Catholic Wedding

hcnajera

Help!!!! haha ok it's not that dire, but I really need some help with invite wording. 

My husband and I were married in a civil ceremony in July 2010, his family is all catholic and I am finally in the process of converting to Catholicism. A requirement to my conversion is that we are married in the Catholic church and receive the full sacrament of Marriage. We have always talked about a vow renewal, because our first wedding was just him, his best friend, me and a justice of the peace. The religious ceremony will mean so much to his family that we definitely want to make a little more special but my question is to invitations, do we still present it as a vow renewal? or a wedding? any tips on invite wording would be amazing!! 

misssunshine17

You are legally married, so this is not a wedding. Are you sure this isn't a convalidation ceremony? This should absolutely be presented as a vow renewal. This means no wedding party, big fluffy white dress or reception activities like first dances and cake cutting. Hose a fabulous party with great food and alcohol and everyone will go home happy. 

QueerFemme

Mr. and Mrs. Already Married
request the honour of your presence
at their convalidation ceremony
Date
time
Church Name
City, State

 

Make sure you don't have a big re-do.  No big white dress with a long train, no wedding party, no "firsts".  No dramatic walk down the aisle.  Certainly, you can have cake, and dance together at the party celebrating your convalidation, but it should be subdued.  This isn't a wedding take-two.

monkeysip

I know that per etiquette, it is seen as more of a vow renewal, but you will be receiving the sacrament of marriage for the first time, so I don't know why you can't use that language.

Mr. and Mrs. Hcnajera (or however you address yourselves)

request the honor of your presence

as they receive the Sacrament of Marriage

Catholic church

city, state

If you want to emphasize the vow renewal part, you could say "request the honor of your presence at their vow renewal in which they will receive the sacrament of marriage"

Or if you really just want to stay away from the sacrament part, you can just use the vow renewal wording.

I'm not sure how to word it to say "convalidation".  Maybe "request the honor of your presence at the convalidation of their wedding vows" or something like that?  

You have a few options here.  Congratulations on your marriage and your convalidation!

banana468

Ditto that it's a convalidation. You aren't renewing your vows since you're going to be doing this for the first time in the Catholic Church.

MoxieMickie

Congrats! You should also talk with your priest (and visit the Catholic bride board). There are often restrictions that keep this subdued and religious rather than a PPD cloaked in religion.

Calypso1977

as others said, this is a convalidation.  i cant imagine you being denied because while your husband may have some tought questions to answer as to why he didnt marry in the church the first time, you at the time were not catholic.  your conversion means you wish to live a catholic life, and presumably a catholic marriage, so in order for you to do both of those things you must have a valid marriage because without it, you cannto participate in the sacraments.

i would use the wording that others have used in terms of the invitations.  my sister had a convalidation and hers was low key - just them and their 4 children.  others choose to do something larger.