Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! There is so much to do and so many preparations to think about once you decide to marry. Your marriage preparation is the most important part of your wedding plans and should begin immediately. The first step is to call the church office and ask for a meeting with the coordinator. The coordinator will register you in the marriage program at St. Matthew’s. Many details will be discussed at this meeting such as what type of preparation you will need, what dates are available for a ceremony, what the guidelines are for the photographers at your ceremony, how many meetings you will need with a priest or deacon and much, much more! At this meeting you will be given a packet that will answer many of your questions. You will also be given the FOCCUS©, a tool that the priest or deacon will use to guide you on your journey. The coordinator will help you through the preparation process so it is as meaningful as possible for both parties.

The basic requirements for marriages to be celebrated at St. Matthew’s are

• Meetings with the Priest/Deacon (Number of meetings to be determined by the priest/deacon based on the individual couple)
• Wedding Preparation workshops, classes or retreats based on the couples individual needs
• A Baptism Certificate, dated within 6 months of the wedding for each Catholic or Christian party
• Meeting with the Liturgist to plan the wedding ceremony

Please call the office at (713)466-4030 to receive more information.