Wedding ceremony in Poland - is it done in church only?

I have absolutely no clue! (well maybe...lol but I've only been to my relatives' weddings in Poland). Last I went was 2 years ago at my cousin's wedding in Poland. The ceremony was soo long! my cousin was really nervous standing; I thought he would faint in any sec lol it was a regular mass with the ceremony (I don't think I want that...is it mandatory?? well in Poland?)

I know in Canada the ceremony is pretty short and you don't necessarily need in a church. The priest can be any where; like for instance in the garden or a nice outdoor place.

I am having just a ceremony there (a reception in Canada)...the reason for a ceremony there (so that my relatives can be there =)). I have a question though is it only done in church in Poland? I know I've asked my grandmother and her respond: "yes only in the church" (I don't know - maybe she's just really traditional and believe it is the only way)...so I am asking away here...is it possible to have the priest done outside the church? (I don't mind in church; just asking away).

Thanks!

Well In Canada and the United states you can have a judge and you can get married anywhere you heart desires if it's out of a plane or under water or in a casino. Poland well see if you are treding on tricky ground, you can always find your way around thingsif you know where to go and who tot talk to, but all the wedding I have been to in poland where all in the church . I think you need to go talk to the priest and get some input for him if he will do it out side of a church. Plus don't you have to go to a judge anyways after the church to get hte legal marriage licnese? That what I remember my uncle had to do in poland .In the US if you choose to get married in the church it's all taken care of for you by the priest .If you are planning on a wedding there then why not a party there should be a party if you already have your family member all togehter . Why let their joy be waisted , thats a day for you to celebrate and you can always throw a party in canada when ever you get back.

It isn't necessary to have wedding in church in Poland, unless you don't want it by priest. There is possibility of taking "civil wedding" (ślub cywilny), it can be made in some representative town office or elsewhere. This are very fast, I don't know if it takes 15 minutes ? :)

If you would like to have it by priest, it sometimes is possible outdoors (I know one church in Gdansk, where it can be arranged). But this is very unusual situation and very rare.

That is what the tradition is but the law does not specify the actual location. If you can get the priest to wear a diver's suit, the wedding may take place under water. Of course you will pay for this kind of service through the nose (for the glory of Our Lord, of course).

If you want a scaled down ceremony there are no problems. The lay wedding takes a few minutes and costs peanuts. You can do it 7 days a week. Likewise, a wedding in Church can take place any time, although it will usually costs more.

Some people opt for smaller churches/chapels, and on week days, or Saturdays when services are not held except for the early morning and late afternoon/evening.

A Catholic marriage ceremony outside a church building is a possibility too. There is nothing in either civil, or cannonical law to prevent that.

During communist times a lot of career commies would get married secretly in Churches or in their homes (so that the commie party officials wouldn't know), so Polish priests can be pretty flexible in this regard.

But always remember, in the minds of many Polish Catholic priests they are not here to serve you. You are there to serve the Lord. Indirectly of course. The more you pay the better the seat in the heavenly jet you get. With an extra $ or two, you may be even seated in the same row as St. Paul.

During the French revolutions they established masses where they prayed to "humans" instead of God. Soon we will have the same situation, cause human stupidity has no limits. (even in the EU, yet)

Thank you for the replies! =)


Yeah I want something small too; not a big church! How do I do my research in finding a church? I'm in Canada. This sucks lol

any good web sites? I can't seem to find ones for churches.

Mom already booked a date and I am not happy! she booked the same big church that her and my father got married (they had over 200 guests). I am not looking for a big ceremony! I want a small number of people; just close relatives! I don't like the idea stepping inside a big church; pretty empty lol just scary for me. I don't want a "showy" wedding...I am pretty shy about it.

This is harder then I thought..agh

Poles have a choice of a church wedding (in temples of more than a dozen denominations, including Jewish, Moslem and Mormon) or in front of a registrar, a clerk at the Registry Office (Urząd Stanu Cyiilwnego).

Catholic Chruch weddings with a fuill nuptial mass are the most popular, but it is possible to have a shorter roughly 15-minute ceremony. Under communism this was preferred, because people wanted to feel truly married, whjilst avoiding excessive scrutiny by getting the ceremony over as soon as possible so it wouldn't reach thier superiors. Army officers and communist police often travelled to remote towns and got married at night at the parish rectory to avoid scrutiny.

Outdoor marriages are none too common but not unheard of. There even been cases of off-the-wall couple tying the knot under water or in a hot-air balloon. It takes all kinds!