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Congratulations on your engagement!
Your decision to enter into the relationship of married life is a serious one, and it serves as a wonderful sign of hope and strength to the Catholic Church.
The information below is intended to help you prepare not only for the wedding day but for marriage.
There are some things that you must be aware of concerning Catholic marriage:
The bride and/or groom must be Catholic in order to marry in the Catholic Church.
Marriage is a life-long commitment which requires serious preparation. The time of immediate/proximate preparation for the sacrament is six (6) months, minimum.
The Church has resources available to assist the couple in preparing a solid foundation in order to be properly formed when entering into the sacred bonds of marriage and family life.
The sacred rite of matrimony belongs to the Church, not to the couple, nor to the particular parish. We follow the Church’s ritual for the sacrament as promulgated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in December 2016.
The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony - Preparation and the Wedding Day
1. Contact your local/home parish.
Schedule a meeting with your parish priest or deacon. The reason for this appointment is that you want to get married in the Catholic Church.
Those wishing to have the wedding at Church of the Annunciation … You must read the “Modesty in Attire” policies (see the tab below). If you agree with the modesty policies, complete the Wedding Request form and submit it. The Wedding Coordinator will contact you with information about the availability of the wedding date(s) you requested and some additional information about weddings at our parish.
2. Meet with your parish priest or deacon.
At this meeting you will complete the Prenuptial Questionnaire. You must disclose prior marriage(s), if any, and answer all questions truthfully. Your priest or deacon will let you know if there are any impediments to your upcoming marriage. If there are none, a plan for your marriage preparation will be given to you. Marriage Preparation is a requirement.
If you have an impediment, you must follow the counsel of the priest or deacon. You cannot schedule a wedding date until the impediment is cleared.
The type of ceremony will be determined at this time. If both are baptized Catholics, it is likely they will have a wedding inside Mass. If a Catholic is marrying a non-Catholic, a wedding outside Mass (with Liturgy of the Eucharist) will be celebrated. Permission or dispensation will be needed.
[More information will be available under the “Marriage Preparation” menu.]
Tell your parish priest of deacon that you intend to prepare for the sacrament at the local parish, but you hope to have the wedding a Church of the Annunciation (ACC). The Agreement Form will need to be completed by the staff at the parish and sent to ACC’s Wedding Coordinator.
Once you have permission to marry, you are free to schedule the wedding date and begin your Marriage Preparation.
3. Schedule a meeting with Church of the Annunciation’s Wedding Coordinator.
Both the groom and the bride will meet with the Wedding Coordinator. At this meeting, you will walk through the Church with the Coordinator and have a brief review of the ceremony. The Wedding Policies document will be read through. Our music and photography/videography policies will also be discussed. Both the bride and the groom initial and sign the document. A copy is made for the couple.
4. Marriage Preparation
Whether you are preparing for the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony at your home/local parish or at Church of the Annunciation, during the next several months the couple will be occupied with marriage preparation. This will take six months or more. It should not be unnecessarily rushed. Enjoy this time - growing in your faith, in love, and in knowledge of one another.
[More information will be available under the “Marriage Preparation” menu. — under construction]
Documents will be collected.
Aim to have your marriage preparation completed TWO (2) months before your wedding date.
The packet containing your marriage preparation documentation must be sent or delivered to Church of the Annunciation 6-8 weeks before the wedding date. Those preparing outside the Archdiocese need to send the packet to their local diocesan office first. The Wedding Coordinator will give you directions.)
5. Nuptial Mass Planning
The nuptial Mass or ceremony is set by Holy Mother Church. This is the most important part of the day. Planning for the nuptial Mass/ceremony, for the most most part, is fairly easy. But the details are important.
Please remember that we must use the Order of Celebrating Marriage (OCM) promulgated by the USCCB in December 2016. It is helpful to inform parents and other family members of this revision.
Two months before the wedding, the couple will receive an email from Church of the Annunciation’s Wedding Coordinator. This email will include a shared form, similar to a Google document. You will complete the form with all the information requested: readings and prayer selections; names of the celebrant, lectors, witnesses, members of the family, wedding party, et cetera. Read the instructions carefully. Complete the form to the best of your ability and revisit it often, updating it as needed.
With the information gleaned from wedding plan, the Wedding Coordinator will prepare the procession chart and set up seating assignments.
Contact the Music Coordinator TWO months before the wedding. The email address is music@acchtx.org. Please see the suggested music list and listen some selections by clicking the button below.
Any questions regarding the ceremony, with the exception of music, at Church of the Annunciation should be directed to the Wedding Coordinator at weddings@acchtx.org or (713) 222-2289.
6. Pre-Rehearsal/Rehearsal
Couples are welcome to visit the church anytime before the rehearsal, but during the business week. Calling ahead is recommended.
If you have not given your Marriage License to the Wedding Coordinator, bring it to the rehearsal. The rehearsal cannot begin if you have not turned it in.
A Day-of Wedding Coordinator will be assigned to direct the rehearsal (with the celebrant). She has all the details noted on the wedding plan form and she is well acquainted with the “do’s and don’ts” for the wedding ceremony in the church.
The wedding rehearsal is scheduled for ONE hour, normally the evening before the wedding. At the rehearsal you will invite all those assisting with the Nuptial Mass/Ceremony. These include:
celebrant (priest or deacon) or delegate
bride and groom
parents of the bride and groom
lectors (all) - no exceptions
best man/witness
maid/matron of honor/witness
members of the wedding party
sponsors/padrinos for the arras, lazo/veil
flower girl(s) and/or ring bearers
The rehearsal is scheduled for ONE hour. You will practice the procession (into the sanctuary) and the recession (out of the sanctuary), and walk through the Mass. The lectors will practice approaching the ambo, reading, and exiting.
Be punctual for the rehearsal.
7. Nuptial Mass
The Church is available for two (2) hours for your wedding. The doors are opened thirty minutes before the stated start time so your guests can settle in. The bride, groom, wedding party, family members, and lectors must arrive at the church when the doors first open.
Be punctual.
The Day-of Wedding Coordinator will assist you, your guests, vendors, and Church staff (musicians and servers). Listen to her and follow her instructions. Be gracious.
At the conclusion of the wedding, the couple and wedding party will return to the front of the church for pictures. You will have approximately 20-30 minutes.
8. Documentation regarding your Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
All documentation regarding your wedding at Church of the Annunciation will be taken care of by the Wedding Coordinator. If you have questions or concerns about this, call or email.
9. Living out the Sacrament
Congratulations and all the best!
We pray that your marriage will be faith-filled and fruitful. Keep Christ at the center of your marriage and family life. Live your faith. Nurture its growth and share it. Get involved at your home/local parish. If Church of the Annunciation is your home parish, please explore some of our apostolates. We will appreciate your participation and service in building the kingdom of God.
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