Holy Matrimony The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament The BEST person to ask your question(s) is the priest or deacon officiating your ceremony. Please start there. He may advise you differently than what is provided here and his recommendations are what you ought to follow. I am engaged, what do I need to do? Congratulations on your engagement! This is a very exciting time in your life as you prepare for your wedding AND marriage. Here is what you need to do: 1. First, meet with the priest or deacon who will oversee your preparation and be the official Church witness at your wedding. Simply start by calling the parish and ask to schedule an appointment to meet with the priest or deacon. The priest or deacon will then explain the entire marriage preparation process and let you know what you need to do including paperwork, marriage preparation programs and ceremony preparations. Just to let you know, no weddings are scheduled over the phone. 2. Second, attend a Marriage Preparation Workshop. It is important to attend a program AFTER you have met with the priest or deacon as he may have a specific program he would like you to attend.