Addressing religious issues before you remarry - from the ceremony to raising children - can help pave the way to a happier life together.

Many people planning to remarry opt for the simplest route: a civil ceremony. But if religion plays an important part in your life, you'll no doubt want to make it the focal point of your wedding day and plan a religious ceremony of some kind.

If you and your partner have the same religious affiliation, your approach to the ceremony will be relatively easy. But if you come from different faiths, there are decisions to be made, including your choice of a person to officiate and an appropriate site for the service. Religious issues can also affect other aspects of your second marriage.

If you're divorced and intend to remarry in your church or synagogue, you'll need to do some research and some planning.

For many people, being married in one's place of worship adds a special spiritual dimension-one that gives the wedding ceremony and the exchange of rings additional meaning. Depending on your religious affiliation, a prior divorce may require you to follow certain procedures in order to receive permission to remarry in a religious ceremony. Here are some things you need to know:

If you are Roman Catholic.
If you're a Catholic or a non-Catholic who was married before, and you're planning a second wedding in a Catholic church, you'll need to discuss the circumstances of your former marriage with a priest. This will determine if an annulment is necessary. If you want to remarry in a Roman Catholic church, you will need an annulment.

The annulment process can take as long at 18 months to complete. Your former spouse must be notified of your plans, and your family and close friends will be asked to provide information about your first marriage. To begin the process, contact the Tribunal Department of your diocese.

While you don't need to be a member of the parish to apply for an annulment, you should apply within the diocese where you live, or where you were married. Your divorce must be final before you can apply for an annulment.

There are a number of different grounds for an annulment. Your priest can advise you about the specific meaning of these categories and their relevance to your own situation.

If you are Protestant.
As long as you have legally divorced, you can be remarried in most Protestant churches.

If you're a Conservative or Orthodox Jewish woman who wishes to remarry, you'll need to receive a Get (a Jewish divorce) from your ex-husband. As long as you can prove you are legally divorced, you should be able to obtain a Get, which is firmly supported by Jewish law. You and your former spouse must go to the office of a rabbi; or he can go alone and appoint an agent to deliver the completed Get to you.

A rabbi or a scribe will hand write the Get with a quill pen in the presence of two valid witnesses. If you and your ex-husband are both present, he will hand you the Get. If you are not present, the agent will deliver it to you. You must then wait at least 90 days before you can remarry.

If you are Reform Jewish.
In most cases, as long as you have legally divorced, you can remarry in a Reform synagogue.

When the remarriage involves different religions.

If you are marrying outside of your faith, you are not alone. Interfaith marriages are now very common in the U.S. While Christian and Jewish marriages are one of the more common types of interfaith unions, the definition includes any marriage in which the spouses are not of the same faith, for example, a Protestant groom and a Buddhist bride.

While society today widely accepts interfaith marriages, you may meet with resistance from those closest to you. Their objections are likely to begin with the wedding ceremony itself. Relatives, for example, may be adamant that the wedding be performed in the family's church. So, there are a number of important issues to consider, beginning with the nuptials.

You want to get things off to a good start, so the interfaith ceremony needs to be handled carefully. The goal is to create a seamless ceremony that honors the cultural and religious heritage of both the bride and the groom, and provides a joyous experience for friends and family. Before the marriage takes place, it's important for you and your future spouse to meet the person who will officiate at the ceremony, be it a rabbi, a minister or a priest. This person can smooth over any anxieties that either of you might have about being married in an unfamiliar religious setting.

Religion does not have to be a divider. Under the best circumstances, it can strengthen the ties between two families and add a rich dimension to a wedding ceremony. If both of your families have strong religious roots, try to use this shared value as a commonality. This will enable your guests to share in your happiness and create a positive starting point for your life together.

Successful remarriage between interfaith couples

The most successful interfaith marriages are those in which both partners are willing to work, to learn, to compromise and to look for creative solutions to problems that may stem from having different religious and cultural backgrounds. In particular, interfaith marriages depend a lot on respect, and open and clear communication.

How to deal with holidays, cope with relatives, and handle issues of personal spirituality are just a few of the concerns interfaith couples face. Of course, some of the toughest decisions involve the religious upbringing of children. The important thing is for your children to know and respect both religions and to understand how their parents' cultural and religious experiences helped make them who they are. Sharing family traditions and passing them on to the next generation are all part of the fabric of family life. There are many things you can do to successfully blend families together.

You can learn from the experience of others. Before your remarriage, seek out other couples for guidance and examples of what they've done in similar situations. Sometimes a support group helps. Churches and synagogues frequently offer courses, seminars and other resources. There are also many books and websites on this subject.

Converting to another religion involves many considerations-both spiritual and practical.

If you choose to convert to your future spouse's faith, you'll typically spend considerable time studying your new faith. You may need to relinquish some of the beliefs you were raised with and embrace new ones. Additionally, your new religion may involve different values, customs, holidays and rituals.

Many people have found a new spiritual home in a religion that they chose, instead of one they were born into. If this decision is something you have come to as a precursor to your remarriage, be sure you are doing it for the right reasons, and that you fully understand all that is involved.

Second marriages are not just a matter of faith.

A second marriage is a cause for celebration, but it usually involves a number of important concerns, and religion is only one of these. You can help get your marriage off to a good start by ensuring that all legal and financial matters are in order.

Another way to get off to a good start is to choose he perfect ring.

Learn more about the specific etiquette involved in second marriages.