One of the first steps in your Marriage preparation is to complete the Pre-Nuptial Investigation (PNI) form with either the Priest or the Deacon assigned to prepare you as a couple and inquire about your marital readiness within the Catholic Church. Then the Priest (or Deacon) preparing you will register you online, at least nine months before your wedding date, to take a pre-marital inventory, such as FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study). Once the Minister receives your FOCCUS results, you will schedule a session to discuss them with the minister, to see how the important elements of Catholic Marriage apply to your relationship.

Then six months before the wedding, you will register to attend your Pre-Cana marriage preparation program online at www.dioceseoftrenton.org/precana. At this time, you can also work on acquiring the following remaining documents that are necessary to complete your wedding file:

a. Certificate of Baptism, which must be issued within six months of your wedding date (you can contact the Parish where you were baptized and request a "Baptism Certificate with Notations", notations are listed on the reverse side of the certificate)

b. Testimonial Forms/Freedom to Marry Forms (A-1's form, one for each of you; you will also need two witnesses for each of these forms)

c. Permission Forms/ Dispensation Forms (if applicable)

d. Pre-Cana or Engaged Encounter Certificate (you will receive a certificate from the program)

Once you have completed your Marriage Pre-Cana preparation program and all the paperwork and required documents are turned in, then you'll meet with the Priest or Deacon to reflect on the Sacredness of the Sacrament of Marriage and to affirm your readiness for marriage and to begin planning your wedding Liturgy.