A Catholic is bound by Church law to be married in a ceremony according to official Catholic Rites which take place before a priest or deacon and in the presence of two witnesses.  Accordingly, a wedding which lacks any of these elements would not be recognised as a valid marriage for a Catholic.

To marry in a Catholic ceremony at least one of the parties must be a Baptised Catholic.  You must also be free to marry according to Church and Civil law; that is not bound by any previous marriage bond.

You will need to discuss this with your clergy; it will depend on whether this prior marriage bond is recognised by the Church, which may still be the case even if a civil divorce has been granted.

Yes, this will be covered in your marriage preparation with your local clergy.  If you are a Catholic who wishes to marry someone of a different Christian faith it is known as ‘mixed marriage.’  If you wish to marry someone who is not Baptised, this is known as ‘disparity of cult.’ In both these cases the Church requires that the Catholic party apply for a ‘dispensation to marry.’  This is a request made to the local bishop whereby the Catholic party promises to keep practising their faith in the marriage and to pass on the faith to children born of the marriage by having them baptised and educated as Catholics.

Normally most parishes ask for a minimum of 6 months’ notice before the intended marriage.  This is to give sufficient time to prepare the necessary paperwork and attend a preparation course.  Ideally, more than a year’s notice should be given so that arrangements are not rushed.

Your parish clergy will guide you through the preparation process. Arrangements will vary from place to place but this will normally include looking over Church teaching regarding the Sacrament of Marriage, natural family planning and other areas.  Some documents must also be completed and copies of Baptism certificates obtained.  During this time, you should of course be coming to Mass, praying and making use of the Sacrament of Confession.  You may also consider asking the priest to bless your engagement.

It is permitted under certain circumstances and for good reasons for a catholic to marry in a Christian ceremony of another denomination. This will be allowed at the discretion of the local Bishop.  You should not make any bookings until you have this permission.

You can always marry in the parish church of either (Catholic) party.  If, however, you wish to marry where neither of you are resident this would be at the discretion of that parish priest.

No, Catholic weddings must take place within a recognised church building.

The Catholic Church is present all over the world and it is normally possible to arrange the celebration of marriage in a Catholic Church in another country.  However, this would be at the discretion of the local Church authorities there and you should check this and comply with their requirements. Preparation for marriage as outlined above would normally take place where you are resident, in which case completed documents are then sent abroad through the appropriate Diocesan offices.

Regardless of where you marry, you should begin by speaking to your local parish priest and complete preparations there.  You will need the permission of the Parish Priest where you intend to marry in Scotland, who will require proof that you have completed marriage preparation.

This will depend on the religious affiliation of the couples.  Two Catholics will normally marry during a Nuptial Mass.  If a Catholic is marrying a Christian who is not a Catholic it may take place during the Mass or a wedding service, you will need to speak to your clergy about what is appropriate.  If you are a Catholic marrying an unbaptised person then the marriage service will be used.  All of these forms include the readings from Sacred Scripture, wedding promises and a blessing.

The readings are chosen from the selection taken from the Bible.  Only these texts can be used during a Catholic wedding ceremony.  The music should be chosen in such a way that it expresses the Christian faith, and is also fitting for use in a Catholic church.  The vows may not be altered as they come from an official text used by the Church.  Your clergy can guide you in these matters it is best to consult with them through the planning of the ceremony.

Yes, before your wedding in the Catholic Church, the couple should contact the local Registrar and complete the necessary paperwork including obtaining the Marriage Schedule document which will be signed at the wedding and then returned to the Registrar.  This is solely the responsibility of the couple, the wedding cannot take place without this document.

There is no fee, although it is good practice to donate to the priest or deacon assisting at the wedding and where appropriate in addition a donation to the church itself especially if you do not normally attend there.  If you need guidance ask the clergy.