Congratulations on your engagement and upcoming wedding! May God bless you both as you prepare to give yourselves to one another in this sacred bond of Holy Matrimony. We are happy to assist you so that your wedding day will be a joyful occasion and your marriage a happy, holy, and fruitful bond.
Please take some time to read through our general guidelines, as well as fill out the Marriage Preparation Questionnaire.
When a Catholic presents himself/herself for marriage, it is the presumption and requirement that the person is practicing the Catholic Faith by regular attendance at Mass (every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation) and regular reception of the Sacrament of Penance. If this is not the case, the Catholic will have to return to active religious participation before a marriage can be scheduled at St. Rita Catholic Church. The time frame for this return should be discussed and accepted by the priest or deacon preparing the couple for marriage.
Scheduling Information
The wedding date is to be established with the priest who prepares the couple for marriage. We ask that couples schedule the wedding before they reserve a place and time for the reception. This helps avoid the awkward situation of finding the church unavailable for the desired time.
Weddings are normally celebrated on Saturdays between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.
Weddings cannot be celebrated on the following days: Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve or Day, New Year’s Eve or Day, or during Holy Week.
Weddings can be performed during Lent or Advent, but the church cannot be decorated due to the somber character of those liturgical seasons.
Ceremony Information
The rite of marriage can be celebrated within Mass or as a simple ceremony without Mass. For baptized Catholics, the wedding within Mass (Nuptial Mass) is the norm. Weddings between a Catholic and a non-Catholic are typically celebrated as a simple ceremony without Mass. When, however, one of the parties is a baptized non-Catholic, the celebration may take place within Mass at the discretion of the couple and the priest. If one of the parties is not baptized, the Church does not permit a wedding Mass, so the marriage must be celebrated as a simple ceremony without Mass.
If you are not a parishioner, there must be a valid reason to be married at St. Rita Church, instead of your current parish. For example, your Church is under construction the day of your wedding or you are in the military and have learned that you are being transferred to the Alexandria area.
If you have any questions, please contact Alma Ramirez at 703-836-1640 (ext 10) or aramirez.strita@gmail.com.