These days many couples opt to have their wedding take place away from home for the sheer uniqueness of some of the beautiful countries. Getting married in Italy is a popular choice but whether you’re marrying in Vienna, Tuscany, Florence or Rome you will want to make sure you do as much planning and research in advance of your big day as possible to avoid any difficulties.
First of all, it is important to realize that you and your future husband or wife must be at least 18 years old to legally marry like many other countries. If you are not, then you will require a signature from your parents consenting to the marriage. All couples planning to marry in Italy must show proof of documentation such as a birth certificate and a passport.
If this is a second marriage for either you or your spouse you must show proof that your divorce from your previous marriage has been finalized or that you are widowed. Unlike men who have no waiting period after a divorce a woman must wait 300 days to show proof that she is not pregnant. In Italian law, it is required that you have this information certified with a seal of the notary public of Italy. In many cases this can be done in your own home country by visiting the embassy or consulate. Keep in mind that in many Catholic churches if you have been divorced they will not perform a wedding on your behalf.
You also need to get a final declaration from the embassy or consulate declaring that both you and your spouse are single and all your documentation is accurate and you are you claim to be. Completing as much of this paperwork in advance of arriving for your wedding will save you a lot of time and often make it possible to marry within two days of arriving.
A little time spent doing a bit of research about the specific place you want to marry will be a great deal of help. In many cases, you can choose things such as your church, DJ and reception before you’ve arrived. If you don’t have anyone in your family, who understands Italian it’s a good idea to consider hiring a translator to help you once you’ve arrived to help with that language barriers that you may face as well as help with any confusion that may exist with your paperwork therefore making your wedding much smoother.
