HELP!!! Mother/Wedding Stress!!!
I was hoping someone could answer me a question! My husband and I are getting re-married next summer in my home town. We had to marry quickly by the justice of the peace in order to keep me from being deported (I`m canadian and living in Washington). So my husband and I want to have a ceremony and reception with our friends and family. My mother is insisting that we be blessed in the church but we want to have an outdoor ceremony. I`ve contacted my priest at home to ask if it is possible to have a catholic ceremony outside, but he of coarse rejected the notion. Is this unheard of, or does it depend on the priest? My husband and I aren`t overly religious so we could care less about having a catholic wedding, and I desperatly want to be married in a garden or by the ocean. But it matters to my mother that we be married under the eyes of god. Does anyone have any advice?
Do you know of a way to have the best of both worlds?
Thanks so much
Posted by Amber; updated 08/23/04
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We are using an officiant service for our our outdoor wedding. They do offer a catholic service reading. Check with the folks that issues marriage licenses. Ours included a list of officiants and ministers. Or try online or under wedding in your local phone book. If you try talking to the chuch they will all tell you it can`t be done, because the priest is not supposed to accept payment for his services, but he can charge you a ridiculous fee for use of the church which they won`t get if you don`t have the ceremony inside. Another thing you can try, is find a catholic church with a beautiful garden or outside area (gazebo), as long as it is on their property they can charge you the fee, but you will get the outdoor ceremony you want while also making Mom happy. Good Luck
Posted by Excited Bride; updated 08/24/04
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Outside wedding shouldn`t be a problem with most ministers. However the catholic religion does not allow outside weddings. I am currently getting things ready for an outside wedding. My Fiance and I look at as God made all that is outside and he will be blessing us there. We will also be having reading from the bible.
Posted by jodi; updated 08/24/04
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See if your priest would do a "private" ceremony for your Mom`s benefit and then have an outdoor one that you want.
Posted by marcia; updated 08/27/04
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I heard about a bride getting married in Florida who had an Uncle who was a priest in Ohio and she wanted him to perform the ceremony. Well the bishop in Florida would not allow it sanctioned or blessed in his diocese so the Uncle requested permission from his bishop in Ohio and he was granted the permission and married his niece in FLorida. There are ways around it but I think ultimately the bishop has the last word in some cases. Good Luck
Posted by Mary Jo; updated 09/13/04