Italian Weddings

The Nulla Osta released by the foreign country Embassy in Italy is the most important document required to marry in Italy, to obtain this document you have to send to the Embassy a list of other documents which differ country by country. Our coordinators will follow you step by step giving you all the information. More documents and different procedure are required for Canadian Citizens.

Civil Ceremonies

Civil Ceremonies by law must take place in a Town Hall only. The readings of the civil vows are conducted in Italian and are about 15 to 20 minutes long, but you can enrich the wedding however you prefer, for instance a Reading, Poem, Candle lighting or Other type of symbolic addition. In addition, if you would like; the rings are exchanged and then the witnesses sign the wedding act as do the bride and groom.

The minimum stay required stay in Italy is 4 days before the marriage service can take place. Some Registry Offices in Italy will require you to sign a Declaration of Intention

to Marry 2 to 4 days prior to your marriage ceremony. It is recommended that you check with the local municipality for local regulations. A civil ceremony is legally recognized throughout the world. A multi-lingual certificate is issued and this is valid internationally.

Roman Catholic Ceremony

Foreign citizens can be married in Italy according to the Catholic rites. A Catholic Ceremony can only be performed in a Catholic Church and can only be celebrated when both bride and groom are Catholic. If one of the parties is of a different religion, a Catholic wedding is still possible as long as you attend the required pre-marital classes and have the paper work approved by the religious authorities in Italy. If you have completed your marriage classes locally in Canada, you must provide proof and certificate of The Catholic Marriage Prep Course completion in order to proceed with a marriage in an Italian Catholic Church.

In the case of one of the parties being divorced, the Catholic Church will not allow you to remarry in church, you must have an annulment recognized by the Catholic Authorities.

A Roman Catholic ceremony it will be automatically registered with the Italian Authorities, therefore a civil wedding is not required.

Other religious ceremonies are available only in some cities and have no legally binding. So you will have to also complete the civil ceremony.

Symbolic Ceremony and Renewal of Vows

The symbolic ceremony is the right choice for those who prefer not worry about completing documents for a civil or religious ceremony. This type of wedding is not legally binding and spouses have the freedom to personalize the ceremony. It can be performed by a pastor, an Italian officer or a family member.