how did you ask your priest??

smccart7

So we are having a church wedding (in August of 2011) and already have the church reserved. We should be meeting with the priest in the next few weeks, however we have a priest from outside the parish that we would really like to marry us. How do I approach this subject with the priest at the parish where we're getting married? Do I ask him if it is okay to bring in another priest? Also, how do I go about asking the priest who we want to marry us- phone call, is e-mail ok? I don't want to offend anyone!

missmis99

Our church has very specific guidelines outlined in the "handbook" we were given in our first meeting.  I think this is pretty common and they probably have a procedure in place already.

Theresa626

You need to talk to the church ASAP.  A lot of the churches I called told me they wouldn't give me a date until the priest I wanted wrote a letter to the bishop to get permission to marry me at a different parish. 

SaraAndrew2010

We had to ask the pastor of the church we are getting married in for permission to use an outside priest and the pastor extended the official invitation to the priest we wanted to bring in.  My church's online guildelines stressed that it was the responsibility of the parish to invite the outside priest, not us. 

It varies depending on the parish, but our pastor was more than happy to let us bring in an outside priest.  My advice to you is to ask politely and make sure you don't step on any toes.

smccart7

Alright, I'll plan on setting up an appointment with the pastor at the parish we are getting married at. THanks girls!

Calypso1977

yes, you have to get a dispensation in order for the priest from one church to marry you at another.

why not just get married at church the priest you want to marry you is a part of?

smccart7

The priest we want to marry us is from our old college, but we don't want to get married at the school.

ellen73

I really think this depends on the diocese.  I called the church, reserved the church, talked to the pastor a week or two later.   I said right up front we would like to Fr. So and So from St. XYZ...  and he said great. He penciled us in his calendar,  and just asked for a letter from the priest is marrying us.    

Asking the priest who is marrying us- I did it on the phone. He's a friend of my parents.  I called to talk, and ask,  and we then met with him the next time we were both in town (I'm two hours away, my fiance is 6 hours away).