Marriage

Schedule A Wedding

Congratulations on your engagement! We are honored to play a role in the beginning of your married life.  Marriage is a profound step.  It is a response to God’s call to holiness and love.  Preparing to respond to God’s call to the married life is a time for joy, reflection, study and above all prayer.  The clergy, staff and members of Nativity are ready to help you in this time of preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage for living out God’s call.

You must contact a parish priest at least six months before the possible wedding date due to the preparation required for sacramental marriages. It is strongly recommended that you book the church prior to booking a reception venue. Couples who are living together will be asked to live separately during the marriage preparation time.

Marriage Preparation

1. Nativity requires six months of marriage preparation, beginning with your initial contact with your parish priest.
2. Most couples will be asked to take the FOCCUS premarital inventory. It is a tool designed to help engaged couples learn more about themselves and their relationship.
3. Each couple marrying in the Diocese of Arlington is required to attend a marriage preparation conference such as Engaged Encounter or Conference for the Engaged.
   
4. Nativity strongly encourages couples to attend Natural Family Planning (NFP) classes. This method of fertility respects the integrity of your marriage and the dignity of the spouses.
5. The preparing priest or deacon can assist you in preparing the liturgy, readings, music, and other elements for your wedding.

Plan Your Wedding

1. Marriage Guidelines: Please contact the office for an updated copy of our marriage guidelines.
2. Music Selection: The music for your celebration should be carefully chosen keeping in mind the solemnity of the occasion.  All matters related to wedding music (selection, musicians, cantors, etc.) must be coordinated and approved by the Director of Music.
3. Altar Flowers and decorations: You are responsible for providing your own flowers. It is possible to share the cost of the flowers with other couples who will be married on the same day.
4. Photography: Photographers should respect the sacred nature of the the ceremony and the church. During the ceremony the photographer may not use flash, block the congregation or enter the sanctuary.  After the wedding, if the couple has chosen to take pictures instead of a receiving line, flashes may be used and couples will be allowed a maximum of 30 minutes for inside photography.
5. Visiting Clergy: The priests of the parish prepare all couples and officiate at weddings. Roman Catholic priests or deacons who are relatives or close personal friends are welcome to officiate at weddings if they are in good standing with their bishop or religious superior and have the religious and civil authority to officiate at marriages for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Non-Catholic clergy are welcome to participate in the ceremony as fully as possible.