“A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh.” Mk 10:7-8

Marriage

“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.”  (Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1601)

For those inquiring about getting married at St. Mary…Congratulations on your Engagement!

Because Christian marriage is a sacrament, the Catholic Church wants couples to be well-prepared. St. Mary Parish and the Archdiocese of Denver offer marriage preparation to help couples develop a better understanding of the sacrament, to evaluate and deepen their readiness to live a married life, and to gain insights into themselves as individuals and as a couple. The Archdiocese requires a minimum eight-month preparation period before the wedding. Please visit the links provided at the bottom of this page for resources on these topics and to understand the norms of marriage preparation for the Archdiocese of Denver.


OUT-OF-TOWN COUPLES

Aspen has been a destination for many years for couples who desire to be married in this beautiful place. Your first step always begins with your local priest, sit down and talk with him to begin your marriage preparation program before you contact us. Because you are a member of the local Catholic parish where you live, it is absolutely necessary for you to receive permission from your local priest in order to be married in another location.

Before any date can be set for your wedding, we must receive communication from your local Catholic parish containing the following:

    • Permission to marry at St Mary Catholic Church in Aspen, Colorado.
    • Confirmation that all marriage preparations and paperwork will be completed at your parish and within your local diocese.

All of your marriage preparation will take place at your parish under the guidance of your local priest or deacon. He will assist you in filling out the required paperwork. When this marriage preparation is complete, which includes planning the wedding liturgy itself, your parish will send the completed paperwork to the Diocesan office. Your wedding cannot be celebrated here until we receive this complete Marriage packet from your Diocese.

As soon as you have begun discussions with your local parish and we have received the required communication, please contact our marriage coordinator, Julia DeBacker at 970-925-7339 ext. 3 at FaithFormation@stmaryaspen.org. Julia will assist in scheduling the date for your wedding day!


LOCAL COUPLES

Preliminary Preparation:

Please speak to Fr. Joe after Mass about your desire to begin marriage preparation. Contact our marriage coordinator, Julia DeBacker, at 970-925-7339 ext. 3 or email FaithFormation@stmaryaspen.org to gather preliminary information and check availability. Marriage Preparation for the Archdiocese of Denver is an 8 month process.

Necessary Documents

For Catholics, an ‘updated baptismal record with notations’ issued from your parish of baptism within 6 months of the wedding date. The certificate of baptism must be given to Fr. Joe. Non-Catholics are asked to try and obtain a copy of their baptismal certificate or baptismal record.

Marriage License – the State of Colorado requires a Marriage License, which is valid only for thirty days. The wedding cannot be performed without a license. The license must be given to the presiding priest or deacon at the rehearsal.

The Marriage Ceremony

A Nuptial Mass is the usual form for the celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony between two Catholics.
The couple will discuss the specifics of the liturgy, including readings and music, during Marriage Prep.

A marriage between a Catholic and a baptized Christian is usually celebrated outside of Mass.

A marriage between a Catholic and an unbaptized person is always celebrated outside of Mass.

Engagement and Marriage Resources