First Date

Friday after work we headed to Barona to have our first meeting with Father Michael to start the Marriage Preparation Program.  According to San Diego's Diocese, preparation must start at least 9 months before the wedding.   For more info check out http://www.diocese-sdiego.org/2009MFLMain.html 

Some general requirements include: 

-Pre Cana Prep Program (one Saturday)

Option 1: Evening for the Engage (meet once a week for 6 weeks)

Option 2: Engaged Encounter Weekend (Friday thru Sunday)

 -Natural Family Planning Course

-Copy of your Baptism 

-Copy of Confirmation

Just a little advice if you're planning to get married in a Catholic Church ANY time in the future.  Start looking at parishes you're interested in and become members immediately because the majority of the parishes requires a minimum of at least 1 year of membership prior to even starting Preparation requirements (that means at least 2 years prior to your wedding date).  

This will save you a lot of $$$ when you reserve a church for your ceremony.  Sad to say that the price difference to reserve a church for members and non members can be a difference of on average of ~$500.  Also start saving at least another ~$500 for all the preparation program requirements. 

I guess this is only if you don't intend to get married at a parish your parents are already members at because you can get the reduced price that way.  

So far, this blog has only mentioned costs but in actually I'm really looking forward to all the preparation courses and requirements.  I think it'll be really nice to spend time with Dave and get to know each other as we travel towards preparing not only for our wedding but rather for our marriage.  

Remember what's important during this whole process, it's just practice for the real thing, right?  I mean come on, how to balance and manage a budget, how to compromise, how to resolve conflict and the most important lesson of all is accept all the flaws, appreciate all qualities and unconditionally love "the one" you choose to be with for the rest of your life. 

I choose you pookie :)