Sorry this is a really long story but I'm currently engaged to my partner of nearly 9 years and we are planning on having our wedding in August of next year. He is Orthodox Russian Christian and I'm Catholic.
Ever since I met him he hasn't really put a huge focus on his religion or faith or practiced it other than occasionally praying and he's only been to church a handful of times. In the first few years of our relationship I was attending mass weekly but after I had our son (I was 20 and he was 19 and we were unwed when I gave birth) I had a strong fear of judgement so I stopped attending mass and I kinda strayed away from the church. For the past 8 years, I had the mindset that it doesn't make me less of a Catholic if I don't attend mass as long as I pray, follow God's words, and try to be a decent human being. I had no plans on formally returning to church until recently. Although my mindset is the same, I felt like now is my time to go back to church.
Although he keeps saying he's willing to convert for me, I don't want to make my fiancé feel like he has to change religions for my sake or comfort. I also had a conversation with our family friend who is a Catholic priest and he advised against doing that too.
I have an appointment with the priest this Sunday to discuss his thoughts on the marriage and if we could possibly get married outside of the church due to the difference in religions. I'm worried about him lecturing me or giving me a hard time due to my relationship with the church in the past and that we have a child out of wedlock and that our son is not baptized. I also am fearful of what he has to say about a wedding outside of church. (I previously had a conversation with a family friend who is a Catholic priest and he said that marriages outside of the Catholic church are not considered valid through the church because it's a sacrament so we would have to get permission from my priest).
It's important for me to get this approval because I still am a Catholic but I also don't want to be disrespectful to my fiancé or his family by forcing a church wedding on them.
Time is also kind of ticking because my churches website says you need to speak to a priest at least 9 months before the wedding and we are a little less than 9 months away 🙃
Can someone please tell me their not so scary experience with this or if they experienced the same thing???