Home > Sacraments > Matrimony

MATRIMONY

Marriage Preparation Checklist
The following checklist describes the required steps before a couple can be joined by the bonds of Holy Matrimony.

• All requests to be married at St. Thomas a'Becket must go through Fr. Pat Casey, Fr. James Arwady or Deacon James Ward. The office staff is unable to confirm availability of the church for a particular wedding date until the engaged couple has met with Fr. Pat, Fr. James or Deacon Jim. You may call the office at (734) 981-1333 to schedule a meeting or use our staff directory to email them directly.
• After the meeting, obtain the wedding planning packet with rules, guidelines and planning assistance.
• Email Wedding Coordinator Sue Miller at sue.miller@abecket.org if you have questions not covered in your preparation packet about what is/is not allowed (e.g., flower girl throwing petals, pew bows, etc.).
• Attend the Engaged Couples Retreat conducted by Patricia Danks, Ph.D..
• Attend the required Natural Family Planning classes. Please contact the Parish Office at (734) 981-1333 to register for these mandatory classes. Classes are only offered four times a year.
• Decide if you want to celebrate a Wedding Mass or a Wedding Ceremony (in which the Liturgy of the Eucharist is not celebrated).
• Attend a marriage preparation meeting.
• Take the FOCCUS Test. (This is one of the requirements of the pre-marriage program in the Catholic Church and all couples must take the FOCCUS test.)
• Meet with your sponsor couple.
• Rehearsal space can be reserved NO EARLIER than 3 months prior to the wedding date. Email Sue Miller at sue.miller@abecket.org to reserve your Rehearsal space.
• Email Brandon Gauvin at brandon.gauvin@abecket.org to organize the music for your wedding ceremony.

Marriage Counseling
Do you need support from a member of our pastoral team? Please visit our Pastoral Ministries page to find out more about the pastoral team available to assist you in finding the help you need.

You may also consider attending Retrouvaille... A Lifeline for Troubled Marriages.

Marriage Encounter
Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) weekend is a positive and personal experience offering married couples an opportunity to learn a technique of loving communication they can use for the rest of their lives. It's a chance to look deeply into their marital relationship and their relationship with God.

Decree of Nullity (Annulment)
St. Thomas a'Becket has an extensive FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page about the annulment process.