Marriage Steps

Here are the steps to take in order to be married in the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Venice.

Step 1: Schedule a meeting at your parish to meet with your priest or deacon

After you are engaged, you should contact your parish as soon as possible, and at least six months before your expected wedding day. You will meet with a priest or deacon who will determine if you and your fiancé are free to marry in the Church, and also will explain to you the process of getting married in the Catholic Church.

Step 2: Meet with Mentor Couple

You will meet with your mentor couple for a series of sessions designed to allow you and your fiancé to learn more about each other, both your strengths and weaknesses.  This is an important time to identify any possible challenges that you as a married couple might face.

Step 3: Register for Marriage Preparation Retreat/Seminar.

Register for one of the Diocese’s current retreat offerings, see below:

• Day of Reflection Retreat, for all ages, click here. Offered April 20th, September 14th and November 9th, in 2024.
• Two Become One Retreat, for couples 55 and older, click here. Offered March 2nd and September 21st in 2024.

If none of these retreat offerings are convenient for you, please Contact Carrie Harkey, Family Life Coordinator (harkey@dioceseofvenice.org, 941-484-9543)

Step 4: Attend Natural Family Planning Instruction

Engaged couples are invited to attend a class on Natural Family Planning, a beautiful, safe and natural way to both postpone and achieve pregnancy. To sign up for a class, email nfp@dioceseofvenice.org with your name, phone number, and parish, and someone will contact you to register you for a class convenient to you.

Step 5: Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Marriage is a beautiful sacrament, but it is also a great responsibility. The couple is committing to a lifetime of self-giving love to one another. This is only possible through the grace of God. Before entering into marriage, couples should receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation shortly before the Wedding Day. Contact your parish to determine times available for this Sacrament.

Step 6: Meet again with your priest or deacon

Four to six weeks before your wedding day, the couple should meet with the priest or deacon who is celebrating the wedding. Any details of the wedding day should be worked out with him and with the parish staff at this time.

Again, congratulations, and may God bless your upcoming marriage!