Destination Wedding by JP then Catholic Convalidation Ceremony
Hello,
I would appreciate all the help I could get. I want to have a destination wedding on the beach in Bahamas, but I am Catholic. Could I have a destination wedding with a justice of the peace and then come back and be blessed by the Catholic church without having a full wedding again? What is the right thing to do?
Thank you for any help!
(This post was
edited by TWQadmin on Feb 9, 2009, 12:45 PM)
DennyandKay
MARRIAGE PREPARATION ADVISORS
Post #2 of 2
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Re: Destination Wedding by JP then Catholic Convalidation Ceremony
[In reply to]
The simple answer to your final question is that, as a Catholic the right thing to do is obey your Church's canon law. Unless there is a sacred shrine or grotto in the Bahamas, a beach wedding will mean getting married outside the Church. According to canon law, this will put you outside a state of grace as well.
The more complicated answer is, yes, you can be married in a beach wedding by a JP, but you will be going against canon law. Your marriage will not be recognized as sacramental by the Church, so you will need to speak to a priest about what will be required before the Church can bless your wedding.
Since you will already be married in the eyes of the state but not in the eyes of the Church, you will need to go to confession and probably fill out some paperwork. The ceremony for blessing a marriage is called convalidation and it is not performed as a full wedding complete with bridesmaids. So you would not have the expense of two weddings.
Destination Wedding by JP then Catholic Convalidation Ceremony
