Are you dreaming of having an Italy wedding? Love celebrations in Italy are known to be vibrant, elegant, and intertwined with luxury. The country offers plenty, from rich culinary experiences to lively music and romantic settings. All of these features attract engaged couples to a number of charming Italian towns for their ceremony. Planning your destination wedding in Italy is relatively straightforward, and like any event, it requires advanced planning and a basic understanding of the law.
If you are unsure of the legalities and documentation involved, I will guide you and explain how getting married in Italy can be seamlessly realized. As a US citizen, you will need the following documents:
- You must carry a valid US passport.
- A birth certificate in original or a certified copy must be presented.
- You must provide evidence of the termination of your previous marriage. For the same, you may submit a divorce decree, death certificate of a former spouse, annulment decree, etc. As a female, if your marriage was terminated within the last 300 days, you need to obtain a waiver from the district Attorney’s office at the court where the new marriage will be performed.
- Dichiarazione Giurata
You need to provide an Affidavit or Dichiarazione Giurata sworn to before a US consular officer accredited in Italy. You need to state that there is no legal impediment related to your marriage as per the laws of the US. You will also be required to schedule an appointment with one of the US Consulate Generals in Italy for notary services to obtain Dichiarazione Giurata. Select a consulate or consular agent from the list and print your Dichiarazione Giurata. The form should be completed and signed in front of the consular officer.
Once you have been issued with Dichiarazione Giurata, you must bring it to the legalization officer to legalize it.
- Atto Notorio
This is another declaration, in addition to Dichiarazione Giurata, that states that according to the laws in the US, there is no obstacle to your marriage.
The declaration must be sworn in the presence of two witnesses of any nationality but above 18 years of age. They must possess a valid photo id and cannot be your family members. You can obtain this declaration at the nearest Italian embassy before leaving the US. If you plan to obtain it in Italy, you need to contact the notary services office of the court with jurisdiction in the city where you plan to marry.
- Declaration of Intention to get married
All the above-listed documents must be presented to the marriage office of the town hall in the city. You must declare your intention to marry before the civil registrar. After completing this, you can finally set a date for your Italy wedding.
Important Information
- Banns are posted only after you have declared your intention to get married. These must be posted for two consecutive weeks at the town hall, including Sundays before the marriage.
- Validity of foreign documents in Italy
All the documents originating outside of Italy must be legalized for use in Italy – they must be translated into Italian. To legalize the US documents for use in Italy, they should be stamped with an Apostille stamp by the secretary of state where the document was issued in accordance with The Hague Convention.
- Make sure all documents are submitted to Italian authorities, and they should not be issued more than six months ahead of marriage.
Your marriage will be considered valid if it is performed under civil or religious practice. The civil ceremony is performed at the Town Hall, and a translator must be present to interpret if one of the partners does not understand the Italian language. On the other hand, a religious Italy wedding ceremony is performed by a Roman Catholic priest to make it legally binding. The Italian Ministry of the interior must authorize the pastor or priest to perform ceremonies.
These are certain essential aspects you must take care of before planning your destination wedding in Italy. Just imagine exchanging your vows in the most romantic country in the world, surrounded by the lush rolling Tuscany hills, historical landmarks, and gorgeous views. Wouldn’t it be memorable and an experience of a lifetime? So what are you waiting for? Get started on this divine journey!
Need assistance with hosting your destination wedding in Italy, Florence, Rome, or Lake Como? You should consider booking my Italy wedding planner services! It would be an honor to help you plan your day exactly as you envisioned.
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