1. A Catholic marriage is an unbreakable union.
If it’s a valid sacramental marriage, it can’t be broken no matter what happens after the marriage.(Separation is recommended in certain cases though, and an annulment is granted to those marriages that were invalid from the beginning.)
2. Being open to having children is part of the Catholic marriage vows, and an integral part of a valid Catholic marriage.
The when and how many should be discerned with prudence and generosity.
3. Catholic marriage is between one man and one woman, not two families. Nor is it the joining of a woman to a man’s family. The couple creates a new family together.
4. Contraception, condoms, pull-out method, IVF, surrogacy and sterilization are completely off the table for Catholic couples who want to remain in a state of grace.
For Catholic couples who want to remain in a state of grace, and use their bodies and fertility in the way God intended, fertility awareness methods and abstinence are the only ways to avoid pregnancy. Creating a baby should only be done within the sanctity of the marital embrace.
5. Catholic marriages have to happen in a Catholic church, outdoor weddings are not allowed.
A Catholic wedding is more than just a family event or a celebration, it’s a sacred and sacramental and spiritual joining of two persons by Jesus Himself. The Church is a fitting place for such a sacred moment.
The Catholic Church has good solid reasons for all these rules around marriage. They protect and guide the union, and help a marriage become what God has called it to be. Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church and follow the bombayjesuits on Instagram who talk about the reasons for some of these teachings.
Don’t forget to talk about these with a potential spouse!