The Best Venues for a Civil Ceremony
Getting legally married in Italy isn’t as hard as you might think! With the right advice, research and sticking to correct timings, many couples successfully navigate this part of wedding planning to have their dream ceremony.
In our Shop you will be able to download our Civil Ceremony Guide to assess if it’s the right option for you. It is worth noting that Italian guidelines change frequently and internet information can be outdated or not applicable to all town halls and processes.
In Italy there are 2 ways to have a civil marriage ceremony:
At the town hall. Town halls have very clear days and times they host civil weddings and you’ll need to build your wedding day around it. Some couples choose to have the civil wedding the day before their celebration at the reception venue.
At a venue the town hall has certified can host civil weddings. This certification isn’t easy to obtain and limits the number of locations that can host legal weddings. For all the venues listed on La Lista we specify whether they can host civil ceremonies or not.
Perhaps the thought of a town hall in your country drums up a slightly run-down, soulless building, but in Italy some of the most stunning locations for weddings are these. Incredible architecture, breathtaking interiors with traditional features or historic design, town halls really are special places to say your ‘I dos’.
We love to put the hard-work in so you don’t have to! So, these are our top picks of the most beautiful locations to host a legal wedding across Italy:
Photo: Colin Ross | Venue: San Galgano Abbey
TUSCANY
Volterra town hall
Certaldo town hall
This is not a venue with facilities or accommodation. This will need to be booked nearby.
Photo: Colin Ross | Venue: Masseria Salamina
PUGLIA
Ostuni town hall, with its amazing courtyard
ROME
Theodoli castle
Palace of Campidoglio
Casacocò (nature reserve!)
Photo: Benjamin Wheeler | Venue: Sorrento Cloisters
AMALFI
Sorrento cloisters
Ravello town hall – Giardini principessa
PIEDMONT
Villa Bria
Cascina Ajrale
VENICE
Palazzo Cavalli in the heart of Venice
SICILY
Noto town hall
Taormina Palazzo dei Duchi di Santo Stefano
Castello Montefalco
If you’re undertaking a civil ceremony, we must stress how important it is to have a professional on board. Bureaucracy can be challenging, even for Italians with experience and this is an area you cannot risk any mistakes…or you literally won’t be allowed to get married!
Want more info on how a civil wedding actually works and the timings you will need to abide by, read the full article here. If you are attempting to organise a civil ceremony alone, we strongly recommend you join our planning membership, The Club. In here you will find detailed advice and tools to use, plus you can join a monthly live session and ask your questions directly to planner, Lucy White.
