Legal, religious or symbolic: your ceremony in Italy
A clear guide to the three ways to say "I do" in Puglia, and what each one requires.
If you are planning a destination wedding in Puglia, one of the first decisions is what kind of ceremony you want. In Italy you have three options: a civil ceremony (legally binding), a Catholic ceremony (legally binding when celebrated as a concordat wedding) or a symbolic ceremony (no legal value, total freedom). Here is how they differ, based on more than 17 years of planning weddings in Puglia for couples from the UK, Ireland, the USA, Australia and the rest of Europe.
1. Civil ceremony: legally married in Italy
A civil wedding is celebrated by the mayor or a delegated officer of the Comune (town hall). It is legally valid in Italy and is generally recognised in your home country, once registered there.
Where
In the town hall wedding room or, in many towns, in historic buildings and venues that the Comune has authorised for civil weddings. Ostuni, Fasano, Monopoli, Polignano a Mare and several towns in Salento offer beautiful options.
What you usually need
- Valid passports
- Full birth certificates, apostilled and translated into Italian
- A certificate of no impediment (Nulla Osta) or equivalent, issued by your country's authorities or consulate
- A declaration of intent to marry, made in Italy a few days before the wedding
- An official interpreter during the ceremony if you do not speak Italian
Requirements depend on your nationality and change over time: always check with your embassy or consulate. We guide you through every step and coordinate with the Comune.
2. Catholic ceremony: church wedding with legal value
A Catholic wedding in Italy can also be legally binding (a "concordat" wedding): the priest registers the marriage with the Comune, so you do not need a separate civil ceremony.
- Baptism and confirmation certificates
- A pre-marriage course, usually attended in your home parish
- Permission from your home parish and diocese, sent to the diocese in Puglia
- The civil documents listed above, for the legal registration
Start the paperwork at least 6 months before the date. Puglia has stunning churches, from the cathedrals of the Valle d'Itria to small countryside chapels in masserie.
3. Symbolic ceremony: your story, your rules
A symbolic ceremony has no legal value, which is exactly why so many international couples choose it. You marry legally at home (before or after the trip) and celebrate in Puglia with no paperwork, no time limits and no restrictions on the location.
- Any setting: an olive grove, a masseria courtyard, a cliff over the sea, a private garden
- Any time of day, including sunset
- A personalised script, your own vows, readings by friends and family
- Ideal for mixed-faith couples, second marriages and same-sex couples
Same-sex couples can also enter a legally recognised civil union in Italy; many prefer a symbolic ceremony after marrying at home.
Which one is right for you?
Choose a civil ceremony if you want to be legally married in Italy and do not mind some paperwork. Choose a Catholic ceremony if faith is central to your day. Choose a symbolic ceremony if you want maximum freedom over place, time and content. Most of our couples choose a symbolic ceremony; many others combine a short civil wedding with a big celebration.
As a destination wedding planner based in Ostuni, Giusy D'Ambrosio handles the documents, the Comune, the parish, the official interpreter and the symbolic celebrant, so you can focus on the day itself.
Get in touch or book a free discovery call to talk about your ceremony in Puglia.
© Copyright Giusy D'Ambrosio Wedding Planner Puglia