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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 (CCC 1601)
The parties to a marriage covenant are a baptized man and woman, free to contract marriage, who freely express their consent; "to be free" means: 1) not being under constraint; 2) not impeded by any natural or ecclesiastical law (CCC 1625).
The Church holds the exchange of consent between the spouses to be the indispensable element that "makes the marriage." If consent is lacking there is no marriage (CCC 1626)
The marriage of a Catholic is to take place in the Catholic Church before a Catholic Priest or Catholic Deacon. It is a courtesy to notify the parish and to register one’s intention to marry before making any other plans or arrangements.
Generally, such notice should be given the parish 6 months prior to the intended or tentative date of the marriage. Catholics can marry in either the Catholic Church of the bride or the Catholic Church of the groom.
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