Expert: Griff Ruby - 5/3/2010

Question
My husband and I got married in Punta Cana Dominican Republic in 2006 and the wedding was civil. We have been wanting to get it blessed since then, it will be 5 years this January. If we were to have a ceremony with the Church.. do you think we are going to have to get married or will it be considered a renewal ceremony. We both feel it is important to do this. We now have two beautiful children who have been baptised.

Answer
Assuming either of you were baptized Catholics on the day of that 2006 wedding, there was no real marriage then, so what you would be doing now will be a "regularization" that makes the marriage real and valid.  Once that happens, then you are truly married.  Congratulations on being able to do that.  Many opt for civil or other non-Catholic (invalid) marriages for various reasons, usually that there cannot be a valid marriage by the Church for some reason, though merely getting it done quickly or cheaply may also be a factor for some.
There is no reason to mention this to relatives and so forth, but the priest must be brought up to speed on the situation.  He will take it from there.
My apologies for the delay.