Italian Civil Wedding Ceremony and The Unione Civile (Civil Union or Civil Partnership) for LGBTQ+ couples can only be held at a Town Hall or a property approved by the Italian government.
The ceremony is conducted in Italian by the Mayor or by a civil officer and translated into various foreign languages by an interpreter. Outdoor Civil Wedding Ceremonies are only permitted in certain Italian locations approved by the local authorities. The ceremony usually last for approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
There is a fee to pay to the town halls for conducting a civil wedding which varies from one town hall to another and it also takes into consideration the couple’s nationality, the day of the week you are getting marries, the time of the ceremony etc.
In order for your Italian Wedding to be legally recognized in your home country, some paperwork will be required which varies based on your nationality and personal circumstances. The wedding certificate issued to you after the ceremony is legally recognized internationally and it is issued in five languages.
Symbolic Wedding Ceremony
consists of a blessing, a renewal of vows, or an exchange of vows. It is ideal for couples who wish to exchange their personal and intimate promises without the need to complete the paperwork required for legal marriage. This type of ceremony is no legally binding, allowing couples the freedom to personalize it according to their preferences. You can have a Symbolic Ceremony in Italy even if you plan to legalize your union in your home country. The ceremony can be performed by an English-and/or German speaking celebrant.
It is a fully personalized ceremony tailored to the couple’s tastes and desires, and it can take place anywhere in Italy without limitations or restrictions. Possible locations include the beach, a terrace overlooking the sea, a private villa, a gondola, a historic palace, a castle, or any other special place of your choice.
Religious Wedding Ceremony is a solemn rite bless the union in front of God.
- Catholic Weddings: in Italy can only be held in Catholic Churches or Chapels, as they must take place on consecrated grounds. Additionally, at least one of the parties must be of catholic faith to celebrate a Catholic wedding. It is not possible to hold a Catholic wedding outside of a church or chapel. If one of the parties has been divorced after a previous Catholic wedding , the Catholic Church will NOT permit remarriage in church unless an annulment of the previous marriage has been granted and recognized by the Catholic authorities. Furthermore, Catholic Weddings in Italy can be legally binding if the necessary legal paperwork are also provided for the civil registration process.
- Protestant Weddings: can be held in a Protestant church or in a variety of private venues such as villas, castles, gardens, terraces, hotels, outdoors or indoors. These weddings can serve as a religious blessing, or we can arrange for a Minister or Pastor to perform a ceremony that combines both civil and Protestant elements. In the case of a combined civile end Protestant ceremony, the Minister or Pastor will act as a Public Magistrate, officiating Protestant ceremony with civil validity in accordance with Italian Law, which is recognized worldwide. Typically, at least one of the parties must be baptized Christian. The documentation requirements for civil registration vary depending on the nationality of the bride and groom. We can advise you on all necessary paperwork to ensure a smooth process. For a Protestant wedding without the civil validity, the Minister or Pastor will require a valid and recent civil marriage certificate prior the ceremony. Additionally, ceremonies for marriage anniversaries or renewal of vows can also be organized. The Pastor usually prefers to meet the couple beforehand, either by email or phone, to discuss the details and personalize the ceremony.
- Jewish Weddings: we can assist with the arrangement of different types of Jewish weddings and suggest the right location whether you are Orthodox, Reform, Conservative or Re-constructionist. There are several different locations to choose from depending on the type of rabbi who will be officiating the ceremony. In order to have a Reform Jewish wedding in Italy you can bring your own rabbi from home. The wedding would take place in a private location, such as a private palazzo, villa or other location of your choice. This type of ceremony would be religious only and not legally binding.
- Muslim Weddings: can be held at a private location with the Imam or Sheikh officiating the ceremony. If you wish to have the wedding in a mosque in Italy, be aware that obtaining permission can ne more challenging due to strict regulations. Such ceremonies are only possible in certain districts, and full details will be provided to couples interested in this option.