Marriage and Wedding Preparation
Guidelines

St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, North & Lathrop River Forest, Illinois, 60305 (708) 366-7090

The Sacrament of Marriage	Parish Guidelines
Contact Form for Marriage PDF    Download, print, fill out and return to the Parish Office

(Revised 28 December, 2009)

Congratulations

These marriage preparation guidelines have been prepared for you as you begin to make arrangements for your wedding at St. Vincent Ferrer Church. This is a happy and blessed time in your lives, and we at St. Vincent Ferrer congratulate you on your engagement and offer you and your families our best wishes.

We hope you find the information contained in these pages helpful. We offer you our support and assistance in every way possible. If, after reading these pages, you still have some questions, feel free to call one of our priests. They will be happy to talk to you! We pray, most of all, that you not be overwhelmed by the planning and details of your wedding. We ask that you see this as a time to grow as a couple, loved by God and your families and friends.

You marry each other. You promise each other lasting love and fidelity. But you choose to do this before the Church and its ministers. That Church is found in the local parish community, as well as your relatives, friends, and neighbors gathered around you on your wedding day.

Yes, it is your wedding, but it is also a sacrament of the Church. We believe deeply in the holiness of what you are about to do. Scripture says, “Two shall become one body” (Genesis 2:24). This is indeed a great and holy mystery. Do not view what is on these pages as merely a set of rules and regulations, but as the best help we can initially give you for a delightful and prayerful marriage celebration!

Try not to see what is in these pages as “steps” or “stages” to be completed and checked off. Rather, enter into this process with an eye toward preparing yourselves for the lifetime commitment you are making to each other.

Again, it is our hope that you find this information helpful. We look forward to meeting you and assisting you in planning a beautiful wedding liturgy. May your love for each other continue to grow and grow stronger!