Marriage
A sacred covenant of love, unity, and lifelong faithfulness in Christ.
Have you decided to get married?
Congratulations on your decision to get married in the Catholic Church! We are dedicated to helping couples be successful in good and holy marriages that reflect God’s love to the world. The first step in preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage is to contact your local parish, who will guide you through the steps of marriage formation:
Marriage Formation Steps
Step 1: Meet with your Priest or Deacon
Contact your parish at least twelve months prior to your anticipated wedding date. If you do not belong to a parish, contact the parish that is geographically closest to either party. The process begins with the initial interview with your priest or deacon BEFORE setting a date or registering for a marriage formation course. The priest or deacon will confirm that you may move forward in the process and register for Marriage Formation.
Step 2: Marriage Formation
The Marriage Formation course includes:
- Prepare–Enrich Premarital Inventory
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Completing the Archdiocese of Edmonton approved Marriage Formation program
- The engaged couple MUST FIRST complete the initial interview with the priest or deacon BEFORE they can register for a Marriage Formation program. We strongly recommend that the marriage course be taken at least 4–6 months before the wedding.
Through a marriage preparation course, you will receive:
- Information about what the Church believes and teaches about Catholic marriage and family life.
- Advice and practical assistance for your daily married lives together.
- An introduction to Natural Family Planning, a reliable method of planning your family that is both based on science and in harmony with God’s design for sexual intimacy and Church teaching.
- The witness of other married couples to the Sacrament of Matrimony and how it is lived in their lives.
- The engaged couple MUST FIRST complete the initial interview with the priest or deacon BEFORE they can register for a Marriage Formation program. We strongly recommend that the marriage course be taken at least 4–6 months before the wedding.
Through a marriage preparation course, you will receive:
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Choosing a Fertility Health Awareness Education or Natural Family Planning Course
- Fertility Health Awareness education or natural family planning is natural, economical, and respectful to the body of the woman and consistent with Catholic teaching.
- An overview of Fertility Health Awareness is included within the Marriage Formation program. Following the Fertility Awareness presentation, the couple may choose an NFP program of their choice:
- Billings
- Creighton
- Marquette
- Serena
Step 3: Second Meeting with the Priest or Deacon
The second meeting takes place four to six months before the wedding.
The Prepare–Enrich Inventory and the Marriage Formation course should be completed,
and a certificate of completion is issued to the couple and then submitted to the priest or deacon.
Please register for and complete a Natural Family Planning Course prior to the third meeting.
The couple should:
- Complete and submit all necessary forms and documents
- Obtain a Civil Marriage License
- Review the Order of Celebrating Matrimony and choose from the approved readings, prayers, and music
Step 4: Wedding Preparations
The third meeting takes place with the officiating pastor to finalize details of the wedding, such as the wedding liturgy—including readings, prayers, and approved music—along with settling the financial responsibilities related to the wedding. Couples are encouraged to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation shortly before the wedding day.