How long does a roman catholic wedding usually last?

Question

2 friends of mine are getting married next weekend - now i'd love to see the actual marriage, however it'll be a roman catholic ceremony and I'm not religious. How long can I expect it to last? I'm the type who gets bored quickly and fidgets! Just wondering whether to do the ceremony/reception, or just do the reception afterwards.

Answer 1

It varies a lot. I've been to a liturgy of the word (i.e. not a mass) which lasted almost an hour. Even with a mass it can be under an hour. Rest assured that the priest will normally try to keep it to about an hour or less. The homily is of a variable length, the prayers can be done more quickly.

I know the problem with not being able to concentrate, I have it all the time at mass. However I suspect that your friends would much prefer you being at their wedding and fidgeting than not being at the wedding at all. You will be standing up and sitting down, kneeling, singing along with any of the hymns you are comfortable singing along with (reading along in the book otherwise). Just make sure that you wear clothes that won't make a lot of noise if you fidget, and you'll be fine.  

Answer 2

an hr to 1.5 hrs,  

Answer 3

If they're having a mass, about an hour - MAX. However, most of the Catholics I know just do a wedding service, which is about 20-30 min, like others have said. The only time I've ever seen a wedding service last longer than 60 minutes was when I used to sing during the service. One wedding party chose to baptize their son after the wedding ceremony. If that's not going to happen at your friend's service, you should be ok.

Answer 4

Hi.  It all depends.  Do NOT listen to some that may say it will be 2 or 2-1/2 hours.  

I have been Catholic all my life, and I can tell this:

~ IF they are having a Mass, it will be 1 HOUR.  

~ IF, they are only having a regular service (and, yes, you can get married in the Catholic Church without a Mass....I did 30 years ago)....then it will be like a wedding anywhere else....about 20-30 minutes max.

So....how old are you?  If these are your friends, I take it you are at least 18 years old.  I take my grandson to church and he is 7 and he sits just fine.....doesn't fidget at all.  

If you don't want to share in the ceremony (the most important part, in my opinion), then just go to the party.  If you are good friends, I would think that you could sit still for the 20-60 minutes that the ceremony will be.

Answer 5

When you go to the reception you will have to sit there and listen to the

Master of ceremony speak as well so what are you going to do, won't

you sit & listen to him or her?.

I can tell you what you can do. Just bring the Present & give it to the couple & that will be OK, you won't have to give your self any problem

to here any body talk OK.

Answer 6

i read an article about this recently, it said the average catholic wedding only lasts for 4 years before they get divorced

Answer 7

They last FOREVER...  

Get up.  Sit down.  Let's Pray.  Get up again.  Hail Mary.  Sit Down.   Get up.  Frankly this is getting to be a workout.  Kneel before God.  Pray some more.

It will be the longest two hours you ever spend in a church.  Sorry.

Answer 8

It depends on if the couple is doing a full Catholic mass, or just a Catholic ceremony. If it is just the ceremony, it will probably take no longer than 30 minutes. If they are doing the full Catholic mass, then expect it to last about an hour and 15 to an hour and 30 minutes.

Answer 9

Of course you should go to the ceremony. It will be done within 45 minutes, and goes by quickly! You don't have to worry about being bored, it's a beautiful ceremony.

Answer 10

Average time for a catholic mass is 1 hr.   Don't you think it's showing a certain amount of disrespect for your friends if you opt out on the most important part of their wedding day simply because you get fidgety?    You really need to re-think this.   Your question makes you seem  very selfish and  self-centered.  

Answer 11

I was at my first wedding for years recently. Roman Catholic ceremony and it was very quick, even with a lot of music and the customary delay from the bride, we were only inside the church for an hour! If they're both your friends, you really should make the effort to go to the ceremony, but I'm sure they'd respect your beliefs and understand if you didn't.

Answer 12

45min. to 1 hour.

Answer 13

I got married two months ago.  I am Catholic.  If I remember right, we were done in about 50 minutes.  It was a full mass.  It depends on who people move through he wedding.  If the attendants take there time, that is way it take longer.  Your priest, my uncle, has a church that is a lot bigger.  In order to get at least two ceremonies in a day, they do not waste a lot of time  

Answer 14

I don't know any Romans but the wedding I'm going to will be all afternoon and evening. The wedding is at 2 and the reception will go on until the early hours of the following day. The ceremony won't last long, about 20-30mins I expect. Maybe if you're not too bothered about the person who is getting married you don't have to go. If it's somebody you care about maybe you could be a bit more considerate towards them on their big day.  

Answer 15

Well ours was a mass, not just the ceremony and it lasted an hour and 20 minutes. If it is just the ceremony it will be about 30 minutes, if it is a mass it can last 1-1.5 hours, depending on what traditions they may incorporate in their mass.