In the Archdiocese of San Francisco there is a uniform policy of a six-month preparation program before a couple is married in the Catholic Church. Each parish has its own guidelines for the six-month marriage preparation program. For St. Finn Barr, please see the following:
To be married at St. Finn Barr, either the bride or groom must be a Roman Catholic. You qualify as an "in parish" couple if you live within the geographic boundaries of the parish or, have been registered and active in the Parish for six months or, have been Baptized or raised in the parish and your parents were active in St. Finn Barr prior to their moving out of the parish.
If you do not meet one of the three qualifications above, then you are considered an "outside of parish" couple.
At least six months prior to the date you plan to marry, you should meet with a Priest in the Parish. For your first meeting with him, if either of you were not baptized at St. Finn Barr, that Catholic party to the marriage should bring a Baptismal Certificate which has been issued within six months of the wedding.
Each of the parties to be married must complete a Pre-Marriage Testimony (Form A). Sometime prior to the wedding, a witness for each of the parties must complete a Pre-Marriage Witness Testimony (Form B). When possible, the witness should be a parent.
Each of the parties to be married must complete an instrument for Marriage Preparation called FOCCUS. It is an aid for your marriage preparation. It can help you study, understand, and communicate openly about many things that are important to your relationship. It is not a test or a way to predict the future. It is designed to help you target topics you need and want to discuss as a couple.