So what’s different? A few things.

First, as with the new Roman Missal, even the same prayers will have a different sound to them. That’s the result of a different set of translation principles — emphasizing more direct translations from the official Latin — mandated by the Vatican’s 2001 document Liturgiam Authenticam.

Second, the rite’s title will change. What has been known until now as the Rite of Marriage will now be called the Order for Celebrating Matrimony. The U.S. bishops specifically asked for this change with the new edition.

“The bishops felt that the word ‘matrimony’ has a more sacred connotation than ‘marriage.’ They thought the change was important in the American context, where we’ve seen attempts to redefine what marriage even means,” Father Andrew Menke, associate director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Divine Worship, told Our Sunday Visitor.

Third, the opening rites will change a bit. A penitential rite (in which the priest leads the assembly in asking forgiveness for their sins) that used to be included in a wedding has now been cut. And where there was previously no Gloria (the singing or saying of “Glory to God in the highest …”), that has been added.

Fourth, and perhaps most significantly, some new ceremonies that have never been a part of Catholic weddings in English may now be included, optionally, in the rite. These include an exchange of coins and a blessing and placing of a lazo (a veil or cord) over the couple during the nuptial blessing. Both of these are traditional marriage practices in many Hispanic cultures and long a part of Spanish-language and Filipino Catholic weddings. In this new edition, the Vatican, at the request of the American bishops, allows their use in English-language weddings as well.

…Finally, the liturgical book for the new marriage rite also will include an appendix with special blessings for engaged couples and couples celebrating anniversaries.