As a celebration of both their faith and their love, many couples choose to have a very traditional Catholic Church wedding. Although there are a number of rules you'll be expected to follow in order to have this type of wedding, couples who feel strongly about their religion find the effort well worth the result.

Traditions

Catholic weddings are strong in tradition. The weddings always take place within the walls of the church which has been sanctified so the ceremony itself will also be sanctified. Many of the churches will require the couple to go through some type of spiritual preparation before the ceremony so they will be ready for their new commitment. These requirements vary from church to church.

In many Catholic weddings, the bride and groom stand at the entrance to the church to greet their guests as they enter. When the time of the wedding nears, the priest appears and escorts the couple to the altar. Traditionally, only religious or classical music can be played during a Catholic wedding. Standard songs, such as “Here Comes the Bride,” are not not permitted by all churches.

Rituals

In terms of rituals, Catholic weddings include a large number of prayers. Because the wedding is viewed primarily as a ceremony of worship, everyone attending is expected to participate in many prayers. Additionally, the couple will exchange vows and rings. The priest will read from the Bible, give a sermon related to marriage, and finally bless the marriage.

Some rituals found in other Western weddings are not permitted in Catholic weddings. The unity candle is probably the most common example.

Style

Catholic weddings are very traditional and formal. Couples are expected to treat their wedding as a serious matter, and they should compose themselves as such. Typically, these are some of the most formal ceremonies you can have.

Decorations

Because the wedding is very formal, you should expect that tone to continue at your reception. That means your decorations should be very traditional. Bouquets of flowers make wonderful centerpieces. All of the table linens should be white or should match your wedding colors, as long as those colors are appropriate. Candles are another excellent choice for decorations.

Food

Generally, Catholic weddings are followed by sit-down meals consisting of multiple courses. Occasionally, budget restrictions may call for a buffet but the former option is preferred. You can offer your guests more than one option for their main course if you like. The wedding cake should be multi-tiered and white then topped with a traditional topper.

Clothing

As you can imagine, the bride should wear a customary white gown. The gown should not be too low-cut or have a short skirt. The dress must be considered appropriate for a house of worship. Men should wear tuxedos. The attire for the rest of the wedding party should also be formal and in good taste.

Favor Ideas

Because a Catholic wedding is so formal, you may want to stick to the traditional wedding favor of five sugared almonds wrapped in tulle and tied with ribbon. If you don't like that idea, make some chocolate heart-shaped candies or something similar to give away to your guests.