The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant, which is more than a contract. Covenants always express a relationship between persons. The marriage covenant refers to the relationship between the husband and wife, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God. The celebration of marriage is also a liturgical act, appropriately held in a public liturgy at church. Catholics are urged to celebrate their marriage within the Eucharistic Liturgy.
-United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
Wedding Orientation
Mandatory for couples intending to marry at Christ Cathedral. For couples who both reside outside of the Diocese of Orange (view parish boundary map), attendance to the Wedding Orientation is not required, and instead complete the instructions on the following page: Out-of-Diocese Couples.
Date: 3rd Sunday of each month (No Wedding Orientations for the months of December 2025 and March 2026)
Time: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
• Orientation will start promptly at 1 p.m. Please arrive early – seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Note that those who attend the 12pm Spanish Mass at Christ Cathedral should attend a Mass at a different time as the 12pm Spanish Mass ends after the Wedding Orientation begins.
Location: Large Gallery (View campus map)
Suggested Parking: Lots P5 and P7
Orientation Information:
• Documents listed under the “Documents Required for Marriage” section are required to be submitted at the Wedding Orientation
• Couples are required to attend only one (1) meeting at least nine (9) months prior to the proposed wedding date
• Wedding date, time, and venue will be confirmed approximately three (3) to four (4) weeks after attendance of Wedding Orientation (please have backup wedding dates in case your first choice is unavailable)
• We are currently only accepting weddings through the end of 2026. If you are interested in a date in 2027, please plan to attend the January 2026 meeting. The 2027 calendar will open in mid-February 2026.
As a courtesy to our staff, volunteers, and other couples, please email [email protected] if you would like to cancel or reschedule your Wedding Orientation date.
Documents Required for Marriage
Starting in JANUARY 2026, couples will be required to submit the following documents at the Wedding Orientation. THEREFORE, couples may only attend a Wedding Orientation once all applicable documents are ready to be submitted at the Wedding Orientation:
• Wedding Agreement Form (download form here)
• Wedding Preference Form (download form here)
• Testimony to Prove Free State to Marry (Four (4) testimonies total needed: two (2) testimonies for groom and two (2) testimonies for bride. All testimonies must be completed in the presence of your local priest, deacon, or public notary.) (download form here)
• Pre-nuptial Investigation (Two (2) copies, form given at Wedding Orientation)
Sacramental Documents (For Catholics and Christians):
• Baptism Certificate (Newly-issued certificate needed. Contact your church of Baptism as soon as possible to request a newly-issued certificate as it may take several weeks to receive. Baptism certificates older than one year on day of Wedding Orientation will not be accepted)
• (If received the sacrament of Eucharist) First Communion Certificate (copy of certificate accepted)
•(If received the sacrament of Confirmation) Confirmation Certificate (copy of certificate accepted)
If already LEGALLY AND CIVILLY married and seeking blessing within the Catholic Church:
• Civil Marriage License (copy of license accepted)
If the groom or bride have been previously married, the following documents also need to be submitted for each prior marriage (copies of all are accepted):
• Civil Marriage License
• Final Divorce Decree/Judgement
• Proof of Annulment (contact your local Catholic parish priest to complete the process of Annulment, even if you were previously married outside the Catholic Church.)
• Death Certificate
Marriage Preparation
All couples getting married at Christ Cathedral where either the groom or bride reside within the Diocese of Orange are required to complete Christ Cathedral’s Marriage Preparation Course, which consists of: FOCCUS Pre-Marriage Inventory, Witness to Love, NFP Basics, and one NFP Method Course of your choosing. Do not register for these programs until your wedding date has been confirmed by our Liturgical Administrator and you have paid the deposit for your wedding ceremony.
Couples where both the groom and bride reside outside the Diocese of Orange are to complete their marriage preparation at a parish within their home diocese.
Note: When registering for an NFP Method Course, do not choose another introductory course to NFP that has already been covered by NFP Basics.
Resources
Reception Reservation
To reserve a venue for a wedding reception on Christ Cathedral’s campus, please complete the Request for Proposal form using the following link: Request for Proposal