Marriage Preparation

MARRIAGE PREPARATION PROCESS

As a couple planning marriage at St. Hugo of the Hills Parish, we welcome you. St. Hugo follows diocesan guidelines which require a minimum six-month preparation period. Below are the requirements for preparation. It is important to note that the date and time of your wedding are finalized only after you have completed the four steps listed below.

Step 1:  Initial Meeting with Celebrant: A meeting will be set-up with the priest who will marry you. In preparation for this meeting, you should bring with you updated Baptismal Certificates (with notations) issued within the last six months. Please contact the parish where you were baptized to receive these. A Pre-Marriage information form (Form A) will be filled out at this initial meeting. Its purpose is to provide a legal statement of your freedom and proper intention to marry. Also, if a Catholic marries a non-Catholic, the Catholic party will be asked to do all in their power to have any children of the marriage baptized and reared in the Catholic Church and that they will continue to live their faith in the Catholic Church while also respecting the religious preference of the non-Catholic party.

Initial Contact with Witness to Love Coordinator: St. Hugo utilizes the Witness to Love marriage preparation program. At the beginning of your preparation, you will be asked to select a mentor couple to assist you with the marriage preparation process. The Witness to Love Coordinator will explain and lead you through the process. 

Step 2: Prepare Couple Inventory: This is a required pre-marriage inventory conducted online designed to identify the strengths and growth areas in your relationship. You should arrange to have the inventory as soon as possible after you have scheduled a date for your wedding and met with the priest for the first time. This couple profile is not a test, but designed to help you examine your thoughts and expectations about entering marriage. Once the results are received, a second meeting will be set-up with the priest to discuss. 

Step 3:  Pre-Marriage Retreat: Please choose an in-person retreat or an online option (see registration box below). One is required.

Step 4:  Sacrament of Marriage Liturgy Preparation: You will be provided with a copy of the book, Together for Life to help plan your liturgy within or outside of a Mass. A meeting will be offered several times per year and attending one session is required and should be done at least 3 months ahead of your wedding. Register at:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E044DA8A629A1F85-48612033-wedding#/.  The forms, Marriage Liturgy Planner and Wedding Music, should be reviewed prior to the meeting. A Wedding Worship Aid will be provided by St. Hugo free-of-charge and printed in color to help your guests participate fully in your Sacrament of Marriage. Visit our Wedding Music page to hear selections of music and for copies of forms:  www.sthugo.org/wedding-music.