Two layers, one celebration

A Catholic marriage in England has two layers running side by side. The civil layer satisfies the law of the land. The canonical layer satisfies the law of the Church. Both are required, and both are usually completed before the wedding day. Get the timing right and the day itself runs smoothly.

Begin at least six months before the date you have in mind. A year is better, especially if either partner was baptised abroad or married before.

Step one: civil notice

Civil notice is the couple's responsibility. Both partners attend their local Register Office (one in each district where they live, if they live separately) and give formal notice of intent to marry. The legal minimum is 28 days before the wedding, but most Register Offices want longer if either partner is from outside the United Kingdom.

The Register Office issues a Certificate for Marriage which is valid for twelve months. Bring it to the parish priest as soon as it arrives.

Step two: meet the parish priest

Marriage in the Diocese of Shrewsbury is prepared in the parish, normally with the priest who will witness the wedding. He will:

1. Confirm the couple's freedom to marry.
2. Open and complete the Pre-Nuptial Enquiry (PNE) form for each partner.
3. Recommend a marriage preparation course.
4. Apply for any dispensations needed (for example, mixed religion or disparity of cult).

Documents you will need

• Recently issued baptismal certificate for each Catholic partner. Catholic baptismal certificates must have been issued within the last six months for marriage purposes. Older certificates are not accepted. Request a fresh one from the parish of Baptism.
• Confirmation certificate where available.
• Civil Certificate for Marriage from the Register Office.
• Photo identification for both partners.
• If either partner has been married before, evidence of how that marriage ended (death certificate, decree absolute and a Catholic decree of nullity if applicable).

Marriage preparation

The diocesan Marriage and Family Life Office supports parishes with preparation resources, courses, and pastoral advice. They run sessions across the diocese and can recommend a course suitable for your situation. Contact:

• Jane Deegan, jane.deegan@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
• Monika Golembiewska, monika.golembiewska@dioceseofshrewsbury.org

Couples are also warmly invited to the annual Diocesan Marriage Mass, which celebrates married life across Shrewsbury and gives newly married couples a chance to meet others.

Step three: the Marriage Document

Since 4 May 2021, the way Catholic marriages are recorded in England has changed. Parishes no longer keep the green civil marriage register. Instead, the wedding is recorded in the parish marriage register, and the priest completes a Marriage Document. This is signed by the couple, the witnesses, and the priest, and is sent to the local Register Office within twenty-one days of the wedding.

The Register Office then enters the marriage in the official civil register and issues civil marriage certificates on request. Couples ordering wedding certificates after the day apply to the Register Office, not the parish.

The day itself

1. Arrive in good time.
2. The priest will witness the consent and the exchange of vows in the rite chosen (Nuptial Mass or Marriage outside Mass).
3. The couple, two witnesses, and the priest sign the Marriage Document and the parish register after the rite.
4. The priest sends the Marriage Document to the Register Office within twenty-one days.

Mixed religion or disparity of cult

If one partner is a baptised non-Catholic, the priest will request permission for a mixed marriage. If one partner is unbaptised, he will request a dispensation from disparity of cult. Both are routine and granted via the Curial Offices, but they take a few weeks. Mention the situation at the first meeting.

If either partner was married before

A previous marriage, even a non-Catholic civil marriage, must be addressed before a Catholic wedding can go ahead. The parish priest will advise on whether a Catholic decree of nullity is required. See the separate guide on the Marriage Tribunal.

Practical contacts

• Parish priest (always the first point of contact).
• Marriage and Family Life Office: jane.deegan@dioceseofshrewsbury.org or monika.golembiewska@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
• Curial Offices for dispensations: 0151 652 9855, info@dioceseofshrewsbury.org

The paperwork can feel heavy. The principle behind it is simple: the Church wants to be sure that what is being celebrated is a true marriage, freely chosen, fully understood, and built to last.