This article is the last part of a trilogy discussing the legal requirements for the different types of ceremonies you can have for your dream destination wedding in Italy.
As the final and third chapter in our Italian wedding ceremony trilogy, we will be tackling the religious ceremony.
First of all, in order to have a religious ceremony, the couple has to be legally married beforehand. Which, in a way, makes every religious ceremony a symbolic one. Second of all, the requirements change depending on the couple’s faiths. Below you’ll find a short list concerning the most requested ceremonies:
Catholic:
On paper, the procedure is quite simple. The required documents are:
- a copy of the wedding certificate
- a copy of the bride and/or groom’s christening and confirmation certificates
- and an introduction letter about the couple from the diocese of the couple’s residence to the bishop of the area where the ceremony will take place.
On top of this, the diocese’s secretariat usually requires a fee (around 50 EUR). And traditionally, the couple makes an offer to the priest that will officiate the rite (200 EUR to 500 EUR).
Please note that there are a number of variations to this scheme, depending both on the diocese the couple is from, and on the one where the ceremony will take place. For instance, some American dioceses require extra activities, such as attending a premarital course (San Diego brides, you are warned!). On the other hand, the Como area’s current bishop prohibits all blessings involving foreigners; so saying “I do” according to the catholic rite in that area right now is impossible.
Finally, many noble mansions that you can rent for the wedding already include small churches or chapels on their premises. But unfortunately, they cannot be used for the ceremony, since the diocese in charge does not allow it.
Protestant:
On the other hand, Protestant couples can breathe a sigh of relief, for the procedure is much easier! First of all, there’s much more room to maneuver: You can either hold your ceremony in a church or outdoor. In terms of documents, all you need are the wedding and christening certificates. As for costs, it really depends on the specific church, which normally has a price list.
Jewish:
Provided that both the bride and the groom are Jewish, everything runs quite smoothly; if the groom is not, chances are that the rabbi will have to be outsourced from abroad. The cost of the officiant will depend on each specific case, which could be anywhere from 1,000 EUR upwards.
Hindu:
The procedure is very easy: the only requirement is that either the groom or the bride are Hindu. The cost of the Pujari will depend on each case, but consider a starting price of 1,000 EUR.
And that’s a wrap, my dear friends! I know we have dealt with the least exciting aspect of the wedding planning process as a whole. It was complicated and at times a bit painful, but it had to be done! Now you have a clearer idea about your options and the timing involved for each.
This concludes our How To Get Married In Italy trilogy. In case you missed the first 2 parts, you can read all about The Symbolic Ceremony by clicking here and the Civil Ceremony on the following link.
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