RELIGIOUS CEREMONY
Italy a Catholic ceremony can only be performed in a Church and can only be celebrated when both bride and groom is Catholic.? If one of the parties is of a different religion, a Catholic wedding is still possible as long as you attend the required pre-marital classes and have the paperwork approved by the religious authorities in Italy. In the case of one of the parties being divorced, the Catholic Church will not allow you to remarry in church. You must have an annulment recognized by the Catholic Authorities. The following documents are required for a Catholic wedding: Declaration from your Pastoral Advisor that both bride and groom are active in the Catholic Church and seriously intend having a religious blessing Certificate of Baptism Certicate of First Communion Certificate of Confirmation All the above documents must be sent to the Bishop in the city of residence to obtain the ‘Religious Non Objection Declaration’. Once these have been returned to you, they must be forwarded, together with all the documents listed for the civil ceremony to the local Bishop’s See in Italy to obtain the Italian ‘Religious Nulla Osta’. We require a month as the absolute minimum to give the priest and archbishop in Italy time to review the paperwork.

CIVIL CEREMONY
Civil ceremonies by law must take place in a Town Hall or a property purchased by the local government only. The readings of the civil vows are conducted in Italian and are about 15 to 20 minutes long, but you can enrich the wedding however you prefer. After the reading, the rings are exchanged and then the witnesses sign the wedding act as do the bride and groom. Please note that according to Italian law a divorced woman or a widow cannot remarry unless 300 days have passed from the date of the Decree Absolute or decease of the previous spouse. The minimum stay required is 4 days before the marriage can take place. Town Hall ceremonies are conducted Mondays to Fridays between the hours of 9.00 am and 12.00 pm and must be booked in advance. The following documents are required by the local Registrar: No impediment certificate (Nulla Osta) issued by the relevant authorities Full birth certificate showing both parents names Photocopy of valid passports In cases where the name on the birth certificate differs from the one on the passport, previous marriage certificate together with decree absolute of divorce or deed-pool showing change of name (originals which will be returned back) Original Adoption papers, if either party has been adopted According to the Italian law a divorced woman cannot remarry unless 300 days have passed from the date of the decree absolute Photocopies of the passport of the two required witnesses Interpreter (if neither party speaks Italian) Registration fees (this varies from one Town Hall to the other and will be communicated)

INFORMATION
The date of the wedding is confirmed before the couple travel; after having presented to the Town Hall all the necessary documents. On arrival in Italy the couple has to go to the Town Hall to sign the official papers giving notice to their intention to marry. (Banns) This has to be done a few days before the date fixed for the marriage, this ranges from 4 days to a week, depending on the Commune.