Marriage Preparation Process

Please realize that the determination of readiness for the sacrament of matrimony is a pastoral decision. Each individual couple is evaluated by the pastoral staff. There have been occasions where additional preparation has been required. Because of the length of the marriage preparation process, it is necessary to begin the process 6 months in advance of the intended wedding date.

1.      Complete the Marriage Intake Form and after submitting the form, contact Denise Abele at (512) 258-1161, x 223. Hours: M-Th 9:30AM-1:30PM.

Denise will help you set up your first meeting with a deacon or priest.

2.      If you are a parishioner at St. Thomas More or you are marrying within our geographical area, your preparation should be completed in the Diocese of Austin. If you are marrying at the church, but live out of town or state, you may choose to complete your marriage preparation with us, or go to your local parish for marriage preparation. If going through another parish for preparation, please have the parish send a letter stating that they are responsible for all canonical paperwork and marriage preparation classes. A wedding will not be booked until we have confirmation that a couple is registered for a program. The completed wedding packet must be sent to the Diocese of Austin no later than two months in advance of the wedding.

3.      Please indicate to St. Thomas More whether you wish to celebrate the sacrament in the context of a mass, or within a Liturgy of the Word. A priest may preside at all weddings, and a deacon can only preside at the Liturgy of the Word.

4.      All communication and questions regarding your marriage preparation and wedding liturgy are to be made by the couple getting married and not family members of the couple.

5.      No date is confirmed until a $100 non-refundable deposit is made. A wedding cannot be booked until freedom to marry is determined. This is determined in the first contact of the couple to St. Thomas More.

6.      All couples marrying at St. Thomas More are required to complete a Relationship Inventory (Prepare/Enrich), Together in God’s Love parish retreat, and the Engaged Sponsor Couple program.  Couples are encouraged to take a full Natural Family Planning course; however, the Intro to NFP will be covered in the Together in God's Love Retreat.

7.      Marriage Preparation fees are separate from the wedding reservation fee. A one- time consolidated fee of $250.00 for all marriage preparation programs is due once marriage preparation begins. This fee includes the Prepare/Enrich Relationship Inventory, Together in God’s Love parish retreat, and the Engaged Sponsor Couple program.  If you are a member of another parish within the diocese and are interested in marriage preparation at our parish, please call the Marriage & Family Life office.