21 Feb Destination Weddings in Italy – Understanding Ceremony Types
Ever been out and about dreaming with a head full of destination weddings in Italy but not sure where to start?
Well, at Cinque Terre Wedding, we know exactly where to start, celebrate and end (yes, all good things must come to an end), so you’ll always have a wedding planner at a handy distance.
One of the first things to consider when you have fallen in love with the Cinque Terre for your destination wedding is the type of ceremony to celebrate.
At Cinque Terre Wedding we celebrate civil, symbolic, roman catholic, protestant and same-sex wedding ceremonies.
The differences between some ceremony types may seem obvious while others not so obvious.
So let us break it down so you can decide what is the best fit for you:
Civil Ceremony: this is a legally binding marriage contract with the state that is valid in Italy and your home country.
Cinque Terre Wedding assists with organising the paperwork for civil ceremonies which involves collating, processing and translating paperwork in your home country then further processing of paperwork here in Italy before you take your paperwork home for final processing.
The processing of paperwork involves appointments to officials and embassies.
The civil ceremony runs for about 15 minutes and involves the reading of the Italian Civil Codes, the couple giving their consent to marry by saying the words “yes” or when in Rome (or the Cinque Terre)…“si” and signing of the bridal registry.
To find a town hall where destination weddings in Italy are held in the Cinque Terre contact us.
Symbolic Ceremony: this is not a legally binding marriage contract. Instead all civil paperwork relating to the legal marriage contract is taken care of in your home country before coming to Italy, with a discrete ceremony or appointment to sign the marriage license. Then the couple celebrate their marriage with their symbolic ceremony in front of friends and family in the Cinque Terre.
This ceremony can be held outdoors in venues with space for holding a ceremony. It is conducted by a professional English speaking celebrant and follows the format of traditional wedding ceremony with music, readings, vows, ring exchange, kiss and a symbolic certificate and goes for around 30 minutes.
The majority of foreign couples marrying in the Cinque Terre choose this option as it cuts out all the costs, time and travel associated with processing the civil paperwork internationally.
To find an outdoor venue where destination weddings in Italy are held in the Cinque Terre contact us.
Roman Catholic: this is a marriage contract between the couple and their god. To be married under the roman catholic faith at least one of the couple should be roman catholic.
In the Cinque Terre roman catholic ceremonies are held inside the church and ceremonies run for about 75 minutes.
In Italy the roman catholic church has an agreement with the State which allows roman catholic wedding ceremonies to include civil proceedings so that the wedding ceremony also has civil validity.
This agreement offers two different options for those marrying in the roman catholic faith:
• ceremony in the church with two marriage contracts, one with your god and one with the State.
• ceremony in the church with one marriage contract with your god. In this case your civil marriage contract is taken care of in your home country before you arrive in Italy.
To find a medieval church where destination weddings in Italy are held in the Cinque Terre contact us.
Protestant: This is a marriage contract between the couple and their god. To be married under the protestant faith at least one of the couple should be protestant.
Protestant wedding ceremonies can be held at any outdoor wedding venue with a ceremony space.
In the Cinque Terre wedding protestant ceremonies are conducted by a local English speaking Pastor in line with the teachings of the protestant church and run for about 45 minutes.
For civil validity to be added to a protestant wedding a separate civil ceremony is required at home before arriving in Italy or on the morning of your protestant wedding in the village town hall in the Cinque Terre.
To find a venue where protestant destination weddings in Italy are held in the Cinque Terre contact us.
Same-Sex: in June 2016 Italy passed its same-sex civil union bill, making it legal for same-sex couples to celebrate their marriage through a civil union wedding. Same-sex civil unions include most of the rights afforded in same-sex marriages but not all.
Civil union weddings are carried out by the councils of the Cinque Terre upon request.
To find a venue where same-sex destination weddings in Italy are held in the Cinque Terre contact us.
Photo above by Roman Ivanov
Photo below by Facibeni Fotografia
Written by Melina Nicholson