Copyright 2010 Motus in Sardinia - All rights riserved

The documentation necessary varies according to the nationality of the bride and groom and the type of ceremony requested.

We work with you to assemble the necessary paperwork and send a copy of it in advance to the chosen registry office to be checked. Under Italian law the woman keeps her name. If you wish to make changes, this can be done in your own country after the wedding. The bride and groom must appear together with two witnesses before the Ufficiale di Stato Civile (Civil Registrar) of the area where the marriage is to take place and file a declaration of intent to marry. This declaration will be made 1-2 days before the wedding. When making this declaration, the couple must submit the following required documentation:

UK passport holders - Civil ceremonies
The following documents are required by the local Registrar
- No impediment certificate (Nulla Osta) issued by the relevant authorities.
- Full birth certificate
- Legal evidence of termination of any previous marriage
- Photocopies of valid passport of bride and groom
- 2 witnesses with their valid passports in original and photocopy
- Interpreter (if neither party speaks Italian)
- Registry fee (this varies from one Town Hall to another)

USA passport holders - Civil ceremonies
The following documents are required by the local Registrar:
Affidavit from U.S. legal authority certifying that there are no impediments to the marriage under U.S. law. Since there is no federal registry of marriages in the United States, this obligation is fulfilled by providing both the following:

a) Affidavit (ATTO NOTORIO) sworn by two witnesses appearing for this purpose before an Italian Consular Officer outside Italy in which you state that there are no holdups to the marriage under U.S. law
AND
b) Affidavit sworn before a U.S. Consular Officer in Italy, in which the applicants state that there are no hindrances to their marriage under U.S. law. Armed Forces personnel must also submit a consent to the marriage from their Commanding Officer. We will contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Rome, for an appointment prior to departing the United States.

- Legal evidence of termination of any previous marriage, translated and validated
- Full birth certificate
- Photocopies of valid passport (or military ID)
- 2 witnesses with their valid passports in original and photocopy
- Interpreter (if neither party speaks Italian)
- Registry fee (this varies from one Town Hall to another)

In case of Catholic ceremonies you will also need to provide:
- Declaration from your Pastoral Advisor that both bride and groom are active in the Catholic Church and seriously intend having a religious blessing
- Certificate of Baptism
- Certificate of First Communion
- Certificate of Confirmation

All the above documents must be sent to the Bishop in the city of residence to obtain the 'Religious Non Objection Declaration'.
Once these have been returned to you, they must be forwarded, together with all the documents listed for the civil ceremony to the us and we would forward it to the local Bishop to obtain the Italian 'Religious Nulla Osta'.

Weddings in Sardinia is the wedding planner for you!