Getting Married

The Staff of St. Patrick Cathedral offer our congratulations on your engagement, and we pray that God will bless and guide you in your preparation for marriage! Your wedding day will be a very special one for you and we want to do all that we are able to ensure that it will be filled with joy; that it will be a blessed, holy and prayerful celebration.


Couples desiring to be married at St. Patrick Cathedral should contact the Marriage Prep. Coordinator Melynna Lamb

at the parish office at least twelve months in advance of the desired wedding date. 

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But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.

Mark 10:7-9

Marriage Preparation Process

Below you will find the basics of expectations and guidelines for preparing for marriage within the Diocese of Fort Worth, here at St. Patrick Cathedral. You can submit your initial inquiry by clicking the "Wedding Inquiry Form" below.


General Marriage Preparation Requirements:

A.) Preparation must be completed through your home parish

B.) At least one member of the couple must be baptized Catholic

C.) Both individuals must be at least 18 years of age

D.) The couple is expected to participate in Sunday Mass regularly


Wedding Inquiry Form

Wedding Liturgy Planning-Mass

Wedding Liturgy Planning-Outside of Mass

    • Preparation will take place at your home parish
    • Both the bride and the groom or at least one of the couple is Catholic
    • At least 18 years of age
    • Attend Mass weekly


     

    Please do not reserve a venue for your reception until after you have signed the church reservation agreement. We cannot guarantee the date will be available until the Church agreement is signed and received.

    • Baptismal Certificate with notations (issued within six months of your desired wedding date)
    • Affidavit of Free status (the form will be provided to you when you meet with the wedding coordinator).

    All required documents need to be received six months prior to the wedding date.

  • Once you have met with the Marriage Coordinator at St. Patrick or your home parish and set a date for your wedding you should allow at least twelve months, to prepare for the sacrament of marriage. Engaged couples will need to plan and be able to have several meetings during the preparation time. Various diocesan programs are required aspects of marriage preparation. These include the following:

    • Pre-Cana
    • Fully-Engaged Sponsor Couple Sessions
    • Meetings with either the priest or deacon
    • Attendance at weekly Sunday Mass
    • For information on Natural Family Planning, please visit www.fwdioc.org.

  • Ceremony Planning

    • An information booklet, Together for Life, will be provided to you when you have your first meeting with the marriage coordinator. All preparation needs to be completed three months prior to the date of the wedding.
    • Musicians need to be contracted at least two months prior to the wedding date. This is arranged through the Music Director. 
    Liturgy Planning Documents:  

    Liturgy Planning Sheets: 
    Select the Wedding Planner Worksheet appropriate for your wedding and complete as indicated.


  • You will pick up your marriage license at the County Clerk’s office (must be a Texas State License). 

    The license must be delivered to the Cathedral no later than two months prior to the wedding date. 

    Your marriage license can be obtained up to 89 days before your wedding.  

  • The Tribunal of the Diocese of Fort Worth is the office which adjudicates the marital status in the Catholic Church of any divorced person who has requested a declaration of nullity (an Annulment) of a previous marriage. The Tribunal exercises its ministry of truth and justice in a spirit of compassion and confidentiality according to the teaching and practice of the Catholic Church. All who share in this ministry commit themselves to mutual support and ongoing formation in the Church’s canon law and its practical application. 


    Tribunal