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Patricia
Just Said Yes July 2021

Is a Roman Catholic wedding possible on a holy day?

Patricia, on August 3, 2019 at 11:16 PM Posted in Wedding Ceremony 0 9
Hi there,

Im getting married on August 15th 2020 in Philadelphia. After booking the venue we realized that it is a holy day of obligation—the feast of the Assumption. Does anyone know if the diocese of Philadelphia allows weddings on holy days? Getting nervous that I won’t be able to get married in a church. Thank you!

9 Comments

Latest activity by Monica, on August 4, 2019 at 12:53 PM
  • L
    Dedicated October 2020
    Lisa ·
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    It depends on the church. I know the Catholic church wont do weddings during Lent. My wedding is on my church's patron saint's day. Theyll allow us to have the wedding ceremony but not too late in the day since they want to have to celebrate their patron saint with a special mass.
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  • 2d Bride
    Champion October 2009
    2d Bride ·
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    You booked the venue without booking the church? The church really needs to come first, as they have all sorts of requirements about what you need to do first, plus scheduling issues. And while you can book a different venue if your first choice isn't available the day of your church wedding, you can't just book a different church if it isn't available the day you've booked your venue.

    I'd talk to a priest there ASAP, and get the date worked out with him. He can tell you not only generally whether a wedding can be on a feast day, but also whether the church and a priest are available on that specific day.

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  • Colleen
    Master September 2019
    Colleen ·
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    You can have your ceremony someplace else. It however will most likely not be done by a Catholic priest.
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  • Devoted December 2019
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    My church typically doesn’t do weddings during advent, but instead of a priest a deacon is performing my ceremony rather than a full mass.

    There are a few options at this point
    1) if you can’t get married at the church, then have your ceremony at your venue but not with a priest
    2) see if you can change the date with your reception venue, they often will let you as long as you keep it same day of the week and the date is available
    3) different churches have different rules in a way. A church I was originally going to get married at had much more strict rules and requirements on days I could and couldn’t get married on. You could look into other churches in the area to see if ANYONE could perform a ceremony.
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  • Kelly
    VIP October 2020
    Kelly ·
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    I would ask the church. I know they won't do major holidays but some will be lieniant on other days. I think if you explain to the venue your situation they'd let you change your date if it's available
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  • 2d Bride
    Champion October 2009
    2d Bride ·
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    The issue with this is that a ceremony that is not at the church and not with a priest will not be recognized by the Catholic church, except in exceptional circumstances with the prior consent of the church. If Catholicism is important to you, that's not a good option.
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  • FirstTimeMOB
    October 2018
    FirstTimeMOB ·
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    Only your church can give that answer, as it is really up to the Pastor who oversees the parish along with the bishop of the specific diocese who makes those decisions.

    One of the posters mentioned 'the Catholic Church won't do weddings during Lent'...not true, as I got married smack in the middle of Lent, two weeks before Easter. We had the approvals and were permitted to bring one floral arrangement into the church, as long as it was removed immediately afterwards (flowers are not present in the church during Lent).

    About the only time during Lent that I can't see ANY church performing weddings would be during the Paschal Triduum - Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday - the three days preceding Easter. Beyond that, its up to the parish.

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  • Patricia
    Just Said Yes July 2021
    Patricia ·
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    Thanks all! I’ll have to ask the church and then change the date if necessary. Hopefully they’ll let us get married that day!
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  • M
    Dedicated June 2017
    Monica ·
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    I had a friend get married on the Feast of the Assumption. Just check with the church because it will vary by church.
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