Question:
Answer:
Yes, the Bishop can grant permission for a marriage to take place in another “suitable place” (can. 1118 §2).
A marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic could be granted this permission to maintain family harmony for the ceremony. This usually arises if one of the families is anti-Catholic or if the other family is of a non-Christian faith. The non-church location for the wedding could be a hotel.
However, this is left to the prudential judgment of the local bishop, and if he does not believe the proposed location is appropriate or that the reasons presented justify the permission, then he is free to not grant permission. Priests also are not required to perform marriages outside of their parishes, and thus, even if there are valid reasons that justify a neutral and secular location for the wedding, the couple still needs to find a willing and able priest.