Legal wedding in Italy

Congratulations, you decided to tie the knot in Italy!

You’ve already decided that you’d like to be legally married in Italy, by saying your “I Do’s” in our beautiful country, instead of just having a quick civil ceremony at home and coming to Italy afterwards for a symbolic wedding. Perfect! Now, what are the legal requirements for a civil wedding in Italy?

Weddings in Italy can be legally recognized in your country, but to make this happen, you’ll have to prepare the proper paperwork. Of course, this legal paperwork can differ depending on the country you are from. To understand all of the details about paperwork that must be prepared in your country (and the process also in Italy), I would encourage you to go ahead and read my articles:

• How to get married in Italy for British citizens?
• How to get married in Italy for USA citizens?
• How to get married in Italy for Canadian citizens?
• How to get married in Italy for Australian citizens?

• Who performs the civil ceremony in Italy? Civil ceremonies in Italy can be performed only by the Mayor or a civil registrar. You will need an interpreter ( it doesn’t need to be an “official” interpreter ; it could be a friend that speaks Italian, etc.)
• Where do we need to go to have it performed? In the Town Hall of the town where you want to be legally married. In the last few years, local authorities have also given permits to a few venues (private villas, hotels, castles) to have the civil ceremony performed directly at their venue, instead of at the Town Hall. This happened because not all of the Town Halls have a beautiful hall with frescos and sumptuous details, and by extending the permit to these other venues, the wedding couple has the opportunity to have their ceremony in a more beautiful context and atmosphere. Of course, the Town Hall will require an extra fee for this service.
• How long is the civil ceremony? About 15 – 20 minutes, during which the Mayor has to read the civil code articles and the marriage vows in Italian. If you don’t speak Italian, an interpreter has to be provided; it doesn’t have to be an official interpreter: it can be a friend, but not a witness. What is important here is that he or she cantranslate the civil code articles into English in a correct and proper way.

• How many witnesses are required? There needs to be at least 2 witnesses (both 18 years old or older) in attendance. You can choose to have more witnesses then that if you’d like, but only two of them will have to sign the wedding register.
• Can be the civil ceremony personalized? Of course! For example, you can provide your personal vows, readings, etc. Also flower decorations, and even music, are permitted!
• What should we do if we wish also a religious ceremony? The bishop of the area where you live will sign a Nulla Osta  and send it to the localm Bishop where the ceremony will be hold. Ask to your bishop which documents are requested,  to begin the process to obtain his Nulla Osta. All the documents have to be send to the Italian Bishop 3 months before the wedding. Please consider that if one of the two or both have been married before with a catholic celebration you can’t have another catholic marriage.  You can have a symbolic wedding or a civil (legally-binding wedding). The only exception is if your previous Catholic marriage has been annulled by the Sacra Rota.