Marriages in Protestant churches are considered valid by the Catholic Church. If a Catholic marries in a Protestant church without a dispensation (a modern change I think) they are excommunicated. I don't think they gave dispensations for this in the old days but I could be wrong. A Catholic civil marriage is not recognized as a marriage at all.
It gets complicated. I recommend you buy a copy of the catechism "My Catholic Faith" if you are interested. It teaches you all the basics of Catholicism. The book on Church History by Fr. John Laux is supposed to be good as well. My Trad priest recommends both.
So you're saying that my husband, who was baptized Catholic, has been excommunicated from the Catholic Church because we were married in my Methodist Church? Our 23-year marriage, I presume, is considered invalid as well. How interesting.