Civil or Symbolic Ceremony?

Intimate Civil Elopement or Lavish Amalfi Ceremony?

The first step to making your Amalfi happily ever after a reality is deciding what type of wedding you and your fiancé envision. Church weddings in Amalfi are generally restricted to Italian Catholics, but if you are a foreigner saying your vows in Italy, you can choose between a symbolic or civic ceremony.

A symbolic ceremony can take place almost anywhere you like - a historic venue, chic hotel, or even a seaside restaurant. With this type of ceremony, the couple waives all legality, and vows serve as a symbol of your impending marriage. You may then opt to have a private civil ceremony another day at either an Italian city hall or even back in your home country. Civil ceremonies are a true adventure, but can definitely be worth jumping through every hoop for the satisfaction of being legally wed on your special day! There are many requirements for being married in Italy, but it’s all part of the fun.

What to Expect from a Civil Ceremony

The civil ceremonies are gorgeous and intimate, with the nostalgic flair of a courthouse elopement. They are conducted at the local Municipal (Town Hall), and on the Amalfi Coast this means architecture that rivals churches, and romantic gardens that overlook the coastline. Depending on the location (and weather), you can usually choose whether you’d like the ceremony to be held outdoors or inside - and we highly recommend stepping out and soaking up the sunshine! The standard setup most Municipals provide is a simple desk for signing documents, meaning the rest is up to you. You’ll have the freedom to create an aisle lined with spectacular arrangements, or keep it simple and let the surroundings set the mood. Most of these venues are well equipped for elopements and small weddings of up to 40 guests. For larger weddings, we suggest revisiting the idea of a symbolic ceremony at a more spacious private venue of your choice. You should also be aware that generally multiple ceremonies are conducted daily at Amalfi’s Municipals, so there is only a small amount of set up/pack down time. But we’ve found that this is often negotiable if you are willing to ‘hire’ the space for longer. Just be sure to clarify ahead of time and make your preferences known!

The ceremony itself will be conducted in Italian, widely recognized as one of the world’s most enchanting languages, and adding to the romance of the day. We highly recommend choosing a celebrant who will add personal touches to the vows and translate any legal bits you need help with. Also note that you are required to have two Italian citizens present as witnesses, but no need to worry because your celebrant can take care of this for about 50 euros per witness. The best part of it all is that your marriage certificate will be stored permanently in the town hall libraries - for you and your future descendents to revisit for years to come.

Photo: Sarah Burton / Planner: Well Travelled Bride