How Do I Ask A Minister To Marry Us?
I was raised Catholic, but don`t practice anymore, and my fiance wasn`t raised with much of a religious upbringing at all. We don`t want to get married in the church (and are planning a relatively informal outdoor wedding, which rules out Catholic priests from doing the ceremony). I have been given several local ministers` names as possible people to do the ceremony, and I think I`d like to ask one of them to marry us (she is Episcopalian). How do I go about doing this? Do I just call her up and say "Are you available to marry us?" or is there some more tactful way to go about this? And does it matter that I`ve never been to her church?
Posted by Jenna; updated 04/08/04
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Jenna,
Just went through the same thing. Yes, you just ask her if she is available to perfrom the marriage ceremony for you. There may be a fee (we had to pay $500 canadian, but we are getting married in the church). There is also the option of a marriage commissioner if you want.
Posted by CLL; updated 04/08/04
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Jenna, if you call the parish the priest is assigned to, the church secretary can check the clergy schedule, contact the priest and give you an idea of the honorarium (fee). Also, many independent or Old Catholic clergy are available to officiate if you cannot be married in your local catholic parish.
Posted by Fr. Mark; updated 04/12/04