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m, I pinged you because you might know how to figure this out. Catholics normally must marry in the church, no? Not in an outside canopy, although there may be exceptions.:

"The year 1995 was important for another reason: Kerry was 51, with nearly two Senate terms behind him, and his youthful ambitions to run for president had fallen far off track. Now, though, an unexpected romance, followed by newfound family and wealth, would bring much needed order to his personal life -- and, eventually, set him back on that presidential path.

"On May 26, 1995, at an evening ceremony underneath a canopy, John Forbes Kerry exchanged gold rings with Teresa Heinz, the 56-year-old widow of Pennsylvania Senator H. John Heinz and one of the richest women in the country. Social and political glitterati gathered at Heinz's home on Nantucket Harbor. The couple had met at an Earth Conference in Brazil, where she heard Kerry singing at Mass in Portuguese, the language of her Mozambiquen youth. At the wedding, Peter Yarrow of the folk group Peter, Paul & Mary performed; Heinz wore peach Oscar de la Renta

Source: Boston Globe article June 21, 2003

PS: On your posts: 1. A Catholic normally would marry in a church, but I seem to recall that requirement can be waived. I thought, however, that the ceremony had to be in a religious venue. For instance, I know Catholics can get married in non-denominational chapels (like at a university). I'm not sure, but I believe the key fact would be if the celebrant was a Catholic priest. I seem to vaguely recall that a Catholic could get married at his/her home with proper dispensation. 2. As to second point, re. contacting church authorities in certain locations, I can pretty much assure you there is no way that any tribunal is going to release any information about an annulment to any third party.

m, I pinged you because you might know how to figure this out. Catholics normally must marry in the church, no? Not in an outside canopy, although there may be exceptions.:

You are correct Aliska, there are "norms", which means nothing to many catholics these days, unfortunately.

Even tho the wedding ceremony is allowed to be held outside of a church with special permission, out of sight of the main Altar and the Altar of Mary, this is highly discouraged. Those who choose to go this route most likely don't have God as the Guest of Honor Par Excellence. What more can I say.

Below is the appropriate section of Code of Canon Law 1983 in regards to this issue.

Can. 1118 §1 A marriage between Catholics, or between a catholic party and a baptized non-Catholic, is to be celebrated in the parish church. By permission of the local Ordinary or of the parish priest, it may be celebrated in another church or oratory.
§2 The local Ordinary can allow a marriage to be celebrated in another suitable place.
§3 A marriage between a catholic party and an unapprised party may be celebrated in a church or in another suitable place.

Now here is my 2 cents, taken from the cue of my wise old priest friend and canon lawyer. From observable actions over the years, I strongly suspect John Kerry had a "catholic wedding", but not a "catholic marriage". There is a major difference. Real catholics know what that is.

Yes, in a church building where most catholics recieve their other "first" sacraments. One can get permission from thier bishop to go elsewhere, few do.

Some say that he "sought" an annulment and nobody knows whether or not it was granted.