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Matrimoni Italiano (Italian Wedding): Getting Married In Italy

7 Feb 2008

Getting Married In Italy

What do the rolling countryside of Naples, the aquatic venue of Venice and the artistic flavor of Florence all have in common? All three provide scenic backdrops perfect for a wedding set in romantic Italy. All you need now are your family and friends to witness the ultimate gesture of your love for each other. Actually, that's not all you'll need. Before a marriage is considered legal in a foreign country, you will always be required to present various legal documents specific to that country's marital laws. Because marital laws can change, it is best to first inquire with the Italian embassy or consulate nearest you for the latest and most accurate information concerning the legal and proper procedure of getting married in Italy.

To declare your intention to marry, you must appear before the Ufficiale di Stato Civile, or Civil Registrar, accompanied by two (2) witnesses in the town you wish to marry. The following is a brief description of the documents you must present at the time of declaration.

A Valid United States Passport
Certified Copies of both your Birth Certificates
Atto Notorio - An atto notorio is a document which is signed by four (4) witnesses, in front of an Italian consular in the USA, who swear that there is no reason as to why you two should not be legally wed. It is highly recommended you obtain this document before you leave the USA.
Declaration Sworn By You - A declaration is a document that is sworn to by the United States citizen before a U.S. consular officer at the U.S. Embassy stating that there are no obstacles to his or her marriage
Proof of termination of Previous Marriages, if applicable

If one or both of you are Italian or a U.S. citizen claiming residency in Italy, you are required to post a bann at the civil hall in the town you wish to marry. A bann is a type of marriage announcement that is displayed for two consecutive Sundays before your marriage takes place. If neither of you is Italian or claiming Italian residency, posting a bann is waived. Also, if neither of you speak Italian a translator is required at the time of your wedding ceremony.

You can marry in either a civil or religious ceremony in Italy. It is best to understand the rules and regulations that make each type of ceremony legal in this particular country. Some of the rules regarding a civil ceremony are:

A local civil official must perform the marriage.
The marriage cannot be performed on the premise of an American embassy or consulate.

In a religious ceremony:

If a Roman Catholic priest is performing the marriage, you do not need to get married first in a civil ceremony; however, the priest must register the marriage with the civil registrar in order for the marriage to be legal.
If you are non-Roman Catholic, a prior civil ceremony is usually required to ensure the legality of the marriage.

If you are considering getting married in Italy, you may want to consider professional wedding consultants in Italy who can assist you with all the necessary paperwork and logistics. Before you plan to get married in Italy, it is highly recommended you contact your nearest Italian consulate or your state's attorney general for the latest and most accurate information.

Buon Fortuna!

Cheryl Galvez

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Throw a Traditional Italian Wedding

Despite what you might think, you don't have to be a sun-kissed couple fresh from the shores of Sicily in order to have an Italian wedding. A couple of Italian descent are more than welcome to weave Italian traditions into their wedding -- whether or not they've ever set foot in Italy.

Many of us find that the most satisfying weddings combine nostalgic old traditions with contemporary ways of doing things. And old religious observances, historic dances, and traditional Italian foods are sure to give your wedding a warm Italian heart.

As everyone knows, Roman Catholicism is Italy's primary religion. So a traditional Italian wedding typically means a traditional Catholic wedding as well, including a full mass with the ceremony. However, it's still true that not every Italian is Catholic. Although it may be a bit unusual, if you and your partner aren't Catholic, you can still incorporate the Italian traditions in your reception. One of the most charming is the dove release, symbolizing the love and affection of each newlywed for the other, although this tradition is not very old.

No Italian wedding is complete without a few traditional dances, such as the Tarantella. Although the Tarantella's origin is somewhat murky, most of the stories about it involve a spider bite, and tell of a dance either meant to counteract the venom, or one that simply mimics the uncontrolled motions of the sufferer. At any rate, these days the Tarantella is performed at wedding parties to wish the couple a fine future together. Participants form a circle and dance in a clockwise direction, until the music speeds up and the dancers must change direction. The tempo changes several times, each time forcing the dancers to change direction and dance even faster. The Tarantella continues until it becomes impossible to keep up, and the dance falls apart.

What's the most distinguishing aspect of an Italian wedding? The food, of course. The Italians invented the evocative word abbondanza, which somehow means something more than mere "abundance," and no Italian wedding would be complete without an overwhelming feast of many courses. Traditionally, the wedding reception begins with an antipasto course of cheeses, olives, mushrooms, and pickled sweet peppers. This course is followed by subsequent courses starring pastas, meats, salads, soups, and desserts, each one punctuated by freely flowing wine.

It's interesting to note that some of the foods at an Italian wedding have symbolic overtones. For example, the giving of sugar-coated almonds to guests symbolizes that marriage is both bitter and sweet. The number of almonds given is associated with traditional meanings: for example, three almonds speak to fertility, while five almonds wish for wealth.

Another authentic Italian wedding tradition is the breaking of a glass at the reception's end, somewhat like a similar tradition within the Jewish faith. However, the deeper symbolism underlying these traditions is very different. Within Judaism, the broken glass symbolizes human frailty and the hardship the couple's ancestors endured as a result of their faith. But in Italian weddings, the broken glass points toward the future. The number of shards is said to predict the number of happy years the couple will have together.
It's deeply satisfying for couples of Italian descent to weave these traditional elements into their modern-day wedding. Even if only your distant relatives still reside on Italian soil and you've never been to Italy, it's still absolutely fine to follow these traditions. And that's not to say you have to be Italian, either -- all that's required is that you appreciate the richness of Italian culture and are willing to try something new.
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