Tvoi Event
A legally valid marriage in Italy is open to foreigners, and many couples choose it so that the ceremony in Tuscany is recognised at home as well. The procedure works differently from many other countries, though, and it needs documents issued in advance and in the right form. Below is the general framework that applies in most cases. It is a guide, not legal advice: the exact list depends on the citizenship of both partners, on the particular comune and on your country's consulate. Before you start collecting papers, confirm the list with those two bodies rather than relying on someone else's experience.
Three kinds of ceremony: civil, religious and symbolic
A civil ceremony takes place at the comune, the town hall, performed by the civil registrar. It creates a legally valid marriage. A religious ceremony in Italy, in particular a Catholic one, has its own conditions and preparation and is usually considered separately. A symbolic ceremony, which many couples hold in a villa or among vineyards, has no legal force. It is often combined with a civil one: the marriage is registered formally, and the ceremony you imagine takes place in the setting you chose. Decide on the format early, because the documents, the timing and the choice of venue depend on it, and so does where the registration will be held: at the comune or at another venue, if the comune allows it.
Where and who performs the marriage
The marriage is registered at a comune of your choice: some Tuscan comuni offer attractive halls and historic palazzi for ceremonies, and occasionally other venues, under rules set by the administration itself. Availability of halls, days and hours differ, and in popular places dates in season fill up early. So the first step is to contact the chosen comune: ask whether it accepts marriages involving foreigners, which days are open, whether a booking is needed and which documents it requires. Do not assume that neighbouring comuni follow the same rules: each has its own practice, and the answer of the official matters more than any general description, this one included.
The main documents
Foreigners usually need valid passports, a certificate of no impediment (nulla osta) or an equivalent document issued by your consulate or the competent authority in your country, and papers showing the end of any earlier marriage. The set depends on citizenship and differs from country to country. The ceremony requires two witnesses, who must have identity documents. If one partner does not speak Italian, an interpreter is needed at the ceremony. Ask the comune about its requirements for interpreters and witnesses: sometimes it adds conditions. Do not book flights or pay for a venue until you are sure the documents can be gathered.
Apostille, legalisation and sworn translation
Documents issued abroad normally need an apostille or legalisation, depending on the country, and then a sworn translation into Italian. Sometimes the translation also has to be certified at the consulate. Which route applies to you is set by your country's international agreements and by the comune's requirements. Timings depend on the offices that issue the papers and can take a considerable time, so begin as early as possible rather than a few weeks before the ceremony. We do not promise specific timings because nobody can guarantee them: build in a margin. Keep copies of every document in electronic form as well, since during the procedure you may be asked to send additional papers.
The declaration before the ceremony
Shortly before the ceremony the couple usually go in person to the comune's civil registry office to sign a declaration of intent to marry and hand in the documents. It is a formal step: the official checks the papers and confirms there is no impediment. Whether you need to arrive earlier, and by how much, is something the comune will tell you. Find out in advance exactly when to appear, whether both partners, the interpreter and the witnesses must be present, and what the office hours are. Leave a margin in your travel schedule: if something is missing, it is easier to fix while you are on the spot and a day or two remain before the ceremony. A planner can help with booking and accompanying you, but the decision rests with the comune.
After the ceremony: the certificate and use at home
After the registration a marriage certificate is issued. To use it in your own country, it normally has to be legalised or carry an apostille and, where required, be translated. Sometimes several certified copies are requested, for example for a change of surname, residence papers or a visa for a spouse. How a marriage is recognised at home is governed by your country's law and by your consulate's requirements, so find out the details before the wedding rather than after you return. Note which copies and which stamps you will need, and order them straight away while you are in Italy. That spares you a second round of correspondence with the offices once the celebration is over.
What to confirm before collecting documents
- Choose a comune and ask it for the list of documents for foreigners
- Ask your consulate for the nulla osta or an equivalent document
- Check the validity of both partners' passports
- Find out which papers need an apostille or legalisation
- Order a sworn translation and ask how it is certified
- Arrange two witnesses and an interpreter if one is needed
- Ask when you must visit the comune to sign the declaration
- Find out in advance how to legalise the certificate for use at home
We will build the celebration around the formalities
We do not replace your consulate or the comune, but we help to arrange the wedding schedule so that the formalities do not get in the way of the day. Write to us through the request form or on WhatsApp and we will suggest where to begin.