The country of Italy is shaped like a boot, with Sicily at the tip and the islands of Sardinia and Corsica off the west coast. When planning your wedding, consider all of these areas to be part of Italy.
The official language of Italy is Italian. If you are traveling to a major Italian city, it is likely that you will encounter many people who are fluent in English. Still, it would be prudent to purchase an Italian phrase book for reference, and to hire an interpreter or a tour guide when sightseeing.
To wed in Italy you must be at least 18 years old or have a sworn statement from your parents, giving their consent. Both the bride and the groom must be single, and if either has had a previous marriage, they must produce their annulment or divorce papers prior to being allowed to marry. If either the bride or the groom is widowed, the deceased spouse's death certificate is required as well. An "Atto Notorio" must be presented, stating that according to your country of origin's laws you can legally marry.
Brides-to-be who have been divorced for 300 days or fewer must obtain a waiver from the District Attorney. This waiver, available from the Procura della Republica, will be issued after she presents a medical document attesting to the fact that she is not pregnant. If the bride-to-be has been divorced longer than 300 days, the waiver is not necessary.
Here is some general information regarding weddings in Italy:
- Allow about three days for your paperwork to be processed prior to your wedding.
- You must fulfill a 4-day residency requirement.
- Passports, birth certificates, and proof of residency are required to obtain a marriage certificate.
- Marriage ceremonies that take place in Italy are legal throughout the world.
- If you will be having a civil ceremony, an interpreter must be present (by law).
- Roman Catholic weddings are difficult for non-residents to obtain.
- May, June, and September have the best weather. July and August are sunny but hot.
- Some of the very best cities for your destination wedding, based upon the availability of services, include Florence, Siena, Volterra, San Gimignano, Cortona, Todi, Orvieto, and Assisi.
Once you have decided upon one of the 20 distinct regions of Italy, consider consulting a wedding planner in that region to assist you with planning the specifics (location, ceremony, reception, honeymoon sightseeing excursions, etc.) This person's resources and knowledge of his or her own country will be crucial to your wedding's success. For more information on Italy and all it has to offer, visit the Italian Tourism Board online.
Whether you choose a villa in Tuscany or a seaside retreat in Venezia, your destination wedding in Italy is sure to be an 'Avventura Bellissimo' for both of you.
