6–12
months ahead — when to contact your parish
1–2
days for Pre-Cana preparation weekend
6 mo.
baptismal certificate must be dated within
Free
to ask your diocese any question via our form
The first question everyone asks
Are We Eligible?
Most couples are eligible to marry in the Catholic Church — even if one partner isn't Catholic, even if you've been away from the faith for years. Here are the most common situations:
We are both Catholic.
You are fully eligible. The standard process applies. Contact your parish and begin.
One of us is not Catholic but is a baptized Christian.
You are eligible. This is called a mixed marriage and requires a dispensation from the diocese — your priest handles this. It is routine and rarely refused.
One of us is not baptized at all.
You are eligible with a dispensation called 'disparity of cult.' Your priest handles this. It requires additional preparation and the Catholic party commits to raising children Catholic.
One of us has been married before civilly and is divorced.
You may be eligible — but you will likely need an annulment first. See the annulment section below. This is the most common situation and it is very workable.
One of us was previously married in the Catholic Church.
You will need an annulment — a formal declaration that the previous marriage was not a valid sacramental marriage. This is handled by the diocesan tribunal. See below.
We are already living together.
You are still eligible to marry in the Church. The Church's preference is that couples not cohabitate before marriage, and this may be discussed in Pre-Cana — but it does not disqualify you.
Not sure about your specific situation? Use our diocese inquiry form — a real person from your diocese will respond to your question personally.
Ask Your Diocese →The most misunderstood topic in Catholic marriage
What Is an Annulment?
What people think it means
A Catholic divorce. A way of pretending the marriage never happened. A declaration that your children were illegitimate. Something expensive, humiliating, and nearly impossible to get.
What it actually means
A declaration by the Church that a previous marriage lacked one of the essential elements required for a valid sacramental marriage. It does not erase the relationship or its history. It says the sacrament was never fully present.
Think of it this way: for a Catholic marriage to be valid, certain things must be true at the moment of the vows — both people must be free to marry, fully consenting, intending a permanent and faithful union, and open to children. If one of those elements was genuinely absent — due to immaturity, coercion, a prior undisclosed marriage, or serious psychological factors — the Church may declare that a true sacramental marriage never came into existence.
An annulment does not say your relationship didn't happen, that your children are illegitimate, or that you are a bad person. It says the sacrament was incomplete. The civil marriage was real. The relationship was real. The children are real. The sacrament simply was not.
How the Annulment Process Works
Contact your diocese tribunal
Call your diocesan tribunal office or ask your parish priest to help you initiate the process.
Submit your petition
You write a detailed account of your marriage — how you met, the relationship before marriage, the wedding, and what went wrong. This is the heart of the case.
Witnesses are contacted
People who knew you and your former spouse — family, friends — may be asked to provide written testimony.
The tribunal reviews the case
A panel of trained judges reviews all the evidence and testimony against Church teaching on what constitutes a valid marriage.
A decision is issued
The tribunal issues a declaration of nullity (annulment granted) or upholds the marriage bond. Either party can appeal.
8–18 months
Average timeline
$200–$600
Typical cost
Most are granted
Success rate
No — not at all
Children affected?
Marriage preparation
What Is Pre-Cana?
Pre-Cana is the Catholic Church's marriage preparation program — named after the wedding feast at Cana in the Gospel of John, where Jesus performed his first miracle. It is required for all Catholic marriages.
Think of it less as a class and more as a structured conversation about your relationship. Most couples are surprised by how practical and genuinely useful it is.
Communication
How you talk to each other — and how you fight
Finances
Money, debt, financial goals, and expectations
Family
Children, parenting styles, extended family roles
Faith
How faith will shape your marriage and home
Intimacy
Natural Family Planning and the Church's teaching on sexuality
Conflict
How to disagree well and repair after arguments
Pre-Cana typically takes place over one or two days as a retreat, or over several evenings at your parish. Many dioceses now offer online options. Your priest will tell you what's available in your area.
When one partner isn't Catholic
Interfaith Marriages
Many Catholic marriages are interfaith — one Catholic partner, one partner of a different faith or no faith. This is common, fully allowed, and celebrated every day in Catholic churches around the world.
My partner is a baptized Christian (Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, etc.)
This is called a 'mixed marriage.' It requires a dispensation from the diocese, which your priest requests on your behalf. It is routine. The non-Catholic partner does not need to convert or agree with Catholic teaching — but they do need to understand and respect what Catholic marriage means.
My partner is not baptized (Jewish, Muslim, non-religious, etc.)
This requires a 'disparity of cult' dispensation. It is granted regularly. The Catholic party makes a commitment to continue living their Catholic faith and to do their best to raise children Catholic. The non-Catholic party is informed of this commitment but does not have to agree to it.
My partner is not Catholic — can we still have a full wedding Mass?
You can, but many interfaith couples choose a Rite of Marriage without Mass, since the non-Catholic partner cannot receive Communion. This keeps the ceremony welcoming for all guests and avoids any awkwardness. Both options are fully valid Catholic marriages.
Start to finish
The Process Step by Step
Contact a Parish — Early
The first step is simply calling a Catholic parish and saying you'd like to get married there. Do this at least 6 to 12 months before your desired wedding date. The earlier the better — this gives everyone time to complete the required preparation without stress.
💡 You don't have to be a registered parishioner to get married in a Catholic church, though some parishes prefer it. Call and ask.
Meet with a Priest
The priest will have an initial conversation with you — sometimes called a pre-nuptial investigation. He'll ask about your backgrounds, your faith, whether either of you has been married before, and what you understand about Catholic marriage. This is a conversation, not a test.
💡 Be honest. If you've been away from the Church, say so. If you have questions or concerns, bring them. The priest has heard everything.
Complete Pre-Cana
Pre-Cana is the Church's marriage preparation program. It covers communication, conflict, finances, family, faith, and the theology of marriage. It typically takes place over a weekend retreat or a series of evenings. Most couples say it was more useful than they expected.
💡 Pre-Cana is not a test you can fail. It is preparation — like a wedding rehearsal for your marriage itself.
Gather Your Documents
You will need: a recent baptismal certificate (issued within 6 months of your wedding), confirmation certificate, proof of freedom to marry, and your civil marriage license. Your parish will give you a complete checklist. If your partner is not Catholic, different documents may apply.
💡 Order your baptismal certificate early — it must come directly from the church where you were baptized and be dated within 6 months of the wedding.
Plan Your Ceremony
You'll work with the priest to plan the actual wedding Mass or ceremony — the readings, the vows, the music, any special intentions. Catholic weddings can be celebrated as a full Mass or as a simpler Rite of Marriage without Mass, which is often chosen when one partner is not Catholic.
💡 There is more flexibility in the ceremony than most people realize. Talk to the priest about what matters to you.
Get Married
On your wedding day, you and your spouse administer the sacrament to each other — the priest witnesses it in the name of the Church. Your vows are the sacrament. It is one of the most beautiful moments in the Catholic tradition.
💡 Go to Confession before your wedding if you haven't recently. It means you receive the sacrament of Marriage in a state of grace.
Your specific situation deserves a real answer
Ask Your Diocese Directly
No guide can answer every situation. If you have a specific question — about your eligibility, a previous marriage, your partner's faith, or anything else — send it directly to your diocese. A real person will respond, personally, to your situation.
Common questions people send: "I was married in Las Vegas 12 years ago and divorced — do I need an annulment?" · "My fiancé is Jewish — can we still have a Catholic ceremony?" · "I left the Church 10 years ago and want to get married — where do I start?" · "We're already living together — does that disqualify us?"
Every Catholic marriage begins with a single conversation.
Ready to Begin?
Find a parish near you and call them. That one phone call is all it takes to start. Everything else follows from there.