I saw it first on Offbeat Bride, so props to them.

• FH needs to get a letter from his parish priest saying we can marry at the college chapel
• We need to find a pre-cana course we can attend and knock that out of the park
• We both need a copy of our baptism certificates from our churches, dated within the last 6 months
• 4 letters (2 each) from people close to us who can verify we’ve never been married before
• The priest will have to fill out a request for a dispensation as I am not Catholic

It sounds like a lot. It feels like a lot, but Fr. Hockman assured us it’s a lot of paperwork but nothing that will be a problem. He’s never had a wedding denied, so that makes me feel better. He was also really open to how we want to put our ceremony together. I’ve been reading about other brides’ experiences getting married in the Catholic church, and it seems to vary a lot. Some priests are so strict with their rules! I think we’ve found a good fit and we’ll have the flexibility to have a meaningful ceremony for all parties.

So now, it’s up to FH to get things sorted with his church while I research this marriage preparation business. Has anyone else gone through this? If you know of a good course to take in NEPA, I am all ears.

FH and I are set to meet with him next Tuesday to go over the particulars, but it sounds like our ideal date in October 2010 is available. YAY!

Doesn’t some good wedding news just brighten up your whole day?

• Reasonably close to Northeast PA
• Indoors, since we’re shooting for an October date
• Holds 50-100 people
• Has some meaning to both of us
• Location is suitable for a religious ceremony

We’ve been tossing around ideas, such as having a ceremony on-site at our reception, or doing it at one of our churches. Those don’t work that well for a variety of reasons. Also, FH is Catholic and I am Methodist, which can complicate things slightly.

However, I think we hit on a great compromise!

The chapel at the college we both attended, King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, is available for alumni weddings. Since King’s is where we met and fell in love, it only seems like a fitting place to be married. Once we hear back from them and get the scoop on dates available plus what’s required of us (for the Catholic ceremony) I will be sure to do a follow up!

I WANT THIS. I’ve told a few people about my yearning for a bagpipe entrance and the reaction is mixed. Half love it, and the other half think I’m nuts. It all depends on the final location (2o people in a garden doesn’t work, but 70 in a church, yes!), but I already have a piper who’s willing to do it (hi Jim!!). Jim’s family has been with the Wyoming Valley Pipe and Drum band for a quite a while. Which means we’ve been following them on their St. Patty’s pub crawls for quite a while. They’re top notch, if anyone else planning a Northeast Pennsylvania wedding has pipe dreams like mine.