The legalities and practicalities behind religious ceremonies

If you have chosen to have a religious ceremony no matter what denomination you are you must follow a certain few steps before and on the Brides day itself which will depend on the customs and ceremonies of the Church or religious body which is carrying out the ceremony. 

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Churches of different denominations vary in their requirements for marriage which is evident in the process leading up to the marriage itself. You need to contact the solemniser of the Church in which you wish to marry, as soon as possible. The Church should be one of the first things that you book for your Brides. The requirements for your marriage will then be discussed with you. It is your responsibility to ensure that the person you wish to solemnise your marriage is on the Register of Solemnisers. You can find a list of registered solemnisers at The General Register Office. Temporary registrations of solemnisers of religious marriages are possible for those who only wish to solemnise a specific marriage or to solemnise marriages for a specific period of time.


General Religious Marriage Requirements


 - The venue for a religious marriage is a matter for the authorities of the church or religious body under whose auspices the marriage is being performed.


 - All marriages, civil or religious, must take place at venues which are open to the public.


 - The ceremony must be performed in the presence of two witnesses who are both over 18 years of age.


 - Both parties must make two declarations: that neither of them knows of any impediment to the marriage and that they accept each other as husband and wife.


 - At the end of the ceremony, the solemniser, the couple, and the witnesses must all sign the Marriage Registration Form (MRF) which you will have received when you gave notification for your intent to marry and visited the registrar. This form needs to be returned to a registrar within one month of the ceremony, so that the marriage can be civilly registered. You will then be able to obtain a civil marriage certificate. 


 - There will be a charge for your religious ceremony, this varies per Church so will be discussed at your first meeting.

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The Pre Marriage Course


Most parishes require that you attend a pre-marriage course in preparation for the Brides. Advance registration is necessary if places are limited. Some religions do not require a pre-marriage course but it is looked on much better than if you failed to attend one. Check out some websites that can provide you with some more information and how to book: Prices range from €100 to €140 depending on who is conducting the course. 

http://www.together.ie/
http://www.accord.ie/
http://www.marriagecoursesireland.ie/

Photo Credit: The Telegraph

 The Pre-Nuptial Enquiry Form (Catholic Church)

You will need to complete a pre-nuptial enquiry form. This form should be completed by the priest of the parish in which you currently live. You will need the following for completion of the pre-nuptial enquiry form:

 

 - Baptism and confirmation certificates

 - Letters of freedom
(A letter of freedom is a statement from the priest of the parish in which you currently live stating that you have not been married before.)

 - Pre-marriage course completion certificate (if required)

  - Marriage Registration Form

  - Important details
 (i.e. contact details, dates of birth, occupations, parent’s contact details, and details of two witnesses).

  - Questions regarding faith.
The priest will also ask you a number of questions regarding the practice of your faith as a married couple and the intention to bring your children up within the Catholic faith

Here is a Sample Pre Nuptial Enquiry Form


Inter Church & Inter Faith Marriages

If a Catholic wishes to marry a Christian of another denomination they must ask for a dispensation from their local bishop. The granting of this is dependant upon the promise of the Catholic party to ensure that their future children will be baptised in the Catholic Church and brought up in the faith. The minister of the non-Catholic partner may take part in the Brides ceremony (if you would like), with the agreement from the priest. You don’t necessarily have to have mass during your Brides service as guests who are not Catholics would be unable to receive Communion. Permission may be granted for the non-Catholic partner to receive Communion should you decide to include a Brides Mass.

In the event of the marriage ceremony being held in the Church of another denomination it is necessary to ask for a Dispensation of Form; that is permission to be married by the rites of another church. Again, this permission is granted by the diocesan bishop.

When a Catholic wishes to marry a person who is not baptised, or who is a member of another faith, they must seek a dispensation from the bishop. This is called a Disparity of Cult dispensation.

Photo Credit: Buckinghamshire Church Bridess

Take some time to read through the websites that are outlined above to make sure you have carried out all the necessary paperwork in the lead up to the Brides. There is nothing better than being prepared for the best day of your life in every aspect!

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Living Abroad but getting married in Ireland - How to register your marriage

Ireland is a beautiful Brides destination for those coming from abroad to enjoy our stunning countryside. A lot of Irish people who live abroad also return home to get married. The legal process regarding registering your marriage is not straightforward and is going to be that little bit more complicated if you are living abroad. Here are some top pointers that you may need for registering your marriage in Ireland so that you can get ready for the big day. 

 

 

 

  Photo Credit: One Fab Day

 

You are required by law, to give notification to the state of your intent to marry at least 3 months before you wish to marry. If you are living outside of Ireland you can send your notice to marry by post to the Civil Registration Office or Health Service Executive. You must contact the office first and speak with a registrar who must agree to giving you ‘special notice’ and the registrar will advise you accordingly. They will then send you a postal notification form for you to fill out and return to that same office. You only need to send back the notification form, no other documents are required at that time. The form may only be used with prior agreement of a Registrar in cases where one or both of the parties to the proposed marriage are living outside the State. Final divorce decrees / death certificates (where relevant) must be received in respect of all previous marriages.

 

  

 

No date of marriage (religious or civil) will be agreed until all paperwork is deemed to be in order by the Registrar. This process may take additional time in cases where a foreign divorce is involved. Such cases will require the divorce to be examined to determine whether it is recognisable under Irish law and thus establish whether the relevant party is free to marry.

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Balybeg House

 

  

 You will only need to send the notification form to the Registry Office, no other documents are required. They will then set up an appointment with you at least 5 days before the Brides in which you will need all relevant documents for the Marriage Registration Form (MRF) to be issued. These documents are as follows:

 

  

• Passports
• Birth certificates
• Final decrees of any previous divorces
• Death and marriage certificates of any deceased civil partner 
• PPS numbers
• Original copies of any dissolution of civil partnerships
• In the case of annulment - final decrees of nullity and a letter from the court to show that no appeal was lodged
• Fee of €200

 

 

Some additional information may be required by the registrar if a divorce was granted outside the state. In this case the registrar must see whether this is recognised by Irish law and will advise what to do. On contacting the registrar initially express any worries or ask any questions to ensure that you bring everything that you need with you on the day of giving notice.

 

 

 Information regarding the Brides:  

 

• The proposed date of Brides 
• The names and dates of birth of both witnesses  
• Whether it is a religious or civil ceremony 
• Details of the solemniser  
• Details of the venue (if choosing a civil ceremony at a chosen venue rather than in at the register office).  

Photo Credit: Style Serendipity

 

Some websites that you might find helpful:

 

http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/Find_a_Service/bdm/How_to_register_a_birth/Registrars_of_Births_Deaths_and_Marriages.html#Dublin

http://www.gettingmarried.ie

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/birth_family_relationships/getting_married/registration_of_marriage.html

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Let's talk Brides Paperwork!

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When people get engaged they are so involved in the moment and are enjoying being a newly engaged duo. The bride to be is no doubt thinking about her dress, flowers, ideal venues and the groom to be is thinking about the fabulous honeymoon that will follow. It goes without saying that Bridess take plenty of organisation, aside from all the fun and pretty details there is the paperwork to think about. Here below is a brief step by step guide on what to do when if you are getting married in Ireland. Put the dates in your diary, the process is important because without it you won't actually be able to get married!!

It is the law for you to give notification to the state of your intent to marry. You must do so in person and must arrange an appointment with the Civil Registration Office or Health Service Executive. Locations for these places can be found on www.goireland.ie or on www.gettingmarried.ie.  You need to contact your local registration office at least 3 months before the Brides to make an appointment with the registrar to give notification but we recommend you do this as soon as possible to get your appointment.

Here is what you will need to bring with you and details you will be asked for!

• The fee of €200
• Passports
• Birth certificates for both bride and groom
• Final decrees of any previous divorces
• Death and marriage certificates of any deceased civil partner
• PPS numbers
• Original copies of any dissolution of civil partnerships

In the case of annulment - final decrees of nullity and a letter from the court to show that no appeal was lodged

• The proposed date of Brides
• The names and dates of birth of both witnesses
• Whether it is a religious or civil ceremony
• Details of the solemniser ( person who will marry you and details of the church or venue (if choosing a civil ceremony at a chosen venue rather than in at the register office).

When the registrar is satisfied with all the details, dates and additional information a Marriage Registration Form (MRF) is issued. This is an important document as it is effectively the civil authorisation for the marriage to proceed. This is required on your Brides day and should be handed to the registrar or solemniser prior to the ceremony. Bridess cannot and will not proceed without the MRF. After the ceremony the Bride, Groom, Solemniser and both witnesses sign the MRF immediately. The MRF then needs to be returned to the Registrar within 1 month so it can be civilly registered. Then that's it, you are married!!

Photo Credit: Mrs2be.ie

Under special circumstances such as either the bride or groom or both are ill or the couple live abroad it is still possible to observe the notification process. You must contact the Registry Office to receive 'special notice'. However, you must visit the office at least five days before the Brides to sign any necessary documentation and the Declaration of no Impediment (this is a document that you must sign to declare that there is no reason why the two of you should not be joined in marriage).

Depending on whether you are having a religious or civil ceremony different processes will follow. A civil ceremony is essentially sorted once you have spoken with the registrar who will issue you with a solemniser if this has not already been decided on. With religious ceremonies you must visit the solemniser of the religion of which you are marrying in. Each religion differs slightly but I will talk through the Catholic Church process as it is the majority religion in Ireland.

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In the Catholic Church it is necessary to carry out a pre marriage course before you wed {although some Priests are more relaxed on this than others, so check with yours}. You must also fill in a pre-nuptial enquiry form, this is normally done with the Priest.

This is what you will need to fill out the form:

• Baptism and confirmation certificates.
• Letters of freedom ( a letter from the priest in the parish you reside to declare you have not been married before)
• Pre-marriage course completion certificate
• MRF (Marriage Registration Form)
• Important details (Of the couple intending to marry, your parents and your two witnesses)
• Questions regarding faith.

Another obstacle that you may come across is if you want to marry in a different Church. It is necessary to ask for a Dispensation of Form; that is permission to be married by the rites of another church. This permission is granted by the diocesan bishop. If a Catholic person wishes to marry a person who is not baptised, or who is a member of another faith, they must seek a dispensation from the bishop. This is called a Disparity of Cult dispensation.

Now that's all the behind the scenes work is done you can focus on the prettier aspects of the Brides!!

We do recommend that you try and sort these things out as soon as possible, as you will forget about them when you are involved in choosing venues, music, dresses etc!

Happy planning!!

Photo Credit: Castle Leslie Estate

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Unknown Brides paperwork, Catholic Church, Notification process, Registering Marriage