Since my husband and I were married at the courthouse by a Justice of the Peace and we've now agreed, if only for my husband to indulge me, to have the Convalidation Ceremony. We didn't have anyone we knew at the time we were married, just 2 of the office workers for the judge that performed the ceremony, no one taking pictures or video, would it be OK to invite family and friends to share in this ceremony with us? I am the only Catholic in our combined group of friends, so I know I will have to explain all the hows and whys and I'm fine with that. But we both would like to have the important and close people in our lives there with us.
(This post was
edited by TWQadmin on May 21, 2009, 10:04 AM)
DennyandKay
MARRIAGE PREPARATION ADVISORS
Post #2 of 5
(456 views)
Re: Okay to invite guests to Convalidation Ceremony
[In reply to]
The guest list should be small. A convalidation ceremony is the Church's way of acknowledging an existing marriage and giving the spouses the blessing of the Catholic Church.
As for pictures or videos, please talk with your local priest, who will be able to advise you as to the policy of your diocese.
Re: Okay to invite guests to Convalidation Ceremony
[In reply to]
Agreed. And, please remember that your priest most likely will not be focusing on what is considered appropriate "etiquette wise". He may be answering based on what is "allowed" or possible by or with the church. So, this should not appear to be a wedding in any way since it is not one. Rebecca Black, Etiquette Now
mrsgreene
Post #4 of 5
(449 views)
Re: Okay to invite guests to Convalidation Ceremony
[In reply to]
I agree, my husband nor I see this as a "second chance wedding", we both are aware of the solemnity involved with this. I don't view it as "renewing our vows" as some have said it can be likened to, because again, most vow renewal ceremonies I have been to are basically like any wedding I've been to. To me, this is only to get me back into good standing with the Church and with God. My mother passed away 3 1/2 years ago, she raised my older half-brother and I on her own, plus my brother and I, for some horrible personal reasons mainly to do with his ex-wife, weren't on speaking terms at the time my husband and I were planning a wedding, his mother wasn't happy about it, plus I was unaware that I could receive a dispensation from the Church to marry elsewhere, so all of this basically added up to he and I just going to the courthouse and getting married. If I had known of the dispensation, trust me, I would have went that route instead. But I don't regret marrying my husband in a courthouse instead of having a "real wedding". I had no one to be there for me, while my husband had too many family members that would be hurt or angered in some way if we'd had a wedding and they weren't invited. We did what made us happy, since the marriage and wedding was supposed to be about us anyway, why not do things the way we wanted to?
But now, circumstances are different. It's taken almost a year, but my mother-in-law has finally accepted me as her son's wife and has even come to terms with me being Catholic. I just want for her to be there, my brother will be coming in from Iraq for the occasion, plus we want our friends to be there for it as well. I'm not talking about having a "full house", it would probably be a maximum of 20-30 people in all. What I would like to know is if that would be improper, or if that would be OK, etiquette-wise? And I was hoping to have pictures or more importantly, video of it, because we had thought, for the "reception" or party or whatever you want to call it that comes afterward, of playing the video for the ones who weren't invited to the ceremony if they wanted to see it.
TWQadmin
FORUM EXPERT
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Post #5 of 5
(441 views)
Re: Okay to invite guests to Convalidation Ceremony
[In reply to]
Please list new questions as new posts. Top Wedding Questions Forum Moderator - "Write your sorrows in the sand, your blessings in stone".
Okay to invite guests to Convalidation Ceremony
