Italy

Department of Tourism website:www.italiantourism.com
Image: photography by Guiseppe Lajolo

From the alpine region in the north to the islands at the “tip” of the boot, Italy is diverse, exciting and romantic which is why it is one of the most popular European destinations for tying the knot away from home.  Do you picture yourselves exchanging vows in a private villa overlooking abundant vineyards?  How about overlooking the dramatic Mediterranean coast?  In an ancient castle or palace?  Italy may not be the easiest place to be married, but the possibilities are endless!

• Language:       Italian
• Passport:         Yes
• Currency:        Euro
• Time Zone:       UTC +1
• Major Airports:  Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, or Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa International Airport, Trieste International Airport, Palermo International Airport
• Weather:   Italy in general has a temperate climate, but varies depending how far you are from the mountains and the sea.   During the summer months northern Italy will be warm, the central region will experience humidity and the south will be dry and hot. In winter, the mountain regions will be very cold, and in Milan, Turin and Venice the winter months will be cold and damp and you may experience fog.  Tuscany's winter temperatures sometimes approach freezing, and in southern Italy temperatures are more temperate, averaging 50-60ºF.

Marriage Requirements

It is highly recommended that you utilize a wedding planner who is familiar with Italian marriage regulations if you want to be legally married in Italy. 

There is a 4-day residency requirement for US couples getting married in Italy.  The bride and groom, accompanied by two witnesses, must appear before the Civil Registrar of the city or town where the wedding is to take place. At that time they must present a number of documents including (but not limited to) passports, Armed Service ID cards, certified copies of birth certificates, divorce, death or annulment decrees and consent forms for those under 18. They must also present an Atto Notorio, an oath of the American citizen sworn to in the presence of two witnesses and notarized by an Italian Consul which states that there is no legal reason the couple cannot be married under US laws. Americans obtain the form at the nearest Italian Consulate in the U.S.  Documents must be officially authenticated with a “apostille” and translated into Italian. 

Civil ceremonies are performed by the Ufficiale di Stato Civile or one of his assistants and are held in the wedding hall of whatever town or city the marriage takes place.  Roman Catholic priests perform religious ceremonies and in this case a civil ceremony is not necessary.  The priest must register the marriage with the Ufficiale di Stato Civile in order for it to be legal. Non-Roman Catholic clergymen generally insist on a prior civil ceremony before performing a religious ceremony.  If the bride and groom do not speak Italian, the ceremony must be translated.

The US State Department website recommends that you contact the U.S. Embassy/Consulate prior to your departure form the United States to make certain that a U.S. Consular Officer will be available on the date when you plan make your declaration. They also recommend that you request an “apostille” for each marriage certificate you obtain.

Articles:  Summer 2005, Fall Winter 2006