One must be over 18 year old.

One has to answer ‘yes’ to the following questions:

• I am legally able to get married under the laws of the Australian Government (ie; you are not presently married).

• I am legally able to get married under the laws of the Catholic Church (ie; you have never been married before or, if you have, then you have been through the Church’s annulment process and have received an annulment from the Church).

• You are both prepared to complete a marriage preparation course before you get married.

Each of the intending couple must provide the following Documents:

• your birth certificate/Passport

• recent copies of your baptismal and Confirmation certificates (at least one of the parties to be married must be baptised Catholic)

• any other relevant documentation (i.e.; copies of annulments, divorce decree etc.)

• a pre – marriage course certificate indicating the completion of your marriage preparation programme.

In order not to place additional financial burdens upon you, the parish asks for a donation of $900 to cover our costs. A fee for a small bouquet of flowers for the church (in front of the altar) to the value of $150 is an optional extra.

The donation covers the following church expenses:

• Donation to the church, which includes offsetting cleaning, electrical, insurance and other maintenance costs.

• Lodgement of all civil and canonical documents.

• The Priest’s/deacon’s stipend

One of the biggest decisions anybody makes in his or her lifetime is the decision to marry the love of one’s life. Hence the Church strongly recommends that couples undergo a form of formal preparation for marriage. The preparation helps them to understand both the nature of marriage and the various human complexities of married life.

Marriage preparation available in the Archdiocese of Brisbane includes:

• Pre-Marriage Education Group Courses and FOCCUS Program (individual Pre Marriage Education) offered through Centacare Brisbane

• “Lighthouse Relationships” offers Group Pre-Marriage preparation courses in New Farm, as well as individual pre-marriage sessions; information can be found at www.lighthouserelationships.com.au

• a couple can discuss options with the priest who is officiating at their wedding

• it is advisable to plan to do the marriage preparation six months before the wedding.

Good music is one of the things that make a ceremony great. Liturgical and Sacred music are integral parts of your ceremony.

Our Parish can help you organise musicians for your wedding and make it a really memorable and joyful celebration. This however will be at your own cost.

Of course a lot of modern love songs are appropriate for weddings, but they belong at the reception, not in the religious ceremony.

Marriage – Archdiocese of Brisbane