Frequently Asked Marriage Questions

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Q. Do you have to be a member of Risen Savior to be married there?

R. Canon Law requires Catholics be married in their parish by their pastor. If you are not a member of Risen Savior you will have to get the written permission of your pastor to marry here.

Q. I see that Risen Savior charges a fee to be married there. Is that standard?

R. Most parishes assess a fee for the services provided. Many parishes have a sliding scale, offering parish members a lower fee than non-members. At Risen Savior the fee is $200.00 for all.

Q. My fiancé isn’t Catholic. Can we be married in the church?

R. Yes. The minister preparing you for matrimony will discuss the options available to you.

Q. I’m not Catholic, will I have to convert to Catholicism to be married in the church?

R. No. We do not encourage conversion for the sake of getting married. However, that said, if you would like to explore Catholic Christianity we would be most happy to discuss it with you.

Q. Neither my fiancé or I are Catholic, but we like your Church. Can we be married at Risen Savior?

A. No. At least one of you must be a registered Roman Catholic to be married at Risen Savior.

Q. I’m Catholic and was married previously. But, I wasn’t married in the Church. Is this going to present a problem?

R. Catholics are called to be married within the Church or with permission of the Church to marry elsewhere. If you did not have the Church’s permission to marry in another venue, please contact one of our clergy to discuss the matter further.

Q. I’m not Catholic and was married previously. But, I wasn’t married in the Church. Is this going to present a problem?

R. The Church views all marriages as valid until proven otherwise. The Church believes that marriage is a life-long union entered into by a man and a women. Before you would be free to marry in the Church it will be necessary to have your previous marriage annulled. No wedding date can be set until this has happened. Please contact one of our clergy to discuss this further.

Q. My fiancé and I have been living together for some time now. Can we be married in the Church?

R. It is our belief that God is calling you to repair your relationship with Him and with the Christian community by receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony. Cohabitation is a serious issue in our society and can lead couples to sin. Is it possible to change your living arrangements as you are preparing for marriage? If moving to different homes or apartments is impossible, can you live in different bedrooms? Of course, Catholics are expected to go to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation prior to receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony. In addition, we would ask that you consider keeping the ceremony as simple as possible.

Q. My fiancé and I have a child together already. Can we be married at Risen Savior?

R. Yes, you may. To avoid scandal, we ask that you keep the ceremony as simple as possible.

Q. I’ve been planning my wedding for years and want a large, elaborate affair. How large can my wedding be at Risen Savior?

R. Risen Savior seats almost 1,000 people. As the Sacrament of Matrimony is an event in the life of the Church (the mystical body of Christ) we encourage you to invite your family and friends. However, if by elaborate you mean you desire a large number of bridesmaids, groomsmen and like, please refer to our policy page. Because of the size of our altar area, wedding parties are limited to four people on each side, plus the bride and the groom. Feel free to discuss this with the minister preparing you for marriage.