Preparation for Wedding Day and Lifetime Marriage
Marriage Requirements
A marriage that takes place in the Catholic Church requires a Marriage License from the State of Florida. The Church ceremony fulfills both civil law and Church law requirements.
As a couple, you will have an initial meeting with the priest or deacon, followed by a series of workshops to help you grow in awareness from a Roman Catholic perspective on the importance of the Sacrament of Marriage. This preparation will help you grow closer to God, to the community of faith that will witness your marriage, and to one another.
This preparation process is threefold: evaluation, formative encounters, and planning. Couples intending to marry must contact the parish at least six (6) months before the wedding date. Please note that if either party has had a previous marriage, the preparation time may be longer, and a wedding date cannot be scheduled until the situation has been resolved.
The usual documents required from the couple are:
A recently issued baptismal certificate (within 6 months of the wedding date) from the church where you were baptized.
First Holy Communion and Confirmation certificates (sometimes included in the baptism certificate).
If previously married, the following documents are required:
A copy of your prior civil wedding license.
A copy of your final civil divorce decree.
If you obtained an annulment, the original annulment decree issued by a Church marriage tribunal.
If additional information is required, it will be communicated to the couple during the first meeting with the priest or deacon
Additional key details
Evaluation Process
Preparation begins with participation in the Fully Engaged program, an initial inventory designed to raise awareness of the many aspects of marriage and family life. Afterwards, you will meet with a mentor couple who will review the results, help interpret your responses, and identify the strengths and weaknesses of your relationship.
This process usually increases confidence and commitment to the Sacrament of Marriage. However, in some cases, the evaluation may reveal difficulties that require postponing the wedding to resolve the issues. If this occurs, the priest will meet with you to provide guidance.
Formative Encounters
After completing Fully Engaged, you must attend additional encounters sponsored by the Archdiocese of Miami, such as Transformed in Love or Camino, as well as a mandatory course in Natural Family Planning. These include talks on spirituality, marital life, and the Sacrament of Marriage, all of which strengthen your commitment and deepen your spiritual life.
This is also an opportunity to ask the priest or deacon for guidance in preparing for your life together.
Planning Process
The parish wedding coordinator will meet with you to plan every aspect of the ceremony, including the selection of Sacred Scripture, the bridal party, and the rehearsal.
We encourage couples to attend Sunday Mass regularly. In selecting lectors, please ensure they are practicing Catholics familiar with the Mass, as this enhances the wedding celebration.
HOW TO OBTAIN A CIVIL MARRIAGE LICENSE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA
A civil marriage license may be obtained from any County Courthouse in Florida. Both parties must be present. Once you obtain the license, bring it to the Parish Office.
The marriage license is valid for 60 days and must cover your wedding date. Contact the local courthouse of Florida for more information and to schedule an appointment with the clerk.
The priest or deacon will complete the license and return it to the Clerk of Court within 10 days following the wedding. The Church ceremony serves as both your civil and sacramental marriage—no separate civil ceremony is required.
Please note: Weddings cannot take place without a State of Florida marriage license. Priests and deacons are not permitted to perform weddings without it.
WITNESSES
Each party must have two witnesses who will provide written testimony. Forms (that will be provided at the first meeting) must be signed before a notary public or at the parish office.
On the day of the wedding, two witnesses are required to sign the Marriage License.
DURING THE CEREMONY – WE ARE IN THE HOLY PRESENCE OF GOD
St. Joseph Church strives to make the wedding liturgy a holy, spiritual, and personal experience. Guests are asked to maintain reverence, silence, and proper decorum within the Church.
CHURCH DECORATIONS
Two (2) bouquets of flowers may be placed at the altar.
The aisle may be decorated simply, for example, with ribbons or bows, provided pews are not damaged with staples or tape.
Candles or flowers may not be placed in the aisle.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY
Only one (1) official photographer may be designated.
Photographers are not permitted inside the sanctuary or on the altar.
No light fixtures may be set up in the sanctuary.
Videography is permitted without permanent lighting.
The photographer must meet with the priest, deacon, or coordinator before the ceremony.
Guests should be asked not to take personal photos to preserve the dignity of the celebration.
WEDDING MUSIC
All couples must schedule a planning session with the Director of Music, Jorge Ore (music@stjosephmiamibeach.com).
Music must be selected from the parish-approved repertoire and should be sacred, classical in style, and appropriate for the Sacrament.
Secular music is not permitted during liturgy.
The music fee is paid directly to the musician and is not included in the general wedding donation.
Musicians/Cantors
Only parish musicians may be used for wedding liturgies.
A cantor/soloist and organist will be selected from the pastor-approved list and coordinated by the Director of Music.
If an outside musician is approved, the parish cantor and music director must still be present for coordination and supervise the sound system. A $100 fee is paid directly to the music director.
Recorded music of any kind is not permitted.
RICE, BUBBLES, CONFETTI, ETC.
For safety and cleanliness, rice, bird seed, confetti, bubbles, flower petals, and similar items are not permitted inside or outside the church.
Other options not mentioned above should be discussed with the parish wedding coordinator before making any arrangements.
WEDDING REHEARSALS
Rehearsals are typically held on the Thursday or Friday before the wedding date. The wedding coordinator will make arrangements with you.
DONATIONS
The minimum donation for a wedding at St. Joseph Church is $1,500, to be paid in full one month before the wedding (this does not include music or decorations).
To reserve a wedding date, a $300 non-refundable deposit is required (as part of the total amount).
Non-parishioners must obtain written permission from their home parish pastor and submit it with the deposit.
When the wedding preparation takes place at another Catholic parish, confirmation of undergoing process from the pastor or wedding coordinator is required.
VISITING PRIESTS
If you wish to invite a visiting priest, he must contact the parish office directly. The couple is responsible for all expenses associated with the invitation (stipend, travel, accommodation).
Please note: St. Joseph Church does not provide altar servers for weddings.
WEDDING TIMES
If the church is available on the requested weekend, wedding ceremonies may take place on Saturdays at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., or 3:00 p.m.
If an annulment is required, no wedding date can be set (not even tentatively) until the process is fully resolved by the marriage tribunal.
Marriage outside St. Joseph Parish
If your wedding will take place outside St. Joseph Church (international, out-of-state, or in another parish), the same preparation process applies.
A donation of $225 is required for document preparation at the first meeting.
In case the wedding celebration takes place outside the Archdiocese of Miami, the file must be submitted first to the Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Miami (2 months) prior to the wedding for review and approval. An additional check is required for FedEx courier services ($125 international, $50 within the U.S.) to send the documents to the appropriate Dioceses.
If the wedding is outside the Archdiocese of Miami, the file must first be reviewed and approved by the Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Miami at least two months prior to the wedding.