Church?!

Mmfoote

Ok, so here's the background. My fiance is in the Marines, he and his family have attended a great church all his life. I have been there, i love the people, the environment and i tihnk they would put on a very nice wedding.
On the other hand, i am catholic, they are not. My mom really wants me to have the traditional Catholic wedding in my church. Which we no longer really go to, since we got a new Priest. But my grandma attends reguarlarly, and i am very close to her.
I don't mind having the traditional Catholic wedding, but i think my Fi church would be nice too. He would like to have it at his church and i am in the middle!

Any thoughts or opinions? : /

aerinpegadrak

One of the things they make you promise in a Catholic wedding is to raise your children as Catholic.  If you just pay lip service to that, what does it say about the other vows you take that day?

The only thing that should be considered when contemplating a church wedding is whether you and your FI agree with and plan to be part of that faith and community.  It's very unwise to make the decision based on your parents' wishes or the aesthetics of the place. 

If your FI wants it at his church and you don't care either way, then it's at his church.

[Deleted User]

I agree with MariePoppy. Do what you want to. It is your wedding and you have to be happy with your decision in the end.

FutureMrsMcDaniel

If his family actually attends a specific church, you should look to have it there.  You stated that your family doesn't really attend your church.  I guess that's considered a non-practicing Catholic?

My FI and his family are members of a Baptist church, but never attend, haven't in years and years.  My family on the other hand, we go to our Methodist church every Sunday and are pretty involved.  It was a no brainer for us.  His church was never an option because it holds no significance for him.  My church does for me.

I read a horror story on another board where a bride's priest refused to marry them because her FI wasn't Catholic.  I don't know how widely this is done or if this was a very severe isolated incident.

This is a decision that only involved you and your FI.  Both of your opinions count.  Make a decision that both of you feel equally good about.  I am absolutely sure everything will work out!

EDIT- It also might be wise to discuss your plans for after the wedding.  Do you want to start attending his church?  Will you all find your own?  That can have a lot of bearing on what you decide.

1ke

As a Catholic, you will need to follow Catholic Church law on marriage (canon law) in order for your marriage to be valid and for you to continue receiving the sacraments.

You can marry in the Catholic Church, or you can receive a dispensation to be married outside Catholic form-- meaning you can be married in your fiance's church.  To marry a baptized non-Catholic, a Catholic also needs permission for a mixed marriage.  If your fiance is not baptized, it's called a dispensation from disparity of cult.

Basically, as a Catholic you need to go through Catholic premarital preparation, the investigation regarding freedom to marry, and receive the proper permissions/dispensations. 

The poster above who mentioned the requirement to promise to raise the children Catholic is correct, but a Catholic makes this promise regardless of where they are physically getting married. 

Catholics routinely receive permission to be married in non-Catholic churches in a mixed marriage situation.  What I've outlined here may seem like a lot, but basically you just need to contact your parish priest and make an appointment.  He'll guide you through everything and take care of the paperwork.