Help with Catholic Wedding outside of Church at a garden

I’m not sure but is that something you guys want or just her mom? This is your wedding, not hers. I understand you want to be accommodating but if it’s not your vision I wouldn’t do it. However, if it is tan I’d contact the church where you want to be married & go from there.

Yeah you would need to do two ceremonies if you wanted this, there is no way to have an outdoor Catholic ceremony. The rings aren't a big deal for the Catholic one, it's the vows that matter. I didn't do them separately, but you could if you find a priest to work with. Bringing a marriage into the Church is not uncommon.


However, I would get married in the church only if you all want to, not because her mom wants that. Catholic marriage is a very specific thing that requires preparation and certain promises that many people don't want to make (there is no such thing as divorce in the Catholic church, for example, and many priests will not marry people who are living together).

Catholics technically have to be married in the Catholic church in order for the marriage to be valid, but that's a very personal thing--that's the official church stance, but ultimately up to each person (in this case, your fiancée) to decide if going against that will be an issue for them. Technically, having an invalid marriage means you cannot receive communion (although, again, maybe not a huge deal for someone who doesn't attend mass).

From what I understand, the Catholic church also does not allow two ceremonies because then it becomes confusing for witnesses to know which is the "real" version (& in the church's eyes, the only real, valid option is in the church).

You can also do convalidation, but that is approved on a case-by-case basis & wanting to be married outside probably wouldn't be approved.

If you are not Catholic, you will definitely need to go to your fiancee's priest to discuss this as there is additional paperwork.

I say all this as someone who briefly looked into the options but will ultimately be getting married in the church. I'm technically Catholic but not practicing, so I left it up to my practicing partner to choose what he was spiritually comfortable with. I think there's can be a lot of difference between what is technically allowed by the church & what people actually do.

You and fiance need to decide what type of ceremony you want. This is something that other people (parents, etc) get zero say in.

If fiance didn't consider a Catholic ceremony then stick with that. Set boundaries and maintain them by saying no. If you cave, other people will try to control the rest of your marriage as well.

If fiance does want a Catholic ceremony, then they need to contact the local Catholic church they belong to and ask what the procedures are. They do not allow outdoor weddings but they will grant a blessing in rare circumstances (not a second ceremony) if the original ceremony takes place outside the church.

You should have the wedding that you and your fiancé want. Do the two of you want it in a Catholic Church? If it is because of her mom, don’t do it.