Need help for a fellow bride- Church related questions

A friend of mine is getting married in Sept.2004 she has been having problems with her church. I told her I would ask you girls on here because someone alway has the right answer.
So heres the question I f she wanted to get married in another Catholic church does she need to be a member.
Also if she wanted to get married in a church that wasn't Catholic could she? Her FH didn't get to make his communion. When he was a child he had horrible accident and was paralyzed. Hes fine now but was told that he has to make his communion/conformation to get married in a Catholic church is this correct?

Thanks for anyone who has the answers

Re: Need help for a fellow bride- Church related questions

Thats so sad what happened to him as a child.
From what I believe, you need to recieve communion/confirmation before entering marriage.
To get married in a catholic church that isnt her parish, she might have to get a letter from her church giving her permission to marry somewhere else. That's what I had to do. I am not getting married in my parish so my priest gave me a letter of permission for the church where i am getting married.

Re: Need help for a fellow bride- Church related questions

that is correct, as a matter of fact, back in the fifties my grandfather had to be baptized and make his first communion in one day before my grandparents could be married...and that was in an episcopal church! good luck to them!

Re: Need help for a fellow bride- Church related questions

The Catholic church is pretty strict when it comes to marriages. Your friend's FH will have to complete those sacraments (communion then confirmation) before being married in the church. As far as her getting married in a different church she can without being a member of the parish but she will need to present that church with a copy of her baptismal certificate and she may want to be prepared to answer the question 'why this church?' They can always be married in a Methodist church, they marry mixed religions and others without alot of questions asked.

Good luck to your friend!

Re: Need help for a fellow bride- Church related questions

Thanks girls I really appreciate your help

Re: Need help for a fellow bride- Church related questions

That's weird. I was going to be married in a Catholic church (I'm Catholic) and I spoke to a priest. He told me:

I did not have to finish my sacraments to be married in a Catholic church (I didn't do my Confirmation).

My FI did not have to be Catholic to be married in the church. As long as I am, that's enough.

Another thing, did you know that the Catholic church recognizes other Christian marriages outside the church as long as neither person is Catholic?

I found him to be extemely helpful. If you need his number, I can FM it to you.

Re: Need help for a fellow bride- Church related questions

All of the info from the girls is correct, however I have a couple of more things to add. 1. My friend (who is catholic) recently married a Pentecostal in her parish. The priest performing the wedding recommended that they have a ceremony and NOT a mass being that the Catholic church does not permit Non-Catholics from receiving communion in a catholic church.

Also, my stepsister (catholic) married a Greek Orthodox man in his church. One year later, they renewed their vows in a Catholic church as the Catholic Church had not recognized her marriage until it was performed by a Catholic priest.

Re: Need help for a fellow bride- Church related questions

Every church is different - we had orignally been told we couldn't even get into the church we are getting married in b/c it's in the Hamptons and the priest won't marry anyone outside of the parish - but we didn't have any problems - we later found out the origianl priest had recently left and a newer, more lienient priest had taken over (the more marrying us). So tell your friend to call - you never know.