Congratulations
on your decision to get married. It is a very exciting
time for, and we are delighted that you have selected
the Parish of Fahan as your venue for the 'big day.'
However, there are some rules to follow, both set
by the Church and the State - they can not be ignored.
Every couple marrying in the Catholic
Church are required to give a minimum of three months
notice to their priest and complete a Pre Nuptial
Enquiry Form. The form is completed a meeting with
local priest of each party. Here's the basic guidelines
you need to follow:
There are at least three forms that
you need to get before going to meet your priest.
• A recently issued copy of your Baptismal Certificate
• A recently issued copy of your Confirmation Certificate
• A Letter of Freedom from each parish you have lived
in since you were 18.
1 The Pre-nuptial enquiry
(informally known as 'wedding papers') is carried
out in the parish where the person has domicile (resident
for at least six months) or quasi-domicile (resident
for at least three months).
2 The Pre-nuptial enquiry
is carried out in the form of a personal interview
between the person and the priest. It should not be
done in the presence of both parties.
3 It is essential that
the Pre-nuptial enquiry be initiated no later than
three months prior to the proposed date of marriage.
4 The Wedding Ceremony
usually takes place in the parish church of the bride.
5 If one or both parties
are from outside the parish, they must present a Baptismal
and Confirmation Certificate and a Letter of Freedom
to marry. The Baptismal and Confirmation Certificate
can be obtained from the parish in which you were
baptised and the Letter of Freedom from the parish
in which you reside.
6 In the case of a
mixed marriage, the forms of the baptised non-catholic
or non-baptised person should be completed in the
parish of the catholic party.
7 It is of the utmost
importance that the party should ensure that the date
and time of their wedding is suitable for the priest(s)
of the parish. Contacting the priest personally should
do this.
Inter Church Marriage - When a Catholic
wishes to marry a Christian of another denomination
they must ask for a dispensation from their local
bishop. The granting of this dispensation is dependant
upon the promise of the Catholic party to ensure that
their future children will be baptised in the Catholic
Church and brought up in the faith. This promise is
also by all Catholic couples.
In the event of the marriage ceremony
being held in the church of another denomination it
is necessary to ask for a dispensation of Form, that
is permission to be married by the rites of another
church. Again this permission is granted by the diocesan
bishop.
Inter Faith Marriage - When
a Catholic wishes to marry a person who is not baptised,
or who is a member of another faith, they must seek
a dispensation from the bishop. This is called a Disparity
of Cult dispensation.
Civil requirements prior to
marriage in the Republic of Ireland State
law requires that the couple must arrange to meet,
in person, a civil registrar at least three months
before the wedding to give the required three month
notice of their intention to marry. In advance of
that meeting the couple should have seen the local
priest, have booked the church, and know the name
of the priest (solemniser) who has agreed to celebrate
the marriage. They must (a) receive the Marriage Registration
Form (MRF) from the civil registrar - without this
document no marriage can take place, (b) show the
MRF to the priest (solemniser) to check that details
are correct, (c) make the verbal declaration of no
civil impediment not more than two days before marriage,
and (d) return the signed MRF to any civil registrar
no later than one month after the wedding. If you
know any couple intending to marry, please bring this
notice to their attention.
| Marriage
Readings... |
STATE REQUIREMENTS
1. From 1 January 2004, new legislation
on marriage has been in force. The Church has
no involvement in this process; it is strictly
between the persons getting married and the
registrar for the District.
2. The couple must notify the
Registrar of their intention to marry by completing
a Marriage Notice Form
At some time prior to the date
of the marriage the parties may be requested
to attend at the Registrar's Office to finalise
the arrangements and collect the marriage schedule.
After the wedding the marriage schedule has
to be returned to the Registrar's Office within
3 days.
3 The completed Marriage Notice
Form must be returned to the Registrar for the
district in which you are getting married at
least fifteen days prior to the date of marriage.
Parties can notify the Registrar up to one year
prior to the date of marriage.
4 Once the Registrar has received
the Marriage Notice and there is no impediment
to the marriage and the person to perform the
Ceremony is an approved Officiant or Celebrant
(i.e. a priest of the diocese of Derry) a Marriage
Schedule is prepared for collection by the parties
at the registrar's office.
5. Just to emphasise, it is your
responsibility to produce your Marriage Schedule
to the Celebrant at least three days before
the wedding.
6. A marriage cannot take place
without a Marriage Schedule
7. It is your responsibility to
return the signed Marriage Schedule to the Registrar’s
office within three days of the wedding.
If you are visiting Northern Ireland
to be married and you are a citizen of a country
that is not a member of the European Economic
Area, you will need to apply for a visa before
you travel. If you do not get a visa the registrar
will not be able to take your notice of marriage
and you will NOT be able to marry in Northern
Ireland.
If you are already in the UK,
and you are a citizen of a country that is not
a member of the European Economic Area, you
will need the approval of the Home Secretary
to be married here. For further information
visit the Home Office website at :
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en/home/news/press_releases/getting_married_in.html
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