Marriage Preparation

The Bismarck Diocese has requirements in order to help you and your fiancée best prepare to live out your vocation of Marriage and be the best spouse you can be.
 
Before scheduling your wedding at a parish, if either party (Catholic of non-Catholic) has a prior attempt at marriage which has not been dissolved through death or received a Document of Freedom to Marry, please contact the Tribunal Office at the Bismarck Diocese at 701-204-7203, before contacting your parish.    

Nine to Twelve Months Prior to Wedding Date:

• Pray together and enjoy quiet moments together as a couple. Ask God to bless your relationship and thank Him for the gift of one another.
• Schedule and have an initial meeting with your priest, to get to know him and learn more about his particular marriage preparation process.
• Complete the Pre-Nuptial Forms with your priest.
• If either of you have had a previous bond, please turn in the Document of Freedom to Marry   to your parish.
• Take your FOCCUS Inventory through your parish.
• Obtain baptismal certificates for both parties (issued within 9 months or first contact with       priest). Have the parish include all notations. If there are no notations, please have the parish write “None” in each area. 
• Schedule your Pre-Marriage Seminar Weekend date (If one or both of you have previously been married you need to attend the Second Marriage Seminar instead.) 
• Schedule your Natural Family Planning Course

 
Two to Four Months Prior to Wedding Date:

• Turn “Certificate of Completion of the Pre-Marriage Seminar” in to your priest.
• Turn “Certificate of Completion of a Natural Family Planning Course” in to your priest.
• Begin meetings to review the results of your FOCCUS Inventory.
• Meet and discuss music and Liturgy with your parish.

 
One to Two Months Prior to Wedding Date:

• Finalize your music and liturgy plan with your parish.
• No more than 30 days prior to the wedding date you must apply for a civil marriage license. 
• Continue praying and attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Watch a USCCB video: Made for Each Other


Preparing for Marriage–Companion resource for parish staff and clergy