Q: Greetings Fr. Paul and thank you for all you do.

Our parish is experiencing an increase in the number of marriage convalidations, some for couples married several years. Our practice has been to celebrate the Sacrament Matrimony outside of Mass, in the parish Chapel, with 2 witnesses and immediate family.
We now have a couple who….”chose to be married by a judge because it was the simplest and fastest way to make our marriage legal. We were engaged for several years with the intent of being married in front of God. However our schedule and circumstances made a court house wedding the most realistic option at the time”…now rather forcefully requesting a mass, next year (2027), with procession of bridal party, wife in white gown, with a Church full of guests.

is this liturgically appropriate?

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A: Yes, it is liturgically appropriate. The Order of Celebrating Matrimony makes no distinction between couples who enter the sacrament with or without a previous civil ceremony. In many countries around the world a civil ceremony is required before a church ceremony. So, liturgically, there is no problem.

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