Preparing for the sacrament of Holy Matrimony is a blessed time, and busy! Looking at the steps below one can see how at least six months is required for those who are currently members of our parish. For couples looking to be married just stop by and we will get you started. 1. Talk with the Pastor. In five to ten minutes the pastor can see where the couple is at and what is needed to be married. A reception hall or any other services should never be booked without completing this step. 2. Testimonies by those who know the couple. An initial part of marriage preparation involves a brief interview with two people who know the potential bride well, another two who know the potential groom well, and who are able to testify under oath that there are no obstacles to them being married. They can be parents, siblings, relatives or close friends who know either of the parties well. 3. Complete a marriage compatibility assessment. This in-depth survey makes the couple aware of any future challenges or difficulties that may arise in marriage. It is an invaluable tool. We use the Prepare/ Enrich program, and sometimes the Focus module. We will direct you to a facilitator to accomplish this. 4. Submit the required sacramental documents. We will need copies of your sacramental records, which require obtaining new copies from the parish(es) where the sacraments were received. You can find a list of the documents to gather here, starting with the baptismal certificate. 5. Complete our online form. We have a tidy form to help you enter all the necessary information. It is somewhat involved, so we will give you a hard copy packet to gather all the required information before you sit down at the computer. 6. Prenuptial questioning of the bride and groom. The couple meets with the pastor or delegate, each individually. In question and answer form they testify under oath to their suitability for marriage. 7. Attend a “Pre Cana” or other marriage instruction program. Part of the preparation process involves learning the essentials of Matrimony. The Archdiocese offers either a single weekend or a series of five evening classes. For dates and times, navigate to https://archdiosf.org/staff and scroll down. For more information, call the Archdiocesan Family Life Office at (505) 831-8208 or (505) 831-8117. 8. Complete a Natural Family Planning (NFP) course. Fulfilling God’s plan with regard to marital intimacy and the begetting of children is an essential part of a successful, grace-filled marriage. One available online option that we like to use is sponsored by the Couple to Couple League, here. You can also call them at (513) 471-2000 or (800) 745-8252. 9. Obtain a marriage license from the County Clerk’s Office. There the couple will receive a marriage certificate which needs to be brought to the wedding. 10. Marriage liturgy preparation. You will need to work out all the details of the wedding, from photographers to flowers, decorations, and music. You can find our parish guidelines here. 11. The wedding rehearsal. We will go over the liturgy with the couple and have a practice with the wedding party the night before so that everybody knows what to do. 12. THE WEDDING. Two essential acts are accomplished here: first the exchange of vows by the couple before the priest or deacon functioning as the “Officiant” for both the Church and the State, and then the signing of the marriage certificate by the 1) officiant, 2) bride, 3) groom, 4) best man and 5) maid of honor. 13. Submission of the signed marriage certificate to the County Clerk. You need to bring that in yourself. Very important! 14. Updating of all sacramental records. St. Edwin needs to forward the notice of your marriage to your church of baptism, so they can add it to your registry entry. Your parish of baptism should have a record of all your sacraments. 15-16. Two six-month follow ups. After six months the pastor or another clergy member of the parish will invite the couple back to see how they are doing. It is a good opportunity to see how the marriage is going well in these early stages.