I'm having a dilemma regarding my wedding and I was hoping you all could offer some advice.

Right now, the priest, my fiance, and I are in different parts of the country. We haven't selected a location for the wedding yet but ideally, I would like to get married in Florida because the majority of my family is here including my 90-year-old grandparents who are incapable of traveling. The only problem is that there is no church that we could get married in near me. The priest said it might be possible to rent a room/hall and the wedding could take place there along with a nuptial Mass but the idea of getting married in a secular space does not sound right.

I would really like to get married in a church but the CMRI does not have any locations remotely close to where I am. What would you do? Would you leave your family members out of it in order to get married in a church or would you sacrifice the church and accommodate your family?

God was born in a cave for animals...

When the day arrives, Lord willing and the creek don't rise, you will not even see/remember the place, IMO, as your husband-to-be and the occasion will render such things irrelevant.  As for beautiful, old-style surroundings, this is the time in the desert, after all -- not a movie or the time of consolation.

Worry not...God will provide...people, places, solutions, etc.

God was born in a cave for animals...

When the day arrives, Lord willing and the creek don't rise, you will not even see/remember the place, IMO, as your husband-to-be and the occasion will render such things irrelevant.  As for beautiful, old-style surroundings, this is the time in the desert, after all -- not a movie or the time of consolation.

Worry not...God will provide...people, places, solutions, etc.

The first time I read this, I thought what the heck is he talking about. LOL! You have a way with words. Thanks for the insight. :)

Couldn't you use another trad church or chapel. Why does it have to be a CMRI one.

Well, for one, I don't really know of a trad chapel where I am. Many places require that you be a parishioner for 6 months and/or 6 months notice for marriage preparation. We've already been engaged for a while and we started our marriage prep in a diocesan church but we've decided not to marry there anymore. So, if we started somewhere else, we would most likely have to start our 6 month waiting period again.

The CMRI priest we've been talking to has been very helpful and understanding of our situation (it's more complicated than I've explained) so we'd like him to marry us. I would have no problem getting married at his home church but I would feel bad leaving my grandparents out of the wedding. Thus, my dilemma...

Well, good luck and hope you'll have a splendid day!!! :wine-drinking: