Marriage Preparation Proceedures

1) Contact the Parish: The couple should register a minimum of six months prior to when they think they might want to schedule their wedding.

• Please DO NOT reserve a reception hall until you have a wedding date secured (step 6).
• After registering, a member of the marriage preparation team will contact the couple. 

2) Orientation Session: This is a general introduction to marriage preparation and wedding planning at St. Luke. We will look at an overview of the process, requirments, possible timelines, etc.

3) Online Inventory: After the couple attends the Orientation Session, the Parish Office will e-mail them instructions, along with a code, to take the online inventory. The couple will (in step 5) go over this evaulation tool with their preparing clergyman to help them better understand their strengths and weaknesses as a couple. 

4) Select a Clergyman: The couple will contact a priest or deacon and ask him if he would prepare them for marriage. 

• Typically he agrees, but occasionally his schedule or some other item may prevent him from agreeing. 
• The preparing clergyman usually also preside at the wedding. 

5) Classes and Clergy Sessions: Couples may proceed with these two aspects (5A and 5B) simultaneously.

A) Classes: The couple will complete four classes (or their equivalent in couple-to-couple or retreat format), usually with the marriage preparation team. 
B) Clergy Sessions: The couple will meet with their preparing clergyman for several sessions to go over the online inventory, establish freedom to marry, etc. 

6) Wedding Date: The clergyman will complete and sign a peach wedding reservation form for the Office of Worship.

• Sometimes this may happen before the clergy sessions and the classes are complete. If this is the case, the clergy sessions and the classes still need to be completed.
• This tentative reservation will be made permanent upon receipt of the deposit.
• The couple has a week to submitt the deposit.
• Since the couple has a date set with the Church, they may now reserve a reception hall.

7) Wedding Planning: The couple contacts the Director of the Office of Worship to set up the wedding ceremony.

8) Twogether-in-Texas Certificate: The preparing clergy gives the Director of Adult Faith Formation a form notifying him that the couple has completed their preparation. The Director of Adult Faith Formation then prepares a certificate for the couple that grants them a discount on their marriage license. 

9) Marriage License: The couple obtains their marriage license from the County Clerk. This will be signed at the wedding ceremony. 

10) Wedding