Getting Married at St. Daniel
(For validation of an existing civil marriage, please see below*).

1. When a couple has become engaged and is interested in celebrating their wedding at St. Daniel's, one of the parties should contact the Parish Office (248-625-4580). A letter of information regarding having a wedding at St. Daniel's will be sent to them. This letter contains all of the guidelines that need to be met in order for the couple to be married here.

2. If both of the parties are free to marry in the Church, and if the couple meets the other requirements outlined in the informational letter, then a date and time for the wedding can be set. This wedding date should be secured with the church BEFORE any reception facilities are reserved!

If there are obstacles to marriage, such as previous marriage by one of the parties or a need to complete the sacraments of initiation and return to active participation in the life of the Church, these obstacles can be discussed with the pastor, deacon, Kay Duford, Betty Haran or Cheryl Smith to explore options leading to a Catholic marriage. In the case of a previous marriage, no date can be set until both parties are free to marry in the Catholic Church.

3. Six months before the date of the wedding, an appointment should be made with the priest or deacon to begin the proper paperwork and discuss the details of the pre-marriage preparation. The Catholic party(s) must bring with them to the appointment a recent copy (within six months) of their baptismal record, which is issued by the church of baptism upon request.

4. The engaged couple will then be assigned a sponsor couple who will work with them through the period of preparation, and who will work out the details of the wedding celebration.

5. The sponsor couple will work out the rehearsal time, and will contact the Parish Office to reserve the church for the rehearsal. The sponsor couple will also conduct the rehearsal itself.

6. Part of the initial interview with the priest or deacon will include a review of the guidelines for all arrangements and the celebration of the wedding day itself.

*Validation of an existing civil marriage

If a couple is already married outside the Church, by civil authorities or in a non-Catholic Church without special dispensation through the Catholic Church, then the couple may wish to validate - or "convalidate" - the marriage by taking the marriage vows in the presence of a priest or deacon and two witnesses. Usually this quiet ceremony takes place in the church on a Saturday afternoon. There is no cost whatsoever; however the couple must be free to marry in the Church and complete the interview with a pastoral minister. For details, contact the Parish Office at 248-625-4580 (Nancy Steele) or e-mail Cheryl Smith .