The parents of the bride usually host the engagement party. The parish priest conducts the engagement ceremony. The ceremony consists of a brief prayer service. The couple exchanges engagement rings that have been blessed by the parish priest. The ceremony over, there is a small celebration in the form of a formal dinner or cocktail party.

 << Back

A crucial element in Catholic weddings. On three Sundays before the wedding, the priest announces the proposed matrimonial union of the boy and girl. The purpose of this public announcement is to coerce those who have undisclosed information about either side (that could gravely affect the marriage) to come forward and reveal it before it's too late. If no such information is produced, the couple is free to marry after this three week period.

<< Back

It is mandatory for the prospective bride and groom to attend a Marriage Preparatory Course. They can choose between a one-day and a three-day course. They must also fill in a form declaring details of their lives and take an oath on the Holy Bible that they have not withheld any information and that they are aware of the duties within a Christian marriage. They must produce their baptism certificates. In the case of a mixed marriage, only the Christian partner is required to produce the baptism certificate.

 << Back

The bridal shower is an informal hen party hosted by the bride's female friends. It is a festive occasion and games are played at this all-girls party. Often, the friends contribute and shower gifts upon the bride.

<< Back

The bride hosts a luncheon party for her all her bridesmaids. This is a token of her appreciation for their support. She also gives them gifts and serves a pink cake with a thimble hidden inside. According to tradition, the girl who gets the slice of cake with the thimble in it will be the next to marry.

<< Back

This is a stag party hosted by the groom for his Best Man (closest aide during the wedding) and friends on the eve of his wedding. Usually this is a wild party, and the groom is expected to enjoy his last night as a bachelor. It is customary to raise a toast before thedrinking begins in earnest. Sometimes, enthusiastic friends break their glass after the toast is raised. This is part of the tradition to ensure that the glasses are not used for a less worthy purpose.

<< Back

Sometimes the bride and groom decide to forego the bridal shower and bachelor party in favour of a combined party for friends.

<< Back

The purpose of this dinner is to bring together the families of the bride and bridegroom before the wedding. The groom's family usually hosts it when the expenses for the wedding reception are borne by the bride's parents. The dinner can be an elaborate affair at an exclusive restaurant or just an informal get-together at home.

<< Back

On the day of the wedding, the groom sends a car to pick up the girl and waits for her outside the Church. When the bride arrives, the Best Man welcomes her with a kiss on either cheek and hands her a posy of flowers.

<< Back

The couple walks down the aisle with the wedding procession in tow. The priest begins the ceremony. He welcomes them into the Church and offers them his good wishes. The wedding mass begins with hymns and selected readings from the Bible. Those attending the mass may refer to the liturgy that has been provided by the couple. 

 << Back

The priest delivers the Homily, an interesting lecture with an emphasis on the sanctity of marriage. Often, the priest makes the Homily more interesting by punctuating it with amusing anecdotes. 

 << Back

This rite, the priest asks a few questions that the couple must answer honestly. He asks them if they have come of their own free will to give themselves to the other in marriage. They must also answer in the affirmative when asked if they will honour and love each other as husband and wife for the rest of their lives, if they will accept children from God lovingly and bring them up according to the law of Christ and His church.

The Solemn Promise The priest guides the couple through this rite. He tells them to join their right hands and declare their consent before God and His Church. Having done this, the couple takes their wedding vows. They promise, individually, to be true to the other in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. They promise to love, respect and honour each other all the days of their lives. The priest blesses the couple, joining them together in marriage, and says, "May the Lord in His goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with His blessings. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder."

<< Back

The priest blesses the wedding rings so that the couple that wears them will have deep faith in each other, do the Lord's will and always live together in peace, goodwill and love. The bride and groom exchange rings with a promise of unconditional love and fidelity.

<< Back

The priest requests the congregation to be silent for a few minutes and confess to God and to one another, personal shortcomings, sins and failures.

<< Back

The couple and their close relatives come up to the lectern (podium) and read previously selected passages from the Bible.

<< Back

The priest conducts a prayer service for the couple. He calls upon the Lord to bless the couple so that their love may grow and mature into a deep strong bond and become a blessing for them and for others. He also prays for the friends, families, and the souls of departed relatives of the couple.

<< Back

The couple bring offerings like The Bible, a miniature house modeled out of thermocol, candles and flowers. Each offering has a significance. For example, the flowers represent the beauty and fragrance of God's creation, and the priest asks God to bless the couple so that they spread this beauty and fragrance wherever they go. After the offerings, the priest gives the couple consecrated bread and wine which represent the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The wine is given only on special occasions like marriages. The choir sings an offertory hymn.

<< Back

The congregation receives holy communion. The communion over, the congregation jointly recites the Our Father, a Biblical prayer.

<< Back

The priest prays for the couple. The bride and groom offer a thanksgiving prayer to God and ask for His blessings. The priest concludes the ceremony with a final blessing followed by prayer. The congregation joins in to bless the couple. The priest and the couple sign the Church register that serves as a valid legal document of marriage. A copy of this document is sent to the Registrar of Marriages.

<< Back

The marriage procession, led by the bride and the groom, walks down the aisle and steps out of the church. The organist plays the tune of the recessional hymn as they walk. 

<< Back

The reception has plenty of quaint charm attached to it. A live band usually sets the feet tapping and the dance floor is never empty. The newly-weds enter the venue and are welcomed by all with a shower of confetti. They cut the wedding cake and feed each a bite of the first slice. The cake is distributed among the guests. The Toastmaster proposes a toast in honour of the newly-weds. The bride and groom get the evening going with their 'first dance'. This is usually a waltz. Mid-way through their dance, the bride's parents join in. The Best Man and Bridesmaid, and the groom's parents follow them. Soon the guests join the dancing and spend the rest of the evening in keeping time with the music. The couple mingles with the guests, dance some more and say their grace before beginning dinner. Dinner over, the couple leaves the reception. At this juncture the bride must throw her posy of flowers behind her. The girl who catches it will be the first to marry, according to popular belief. 

<< Back