Planning your Catholic wedding? In the Diocese of Rapid City the ceremony isn’t just an event — it’s the culmination of a journey of faith, discernment, and community. Here’s how engaged couples typically move through the preparation process, and why each milestone matters for not just the day of your wedding, but the life you begin together.

This preparation is not just church “red tape.” It’s a gift. When couples engage fully, they enter their wedding day not just ready to celebrate, but ready to live their marriage — rooted in Christ, strengthened by their parish community, and equipped with tools for real life together. The retreat is especially powerful because it gives you space—“time together to talk, rest and pray,” as one description puts it.

1. Begin With Your Parish

Your first meeting is with your parish priest (or deacon) — this should ideally happen at least six months before your wedding. In this conversation you’ll:

• Establish your wedding date and location.
• Begin the required paperwork (e.g., baptismal certificates, freedom to marry).
• Receive a guide through the preparation program, which helps both of you explore the deeper meaning of Christian marriage.

Though paperwork may feel administrative, think of it as part of ensuring your marriage is not just legal, but sacramental.

2. The Five‑Part Preparation Program

The diocese outlines a multi‑part program to help you grow together and deepen your understanding of marriage. Here are the components:

a) FOCCUS Inventory
This is a questionnaire designed to help you look honestly at your relationship — communication, family background, finances, faith, parenting, and more. Once completed, you review it with your priest, deacon, or a trained facilitator.

b) Retreat – Heart to Heart
One of the required pieces is the “Heart to Heart Engaged Retreat” — an overnight retreat held at Terra Sancta Retreat Center in Rapid City.

• It begins Friday evening and concludes Sunday after lunch.
• The purpose: to step away from wedding planning, enter into deeper conversation with each other and with God, through talks, private dialogue time, prayer, and reflection.
• Couples often tell the diocese it was “life‑changing” because it helped them both strengthen their bond and clarify their commitment.
• You need to register at least 30 days in advance. It is typically only offered twice a year.

c) Life Skills / “Joy‑Filled Marriage” Sessions
After the inventory and retreat, you’ll engage in sessions offered either individually in parish meetings or group settings, where you build tools for real married life: communication, conflict resolution, integrating faith and family, etc.

d) Natural Family Planning (NFP) Seminar
This is a required seminar in the diocese covering the Church’s vision of sexuality, children, and family planning. It’s typically a one‑day (three‑hour) session.

e) Liturgy Planning & Final Meetings
Once those preparation steps are underway, you’ll work with your priest or liturgy coordinator to plan your wedding liturgy: readings, music, ceremony flow, any additional rituals (unity cord, hand‑laying, lasso or arras, Marian dedication, etc.). You’ll also meet for final liturgical details and complete the canonical paperwork so the sacrament can be validly celebrated.

3. Timeline Suggestion & Tips

While each parish priest or secretary may walk you through the process, here is a general guide that may work for you. But the sooner you start planning the better, so you can secure ALL of your wedding vendors!

• 6‑12 months out: Meet your priest, set the date, begin paperwork.
• 5‑8 months out: Take the FOCCUS inventory and schedule your retreat.
• 4‑6 months out: Attend Heart to Heart retreat; begin life‑skills sessions.
• 3‑4 months out: Complete NFP seminar; begin detailed liturgy planning.
• 1‑2 months out: Final meeting(s) with priest, finalize guest list, music, ceremony flow, confirm sacramental files are in place.
• Wedding week: Re‑connect with your spouse‑to‑be in prayer; trust the preparation you’ve done and let the day unfold in joy and peace.