As an experienced wedding planner specializing in destination weddings in Italy, I understand the unique challenges and requirements that foreign couples face when planning to marry in this beautiful country. Italy offers a romantic setting like no other, but it also requires navigating a series of legal and bureaucratic steps to ensure your marriage is valid both in Italy and back home in the USA. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:
Basic Requirements
Before diving into the documentation, it’s essential to ensure that:
- Both partners are legally free to marry.
- Both are at least 18 years old, or 16 with parental consent.
Necessary Documents to Marry in Italy
Foreign couples need to prepare several important documents:
- Valid Passports: To verify your identities and nationalities.
- Birth Certificates: These must be translated into Italian and legalized with an Apostille to confirm their authenticity.
- Nulla Osta (Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry): This document certifies that there are no legal impediments to the marriage. It must be issued by the U.S. Consulate in Italy and legalized at an Italian Prefecture.
- Dichiarazione Giurata (Sworn Declaration): The couple must swear in front of a U.S. consular officer in Italy that they are free to marry.
- Atto Notorio: Obtained from an Italian court or notary, this document requires two witnesses and confirms the couple’s free status to marry.
Civil Marriage Procedure
- Document Submission: Present all the above documents to the municipality (Comune) where the wedding will be held.
- Marriage Banns (Pubblicazioni di Matrimonio): Required if at least one partner is resident in Italy.
- Waiting Period: Typically around 8 days if required.
- Wedding Ceremony: Conducted in front of an Italian civil official.
Religious Ceremony with Civil Recognition
For a Catholic ceremony that also has civil value:
- Additional Documents: Obtain ecclesiastical approval from the local parish and diocese.
- Post-Wedding: The marriage must be registered at the local municipality to have civil recognition.
Important: The Diocese of Como does not allow foreigners or non-residents to marry in its churches. Couples wishing to have a religious ceremony on Lake Como should consider churches under the Diocese of Milan, such as those in Lecco, including Varenna and Villa Cipressi.
Recognition of the Marriage in the USA
After the wedding:
- Obtain a Multilingual Abstract of the Marriage Certificate or an officially translated version.
- Apostille Legalization: Done at an Italian Prefecture.
- Presentation in the USA: Submit to U.S. authorities for official recognition.
Note
Procedures can vary by Italian municipality, so it’s crucial to contact the local civil state office or the U.S. embassy in Italy well in advance to confirm specific requirements.
Planning a wedding in Italy involves beautiful locations and complex logistics. As your wedding planner, I am here to guide you through every step, ensuring that your Italian wedding is not only magical but also legally sound. Contact me to start planning your dream wedding in Italy today, where romance meets history in the heart of Europe.
