Use the information on this page to prepare for marriage. Included in this section:

• Steps to take to get married in the Catholic Church
• Information about and how to register for a Betrothed Retreat
• Things to consider during engagment
• Information about getting your marriage liscense

I have taken you in my arms, and I love you, and I prefer you to my life itself. For the present life is nothing, and my most ardent dream is to spend it with you in such a way that we may be assured of not being separated in the life reserved for us... I place your love above all things, and nothing would be more bitter or painful to me than to be of a different mind than you.”

-St. John Chrysostom

“It is marriage, and not merely your love for each other, that joins you together in the sight of God and man. . . . It is not your love that sustains the marriage, but from now on, the marriage that sustains your love.”

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

• Return to the sacraments - Couples who have been away from the Church should take this opportunity to begin receiving the sacraments again. The priest of deacon planning your wedding can help you with this if you have questions.
• Ask questions - If you have a unique situation, your questions  will help avoid any delays or difficulties.
• Visiting priest or deacon? Make sure to let your parish know right away if you want a visiting priest or deacon to participate in the wedding liturgy. This will help the process of completing testimonial paperwork.
• Take care of your wedding license - Your parish will anticpate that you will apply for your marriage license.

"Marriage is a way of discipleship and conversion." 
 - Archbishop Peter Sartain

1. Contact your parish
As soon as you decide you want to get married in the Church, make an appointment to speak with the Pastor (or his delegate) of your parish. Don't wait until you set a date for the wedding. Communicating with your parish early (no less than 6 months) will help you start out on the right foot in your planning.

2. Meet with your parish
When you meet with your parish representative they will describe the preparation process, begin the necessary paperwork and set your tentative wedding date. The initial meetings will ensure that there is nothing standing in the way of a wedding in the Church and will help you understand the sacrament.

Your Pastor knows that nothing is more helpful to a marriage than the relationship with Jesus established by the sacrament of Marriage (to learn more about the sacrament of marriage consult the 'Sacrament of Marriage page in the menu to the left). That is why your parish will be thinking about more than the logistics of a ceremony, they will be helping you to receive the Sacrament. This might mean you need to do more prepatory work than expected, but trust us it will be worth it!
 
If you have been away from the church for a while, welcome back! We encourage you and your fiance to start by going to Mass. Celebrating the Eucharist together will help strengthen both of you through your engagement. 

3. Take a pre-marital assessment
Your parish will give you and your fiance an assessment to help with marriage preparation (FOCCUS, Prepare/Enrich, etc.). This assessment will explore questions regarding matters ranging from family background, finances, children, etc. and guide your preparation for marriage. 

4. Begin marriage preparation

Each Pastor evaluates the best marriage preparation curriculum and method depending upon the needs of the couple and the resources of the parish. Regardless of the method used, however, you should anticpate that the program will explain the meaning of the Sacrament of Marriage and help prepare you to live the sacrament. Additionally, each marriage preparation program you receive should include:   

• A minimum six-month preparation period;

• A minimum of 12 hours of instruction;

• A process for determining the couple’s readiness for marriage;

• Discussing and completing pre-marital documents and assessment tools (e.g., FOCCUS, PMI);

• Resolving marriage impediments (if any);

• Catechesis regarding the Sacrament of Marriage;

• Discussing the theology of a Catholic marriage;

• Planning the wedding in accordance to the Rite of Marriage of the Catholic Church;

• Respect for cultural and family traditions.

 
5. Explore Natural Family Planning
Natural Family Planning (NFP) represents one of the 100% natural and truly effective means of understanding fertility and providing couples a way to intentionally manage pregancy. Your Marriage Preparation program should provide you an introduction to this life-giving practice. Learn more about NFP here.

6. Final meeting with your parish and wedding rehearsal 
Once you have completed your Marriage Preparation process through your parish, you will meet with the priest or deacon who will guide you in preparation for your marriage litrugy. It is important to take the initiative to confirm that all the requirements related to your marriage have been addressed. 
 

Engaged Encounter is a nationally recognized organization that offers marriage preparation retreats across the country. Led by other experienced married couples, this is a great opportunity for engaged couples to get away for a weekend to focus on communication and strengthening of your relationship to prepare your for marriage. 

Click here to find the schedule of upcoming weekend retreats.

Below you will find an informational video about the retreat and couple testimonies. 

If you are applying for a marriage license in Washington state, please refer to https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/records-licensing/recorders-office/marriage-licensing.aspx
If you are getting married in another state, please refer to state laws on how to obtain a marriage license.

It is the responsibility of the couple to ensure this process is done correctly and on time. 

Once you have the civil marriage license, please give the license to the parish wedding coordinator. 

At the ceremoney, the bride and groom will immediately sign the marriage license and certificate along with 2 witnesses. The parish will submit the completed license to the state.

We live in Seattle and plan to do marriage preparation here, but we are getting married in another state/ country. How does that work?

Contact the parish you wish to do marriage preparation at. They will guide through the paperwork that is needed (Baptismal certificates, witness statements, completion of marriage preparation paperwork). 
They will have you and your fiance take a pre-marital inventory and may also do counseling based on the results. Once you complete a marriage preparation program or engaged retreat, the parish will send all the paperwork to the Archdiocese of Seattle, who will then forward the paperwork to the appropriate diocese. A fee may be assessed with this transfer of paperwork, especially if it is out of the country. 

If you have questions about the annulment process, please contact our Tribunal office at 206-382-4830 or 800-950-4926. You can also see these FAQs