"A Special Word to Couples Who Were Married at a Service Outside of the Catholic Church --Validation of Marriage:
When a couple seeks to validate their marriage which took place earlier without permission of the church or without the presence of a Roman Catholic minister, they are required to participate in the Marriage Preparation program.
It is the policy of St. James Church that the liturgical service is to be simple and reverent. While the validation does require a statement of vows, legally the couple has been married. The celebration is to be a primarily sacramental celebration with the presence of 2 witnesses and family/friends. Full wedding apparel, numerous attendants/ushers and efforts to seeking to create a full wedding ceremony that was not previously held with the civil ceremony will not be allowed with the validation ceremony in St. James Church. " (Emphasis added)
I find this particularly amusing since FI's sis may have played a role in the creation of this rule (She had a PPD there in which she lied to the deacon about her ceremony up until the day before the wedding when they had to admit that they were all ready wed.)
So let this be a lesson to all those lurking, the Catholic Church is on to your game. You can have the sacrament, but not the 'wedding redo', because actions have consequences.