Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton reportedly put wedding plans on hold for religious reasons

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani are waiting for the church's seal of approval before they walk down the aisle.

Stefani, a practicing Roman Catholic, recently "began the formal process" for church officials to annul her marriage to ex-husband Gavin Rossdale. The couple wed in 2002 and finalized their divorce in April 2016.

The reason, Us Weekly reports, is "so she can marry Blake and have it be recognized by the church."

In the Catholic church, if a previous marriage has not been annulled, a person is not allowed to receive communion. Pope Francis in 2015 took steps to make the annulment process easier, quicker and less expensive.

"Gwen's religion has always been extremely important to her, and Blake is completely supportive of that," Us Weekly reports.

Shelton has made few public comments about his own religion. Although tabloids reported in 2018 that he converted to Catholicism at Stefani's request, those rumors are fully unconfirmed.

Stefani and her ex-husband share three children. Shelton does not currently have any kids, but he has been married and divorced twice.