Family Life

Marriage Preparation

Getting Married? Congratulations!

The Church welcomes and treasures your marriage.Marriage Preparation includes Personal, Legal, Liturgical and Practical Preparation elements. Your local parish is ready to assist you. As you begin your plans for the wedding, please call your parish and make an appointment with the priest, deacon , or his representative. Read more here Archdiocesan Guidelines

Pre-Wedding Checklist A Step-by-Step Guide

Ceremony Options

Visit ForYourMarriage.org for a comprehensive guide to Catholic weddings, marriage and family life.

Personal Preparation: Register for Marriage Preparation

In cooperation with the priest or deacon officiating at your wedding, each couple will participate in a marriage preparation program certified by the Archdiocese of Baltimore listed below. You have several options for completing this element of your marriage preparation. Your parish is the first source to which you should turn for this program.

Parish Sponsor Couple Program- This program is available only at parishes with trained sponsor couples, so inquire about availability at your parish. A married couple from your parish is trained to guide you through your preparation course, using a Pre-marriage Discussion Inventory to facilitate communication and understanding. Meet with the sponsor couple at their home. Register directly with your parish.

Parish Remarriage Preparation - This program is similar to the Sponsor Couple Program, with additional attention to step-families and other special issues of remarrying couples. Remarriage Preparation is only available at those parishes that have teams of remarriage sponsor couples, so inquire about availability at your parish. Register directly with your parish.

Archdiocesan Remarriage Preparation. For schedule and to register, call 410-547-5420.

Parish Pre-Cana Programs- Your parish may offer a group program open only to parishioners. Check with your parish about this option. Register directly with your parish.

Catholic Engaged Encounter Weekends
This weekend marriage prepararation program is an approved option. Visit their website to view the schedule and register online. www.mdcee.org

Archdiocesan Pre-Cana Conferences: These workshop-style group programs are open to any couple. Take a pre-marriage discussion inventory to facilitate communication and understanding. Priority is given to couples from the hosting parishes and programs fill up six to nine months in advance, so inquire promptly at the Archdiocese Marriage and Family Enrichment, 410-547-5420.

Schedule of Archdiocesan Pre-Cana Programs. Registration Form