules and the form the priest completes works through those questions. (There’s no need to worry about this. It’s rare for something to disqualify a couple from marriage in the Church.)

“Form Bs” (another creative name!)

These are forms completed by people who know you and can verify the information you gave to the priest on the “Form A.” Most couples are required to submit these. The priest will give them to you at the initial meeting.

We also need information about your baptisms – name of church, location, approximate date, etc. Bring this with you, if possible, to the initial meeting or, better yet, email it to us in advance.

Step 2: Preparation for your marriage

The extent of this depends on the couple and their situation. Often this includes an online “inventory” completed individually by both the bride and groom, a day-long “Journey to Matrimony” workshop conducted by our diocese, and at least one meeting with the priest.

Step 3: Preparation for the wedding service / Mass

We’ll also need to talk with you about the wedding service. If both the bride and groom are Catholic, we’ll celebrate a full Mass with the marriage vows taking place after the homily. If only one party is Catholic, the service will not include the Liturgy of the Eucharists (the second half of a traditional Mass.)

Step 4: The wedding day

We’ll take care of the liturgy. You take care of the rest.

Please note: St Anne, like other parishes, has a few, necessary, guidelines for the wedding. If you have specific needs, please ask the priest about these at the initial meeting. We’ll do what we can to accommodate, but some things – playing your favorite secular song during the Mass, for example – are not possible. We’d like to clarify these things up front.

Next Step?

Call the office at 813-645-1714 or email Erica at [email protected] to set up an appointment with the priest.

Some special situations and common questions

Can I get married in the Church if my fiancé is not Catholic? Yes!

Do I need to be confirmed to be married in the Church? No. This is a common misconception. It would be best if you are confirmed but is not required. We’d be happy to help you prepare for your confirmation while you prepare for your wedding and hope you’ll choose to do this.

Can a priest marry us at a venue or someplace outdoors? No. (Sorry. This isn’t our rule. It comes from the bishop.)

Can we do the preparation with St. Anne but get married in another Catholic Church? Yes. We’d be happy to do this for you.

Can we get married in the Church if one of us is divorced? Yes, but there is much more to do than what is listed on this page. Make the appointment to talk to the priest. Once he understands your situation, he can explain what else needs to be done.

If we are already civilly married, can we get that marriage blessed in the Church? Yes! We call it a convalidation. Often the process is easier than what is listed here. If either person has a prior marriage, it will likely take more effort (but it’s worth it!). Make an appointment to talk with the priest.

Is there a fee? For “typical” weddings, yes. We ask for $750 to cover our expenses and make it possible to provide this sacrament for those who can only offer less. We generally do not require a fee for convalidations since we have few expenses associated with them. Please do not let financial concerns affect your decision to marry in the Church. We’ll do all we can to help.