Planning Your Catholic Wedding

• Pre-Wedding Checklist
• Choosing Scripture Readings

Congratulations on your engagement!

Marriage is the unique sacrament where you and your spouse make the complete gift of yourselves to one another. Therefore, this process is intended to prepare you to make this gift. Because of the serious nature of this preparation, it is recommended that you allocate no less than six months for this process.

Contact your local Catholic parish and let them know about your engagement. Often, at this point, you will meet with the priest, deacon, or the marriage preparation coordinator to complete some preliminary paperwork.

Take the FOCCUS or FACET inventory. These inventories are intended to identify relationship strengths and growth areas to help tailor your marriage preparation to your specific situation. Often this inventory can be taken online. Discuss with your parish whether it is to be done at the parish or through the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Begin acquiring necessary documents. For more information CLICK HERE.

Sign up for a marriage preparation program. Before signing up for a program ensure it will be accepted by your local parish because different parishes offer different programs.

• Sponsor Couple: A married couple from your parish is trained to guide you through your preparation course, using a Pre-marriage Discussion Inventory to facilitate communication and understanding. Meet with the sponsor couple at their home. Register directly with your parish.
• Group-Style "Pre-Cana" Conferences: These workshop-style group programs are open to any couple. Take a pre-marriage discussion inventory to facilitate communication and understanding. Below are the Archdiocesan Pre-Cana programs currently open. Your parish also may have a Pre-Cana program not listed here. To see available dates and register for classes CLICK HERE.

Attend a Natural Family Planning class. There are several different types of Natural Family Planning. To learn more and sign up for classes CLICK HERE.

Maintain contact with your local parish throughout the whole process. This will ensure that you are able to schedule any follow-up meetings with your celebrant, ensure the submission all of necessary documents, and everything is in order for the liturgy (readings, music, etc.).

Actively participate in your Catholic faith. For example, attend Sunday Mass, pray regularly with your fiancé, receive the Sacrament or Reconciliation, and spend time with the Blessed Sacrament in Adoration.

If you have questions about the process or any special circumstances please contact the Office of Marriage and Family Life at 410-547-5406.