A Catholic betrothal is when a man and woman promise, in front of a priest and official witnesses, that they will get married on a specific date. The engagement ring is blessed and special prayers are said. While being engaged already shows your intent to marry, getting betrothed is a contractual promise between you, which can spiritually elevate your engagement.
You might prefer to have your wedding and engagement party in your home country, but why not take yourselves off to a beautiful and romantic destination for your betrothal? You can mark the celebration by inviting a couple of witnesses and celebrating afterwards with a meal. Why not use this as a chance to get some stunning engagement photographs, too, that you can treasure! You might even choose a special Catholic site such as Assisi in Italy, Lourdes in France or Fatima in Portugal.
All you will need is two witnesses and a priest. Not every priest is familiar with or experienced in the betrothal rite. We can help you find a priest who knows the rite and is comfortable saying it. The parish you are getting betrothed at will also usually be able to provide witnesses, if you prefer.
A promise, not yet a marriage
A betrothal is not a marriage. Until you say ‘I do’ at your actual wedding ceremony, you are not yet husband and wife. This freedom is important since marriage is a life-long sacrament. Yet, although it is not a wedding, a betrothal is still a sacred promise. Therefore, we ask all couples who wish to get our help with a betrothal abroad to be sure they are ready to take this step. The best way to ensure this is to complete your marriage preparation course beforehand.
A little history
Interested in the history of betrothals? Breaking a betrothal is more serious than just calling off an engagement. Long ago, this was used as a way of formalising the exchange of land and property between future spouses. After the Second Vatican Council, the betrothal was replaced by the “Blessing of an Engaged Couple” in the 1989 Book of Blessings. Yet nowadays, once again, the traditional rite of betrothal has experienced a gradual resurgence among young Catholics — not as a means of exchanging land or money, but as a beautiful way to formalise their engagement and keep God at the centre during the run-up to their wedding.