Guidance for couples marrying within the Catholic Church

It is worth bearing in mind that Canon Law normally requires a minimum of six months notification for marriage, though some diocese will require longer. This guidance is designed to provide a brief overview of the process and to avoid problems further down the line.



Firstly, go and see the priest where you live before you make any arrangements for the wedding reception. He will explain what you have to do, the paperwork that needs to be completed and agree the marriage preparation resource (i.e. Marriage Care).

Secondly, your priest will ask you to obtain a copy of your baptismal certificate that is not more than 6 months old and a copy of your confirmation certificate. He will want the same from your other half if he / she is a baptised Christian. In addition, many dioceses now require evidence of freedom to marry in the form of a Statutory Declaration of Freedom (the form is usually supplied by the priest).

You and your partner will also have to go to the Register Office to get a certificate to allow you to get married. You need to complete the Marriage Schedule. It is a couple’s responsibility to obtain the form from the local Register Office where they are to marry and give it to the parish secretary who is the authorised person.  This will  enable the priest to marry them both religiously and the parish administrator to witness the marriage in a civil sense.   The parish administrator completes the form and returns it to the Register Office post-marriage and the Register Office now provide the marriage certificate directly to the couple.

Marrying overseas: If the wedding is to take place outside the United Kingdom it is best to contact your local parish priest here in the UK before any arrangements are made with a priest in the other country. This is to allow time for the Church documentation to be completed and sent in advance of the wedding. Marriage papers for weddings taking place in another country travel via the chancery office in each diocese, then on to the office of the overseas bishop, before finally being sent to the place of marriage. You should allow at least three months for this, from completion of marriage preparation and all documentation, but the Church in some countries will require longer.