Unsure of the difference? Or what is involved legally and religiously? Here are a few points to consider:

A civil service in Italy gives you a fully legal marriage certificate, recognized throughout the world. The civil wedding takes place in the town hall, presided over by the vice-mayor, or his substitute. You will be asked to declare your status as free to marry, and will perform a brief service, concluding with the exchange of rings.

The ceremony is held in a meaninful way, and the articles of law are about your rights and duties within your family relationship.

To prove your status as free to marry, you will have to prepare several documents - and the paperwork prior to the service may be quite lengthy.

FOR US CITIZENS. Two documents are necessary: a Nulla Osta, and an Atto Notorio. Italyweddings will handle ALL the paperwork in Italy with you, and if you work with us and our team of legal representatives, no witnesses, translations or apostilles will be necessary.

FOR UK, CANADIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS: Italyweddings will handle all of the paperwork ahead of time, by correspondence on your behalf. You will only need to perform a sworn statement in the town hall, a couple of days at most prior to the wedding.

You should consider:

	Leave enough time during your stay to be present at your National Embassy to obtain the "Nulla Osta". This document will then be translated into a legally valid Italian document, by the staff of Italyweddings, and presented in the town hall where you will get married. In all, you should plan to be in Italy 3 days prior to the wedding.
	Plan enough ahead: needs at least a month's notice for a civil service, to book appointments at the various offices.

What is a Church blessing?

In Italy, the church and the state don't have the same form of collaboration that is usual in the US or the UK. Generally, in all Church weddings performed in Italy, the couple will have performed a separate civil service, normally with a Justice of the Peace in their home town.

The wedding blessing is identical to a full wedding service, and has the same religious significance; as such please consider:

	If either the bride or the groom has been divorced things become more complex. At the absolute minimum at least a full year has to have passed since the final divorce decree has been issued and a copy of that decree needs to be presented before remarriage. Furthermore, adequate provision for the welfare of children from a previous marriage needs to be assured as well.
	The Roman Catholic Church is not generally available for weddings for non-residents.
	The primary requirement for a wedding ceremony in any Church, is that the couple has attended at least three formal sessions of premarital counseling by a clergy person or qualified counselor over the course of at least a month prior to the wedding.

What is a Symbolic Ceremony?

A symboic wedding is a non civil (non legal) and non religious ceremony, held by an officiant not related to any religious structure. In most cases, it is the couple who will write the text, and outline the schedule of the wedding. This type of wedding is often held in the grounds of a villa