How to Get Married in Italy: Legal, Religious and Symbolic Ceremonies

You can get married in Italy as a foreign couple, and the marriage is valid at home. There are three ways to do it: a legal civil ceremony at a town hall or an approved venue, a Catholic ceremony that also counts as a civil marriage, or a symbolic ceremony with no paperwork, after a legal one at home. Which one suits you depends mostly on how much paperwork you want and where you want to stand when you say yes.

We film weddings all over Italy, and almost every couple asks us this before they ask about the film. This is what we see work, with links to the official pages you will need.

Can foreigners legally get married in Italy?

Yes. Italy does not require residency, and a civil marriage performed in Italy is recognised in the US, the UK, Australia and the EU. You prove you are free to marry with documents from your own country, you declare your intention at the comune where you will marry, and you marry in front of an Italian registrar with two witnesses. If either of you does not speak Italian, an interpreter is required.

What documents do you need?

The exact list depends on your passport and on the comune, so always ask the town hall where you plan to marry. As a rule you will need:

- Valid passports for both of you.
- A full birth certificate with an apostille, translated into Italian if the comune asks for it.
- A declaration that there is no impediment to your marriage. Citizens of many countries get this as a nulla osta or certificate of no impediment from their own authorities or consulate.
- Proof that a previous marriage has ended, if one of you was married before: a divorce decree or death certificate, also apostilled and translated.
- Two adult witnesses on the day, and an interpreter if needed.

What do US citizens need to marry in Italy?

US couples follow a two-step route. First, the Atto Notorio: a sworn declaration made at an Italian consulate in the US, supported by two witnesses for each of you, stating that nothing prevents the marriage. The San Francisco consulate says it is valid for 90 days and asks couples not to contact it earlier than 90 days before the wedding. Second, once in Italy, the Dichiarazione Giurata, a sworn statement made at a US Embassy or Consulate. Both then go to the comune with your apostilled birth certificates. The Italian Consulate in San Francisco and the Italian Consulate in Houston explain the steps in detail.

How does a civil ceremony work?

A civil ceremony is led by the mayor or a registrar and usually lasts 20 to 30 minutes. The registrar reads the articles of the Italian Civil Code on marriage, you and your witnesses sign, and the interpreter translates. A day or a few days before, most comuni ask you to come in person to make the declaration of intent and check the documents, so plan to arrive in Italy early.

Many town halls have beautiful rooms, and some comuni also approve villas and gardens for civil weddings. On Lake Como, Varenna's town hall is one example, and fees depend on the place, the season and the day of the week. Our Lake Como destination guide covers the local town halls.

Can you have a Catholic wedding in Italy?

Yes, and in Italy a Catholic wedding is also a legal marriage, so you do not need a separate civil ceremony. The church registers it with the comune afterwards. You will need the usual civil documents plus church papers: baptism and confirmation certificates, a marriage preparation course, and permission from your home parish and diocese sent to the diocese in Italy. Start with your own parish priest, because the church side often takes longer than the civil one. Other denominations can marry in Italy too, but most of them need a separate civil ceremony.

Why choose a symbolic ceremony?

Most of the couples we film choose a symbolic ceremony. You marry legally at home, before or after, and in Italy you can hold the ceremony anywhere you have permission to be, at any time of day: a villa terrace at sunset, a garden at golden hour, a boat on the lake. There is no fixed town hall slot, no interpreter and no paperwork. Guests see no difference. On film it looks exactly like a wedding, because it is one.

The only thing it doesn't give you is the certificate. If being legally married in Italy matters to you, choose a civil or Catholic ceremony. If the place and the light matter more, a symbolic ceremony is the easier path. We wrote more on this choice for small weddings in our guide to eloping in Italy.

How far ahead should you start?

For a legal ceremony, contact the comune six to twelve months before the date to book the room and confirm the document list. Order your birth certificates and apostilles about three months ahead, because some documents are only valid for a few months. US couples book the Atto Notorio appointment within the last 90 days. For a symbolic ceremony, the timeline is simply the venue's: popular Lake Como villas book a year or more ahead for summer dates.

Where can you get married in Italy?

Anywhere with a town hall, and in practice almost anywhere for a symbolic ceremony. Lake Como, Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, Venice and Rome are the places couples ask us about most. We compare them by season, venues and travel in Wedding Locations in Italy, and the costs for the lake are in How Much Does a Lake Como Wedding Cost?

FAQ

Is a marriage in Italy legal in the US and the UK?

Yes. A civil or Catholic marriage performed in Italy is legally valid and recognised in the US and the UK. Keep the Italian marriage certificate, and ask the comune for an international (multilingual) extract, which most authorities at home accept without translation.

Do we need to be residents to marry in Italy?

No. Foreign couples can marry in Italy without residency. You need the documents that prove you are free to marry, a declaration of intent at the comune and two witnesses on the day.

How many witnesses do we need?

Two adult witnesses for a civil or Catholic ceremony. They can be friends or family travelling with you. A symbolic ceremony needs no witnesses.

Do we need an interpreter?

Yes, if either of you does not speak Italian well enough to follow the ceremony. Some comuni have their own list of interpreters, so ask the town hall.

Can we get married outdoors in Italy?

For a symbolic ceremony, yes, wherever you have the owner's permission and, in public places, the comune's. For a civil ceremony, only in spaces the comune has approved for weddings, which include some villa gardens.

How long does a civil ceremony take?

Usually 20 to 30 minutes, including the reading of the Civil Code articles, the translation and the signatures.

Can a symbolic ceremony be at sunset?

Yes. That is one of its main advantages. Town halls work office hours, while a symbolic ceremony can follow the light, which is why we suggest it to couples who care about how the day will look on film.