A Catholic wedding ceremony is a joyful occasion. My sister’s wedding took place in a Catholic church, and I must admit that I was eager to attend another and another after that.
If you’re considering having your wedding in a Catholic church, expect a beautiful, symbolic, and ritual-filled ceremony. I also loved that it began right on time and didn’t take too long. In less than an hour, the ceremony was over.
So how long is a catholic wedding? Read on to learn more about how long a Catholic marriage takes and more.
How Long Is a Catholic Wedding?
The amount of time a Catholic wedding ceremony takes depends on whether or not it will include a mass service.
If you go the mass way, expect the ceremony to take 45 minutes to an hour. Your other option is to have a priest administer the Rite of Marriage. If you opt to do so, it only takes approximately 30 minutes.
What Happens in a Catholic Wedding Ceremony?
Like I mentioned earlier, some ceremonies include a mass, while others don’t. In the case of my sister’s wedding, it had the whole mass, and it was fun.
Mind you, the ceremony varies from one local church to another, depending on the priest’s requirements and the couple’s preferences.
However, no matter the minor changes that make the ceremony differ from one church to another, typically, a Catholic wedding ceremony follows the following structure:
Entrance Rite
The entrance rite involves the couple’s entry into the church and taking their places. Yes, that’s a process in and of itself deserving of a name.
In fact, there are different ways to do it. However, generally, it can take two formats:
- The priest gets into the altar alone and takes his place before the couple enters. After they make their entry and get to their places, they first greet the priest.
- The priest greets the couple and their bridal party at the church door before making his way in and taking his place.
The entrance rite includes a procession with songs led by the choir, marking the commencement of the wedding ceremony.
Introductory Rites and Opening Prayer
The next step is for everybody to stand up so that the priest can begin the ceremony with an opening prayer.
Of course, he will mention the couple, asking God to bless their imminent marriage.
Mass (Liturgy/Nuptial Mass)
If the wedding has a mass, expect a lot of traditions and rituals. Yet, keep in mind that mass can only take place if:
- Both the groom and bride are Catholic
- If the couple is ready for a comprehensive mass service.
The readings include one from the Old Testament, singing of Psalms, another from the New Testament, and a gospel reading by the priest, who also gives his sermon.
Naturally, his discourse focuses more on marriage teachings and advice to the couple.
Celebration of Marriage
If the couple opts not to have a mass, what they have is a Celebration of Marriage. This celebration is usually a short service free of everything else done during mass.
It involves the couple’s family and friends reading a few bible passages before the priest can give his sermon.
Rite of Marriage
I don’t know about you, but the exchange of rings and vows is the most beautiful part of a Catholic wedding for most people.
During the marriage rite, the couple read their vows in whichever format they agreed with the priest. Then, the priest blesses the rings, and the couple places them on each other’s ring fingers.
At that point, the priest declares them as husband and wife.
Blessing and Prayer
If there’s no mass, the ceremony ends at this point with prayers and benediction. If there’s mass, the ceremony will include the following:
- Offertory
- Communion
- Sign of peace
- Nuptial Blessings: Blessing of the couple at the altar.
Dismissal
The ceremony ends with blessings from the priest to the newlyweds and the entire congregation. The priest then leaves first, followed by the bridal party and the rest of the guests.
