Marriage
St. Aloysius Parish Marriage Process
At St. Aloysius Church, we rejoice with couples who are preparing to enter into the Sacrament of Marriage. This sacred covenant is a beautiful vocation – a lifelong commitment rooted in Christ’s faithful love.
The clergy and staff of St. Aloysius extend their warmest wishes for a blessed and grace-filled preparation journey. We are honored to accompany you as you discern, prepare, and plan for your sacramental union within the Church.
Our Marriage Policies are designed with pastoral care and deep respect for the sanctity of this lifelong commitment. They exist not simply as guidelines, but as a means of supporting you spiritually and practically as you prepare for married life.
We look forward to walking with you during this joyful and important time.
Basic Criteria:
- According to the norms of the Diocese of Spokane, at least one party must be a baptized Roman Catholic in order to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage in the Catholic Church. In addition, a minimum of four months is required for marriage preparation prior to the proposed wedding date. During this preparation period, the person preparing you for marriage will establish your freedom to marry.
- If either party has been previously married, no wedding date may be set until a Decree of Nullity has been granted by the appropriate tribunal. Ann Smith is available to answer questions regarding the annulment process and to assist you in beginning the necessary steps.
To begin the process:
- Please read the St. Aloysius Wedding Policy
- Contact Ann Smith at asmith@dioceseofspokane.org to confirm your desired wedding date availability.
- Once you have contacted Ann and confirmed a mutually agreed upon wedding date, please complete the Preliminary Marriage Inquiry Form and submit the deposit payment. The date will not be reserved until the deposit is received.
- Ann will reach out to you once she has received the Preliminary Marriage Inquiry Form to schedule an appointment.
- Complete the required prenuptial paperwork and forms (please refer to the “Nuptial File Documents” section). If you are completing your marriage preparation outside of St. Aloysius, the person in charge of your marriage preparation is required to send your entire prenuptial file to Ann Smith (asmith@dioceseofspokane.org) no later than two months before your wedding date.
Marriage Documents:
Nuptial File Documents:
Prenuptial Investigation: The Pre-Nuptial Investigation form is a preliminary inventory that should be completed by the presider/parish minister who prepares you for marriage. This may include documentation regarding declaration of nullity or verification of a spouse’s death by providing an original death certificate.
Baptismal Certificates: Please obtain recent copies of your baptismal certificates from the churches where each of you was baptized (even if you were not baptized Catholic). These certificates need to be issued within the last six months and include notations of any sacraments received thereafter.
Freedom to Marry Affidavits: Both partners are required to obtain affidavits from close family members or friends affirming that you are free to marry in the Catholic Church. These affidavits should attest that you have never been married before, or if you have, that those marriages have been annulled.
Premarital Preparation Certificate: Completion of a premarital preparation course is mandatory. If you have already participated in a course, please submit the certificate of completion as well as the actual assessment and any forms you completed. If a non-St. Aloysius Priest will be presiding at your wedding, they are responsible for your wedding preparation. We can assist by providing you with information about available courses and counseling if needed. If you are completing your marriage preparation at St. Aloysius, you are required to attend a Catholic Engaged Encounter weekend to deepen your faith and commitment. These weekends are offered throughout the year in multiple cities. In Spokane, the location is at Immaculate Heart Retreat Center. Spokane Engaged Encounter.
We recommend that you take a course in Natural Family Planning. The course is offered through Providence (Natural Family Planning | Providence). You can also find other options at NFP National Providers | USCCB. To learn more or to register for classes, call 509-474-2400 or email: Natural_Family_Plann@providence.org.
Letter from priest/pastoral minister summarizing marriage preparation
Permission/dispensation for marriage of Catholic and non-Catholic: (Pastors may grant this permission/dispensation for a marriage celebrated in his Parish; otherwise, the permission/dispensation is requested from the Chancery) – Only required if one of the parties is a non-Catholic or requires dispensation for another reason.
State of Washington civil marriage license: You will also need to obtain a marriage license from the State of Washington. You can apply for this license online. You can obtain this license from any County within Washington. Please note that you can apply for your marriage license 60 days prior to your wedding date. You MUST have obtained the license within 3 days of your wedding as the State has a 3-day waiting period. It is required that you bring to your rehearsal the marriage certificate, license, and return envelope issued by the County.
Marriage Information | Spokane County, WA
