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Getting married in Italy: How to get married as a foreigner
Learn everything you need to know about getting married in Italy, one of the most popular wedding destinations in Europe.
From stunning mountains and Mediterranean coastline to endless charming towns and cities, Italy has it all. So, it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most popular wedding destinations for couples looking to get married abroad.
If you, too, dream of an Italian wedding, there are a few things you should know about. Follow along for everything you need to know about getting married in Italy as a foreigner.
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Types of weddings in Italy
Several different types of weddings take place in Italy, so you can choose the one that suits your needs and expectations.
Civil wedding
A civil wedding is a non-religious, legally recognized marriage. The civil ceremony has to be held in a place approved by the local town hall, and there are typically dedicated places for such ceremonies in most towns and cities. The ceremony is performed by the town’s Mayor or a civil official dedicated by the state.
If one or both of the newlyweds don’t speak Italian, you’ll need an interpreter to take part in the ceremony. The ceremony can include personalized vows but needs to follow the legal requirements in order to be declared official. Civil ceremonies typically take under an hour from start to finish.
Catholic wedding
Italy is a primarily Catholic country, and Catholic weddings are very popular here. The wedding is usually recognized both religiously and legally, but you need to make sure to include the civil element in the wedding. Weddings of other faiths are also allowed in Italy, but a separate civil ceremony is needed for the wedding to be legally recognized.
The religious ceremony is officiated by a priest and includes Catholic traditions such as reading the vows, reading from the Bible, and the nuptial blessing.
At least one of the partners needs to be Catholic for the religious wedding ceremony to take place. You’ll also need to coordinate your wedding with the Italian church and a pre-marital course, which means the preparation takes longer compared to a civil marriage.
Civil unions
A civil union is nearly identical to a civil marriage, with the main difference being that it’s meant for same-sex couples. Civil unions were legalized in Italy in 2016, providing a legally recognized form of union for partners of the same sex. Just like civil marriages, civil unions are held in town halls or dedicated wedding venues and are conducted by civil officials.
Symbolic ceremonies
Symbolic marriage ceremonies are celebrations of love that are not legally or religiously binding in any way. It’s completely up to you how you want to plan it. You can choose the wedding destination, who conducts the ceremony, and plan every little detail yourself.
Legal requirements for getting married in Italy
As you might expect, different types of weddings have different legal requirements. Let’s take a look at what Italian law requires you to have in order to get married here.
- You must be 18 or older to get married. People under 18 but over 16 can also get married but require parental consent.
- A valid passport or international ID.
- A marriage Nulla Osta (no impediment certificate). You can get it at your country’s embassy or consulate in Italy.
- Two witnesses to sign an Atto Notorio.
- A declaration of intent to marry, submitted to the Italian civil register.
- If you’ve had a previous marriage, you’ll need to provide divorce papers or a death certificate.
Additional documents required for a religious wedding:
- Baptism, first communion, and confirmation certificates.
- A certificate for a pre-marriage course.
- A letter of permission from your Priest or Pastor.
- If the civil part of the marriage doesn’t take place together with the religious marriage, you’ll need to provide proof of civil marriage.
Best marriage venues in Italy
There’s no bad place to get married in Italy, but if you haven’t set your mind on a venue yet, here are some locations to consider:
- Small towns — while Italy does have big cities with historic old towns and stunning architecture, a lot of its beauty and culture lies within its numerous charming small towns and villages.
- The mountains — with Dolomites in the Northeast and Alps in the Northwest, Italy is home to some of the most stunning mountains anywhere in the world. Getting married at the foot of these mountains is an unforgettable experience, not to mention the incredible wedding photos you’ll get with these giants in the background.
- The seaside — Italy is known for its shores bordering the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas, which are home to some of the most iconic pieces of shoreline anywhere in the world. On top of that, southern parts of Italy offer good weather for a much bigger part of the year than the north, allowing for a sunny, warm seaside wedding for most of the year.
Keep in mind that if you want to have a civil or Catholic wedding, you’ll need to find a marriage office or church to hold your wedding in. While these are widely available, you’re limited to pre-determined marriage locations. If you want to have a symbolic wedding ceremony, the options are endless, and you can hold it pretty much wherever you want.
How much does it cost to get married in Italy?
Getting married is exciting, heart-warming, and fun. But it’s also pretty expensive. Sure, you can get away pretty cheap if all you want to do is sign the marriage documents. Still, the celebration that often follows the ceremony can come with a rather steep price tag.
That said, weddings in Italy are no more expensive than in most nearby countries. Here’s what you can expect to pay for yours:
- Paperwork for civil marriage — €82
- Trip to Italy — €100-1000+ depending on where you’re coming from
- Wedding venue — €500 to 2000+
- Food and drinks — around €150 per person
- Photographer/videographer — €500-1000
- Accommodation — around €100 per person
- Wedding planner — €1000-2000
- Celebrant — €500-1000
- Entertainment — €500-2000+
All in all, a rather modest wedding with a single overnight stay can cost around 10,000€ to 15,000€. If you want to extend the celebration to several days, book fancier wedding venues, top-tier performers, and fancy food, the total price can easily reach up to 50,000€ or more.
How to plan your Italian wedding
Planning your wedding is a long and tedious process. Even if you hire a wedding planner to do the bulk of the work for you, certain things are up to you to do and decide.
- Set your budget — we’ve already established that an Italian wedding can set you back anywhere from 10,000€ to 50,000€ or more. Set a budget that you’re comfortable with and work within that budget to avoid any unexpected expenses.
- Pick a wedding date — even though you may associate Italy with constant good weather, that’s not the case across the entire country. Winters can get pretty cold, especially in the north. April to October is the safest time if you’re looking for good weather.
- Book everything early — if you want to get the wedding venue and the dates that you want, it’s best to book everything well in advance. Start booking as many things as possible at least a year in advance. This includes everything from the wedding ceremony, to planners, photographers, and entertainers.
Make wedding planning a breeze by staying connected
Having mobile internet in Italy can make your wedding experience much easier. You’ll no doubt need data to stay in touch with your wedding planner, translate marriage documents, or find wedding venues. Using an eSIM in Italy is the most convenient way to stay connected. You can set it up in minutes without the need for any additional devices or cards.
The Holafly eSIM for Italy offers unlimited data and 24/7 customer support with every prepaid plan. Simply choose the plan duration you need and never lose connection. If you need to stay online for longer, Holafly Connect offers a monthly eSIM subscription option that you can use for as long as you need and cancel at any time.
Count memories, not data
Never lose connection with unlimited data eSIMs from Holafly.
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A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.
