Getting Married in Florence: What You Need to Know
Thinking about getting married in Florence? We've rounded up everything you need to know
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Are you thinking about getting married in Florence, Italy? If so, you’ll be in good company. It’s a firm favourite with celebrities and a popular choice for weddings abroad due to the beautiful scenery and architecture.
It is the capital of Italy’s Tuscan region – why not find out even more about getting married in Tuscany?
Celebrities Who Married in Florence
Theo Walcott and Melanie Slade
The Arsenal footballer married his childhood sweetheart Melanie in Florence. Theo and Melanie picked a medieval castle in Florence as the setting for their wedding.
Image credit: Instagram/TheoWalcott
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian married her rapper husband Kanye West in a lavish ceremony at Forte di Belvedere in Florence – a venue that cost a rumoured £245,000 to hire. Opera singer Andrea Bocelli sang as Kim walked down the aisle towards the 20ft high white flower wall, which formed the backdrop to their ceremony.
Image credit: Instagram/KimKardashian
Melissa Joan Hart and Mark Wilkerson
The Sabrina the Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart married her husband musician Mark Wilkerson at the Grand Hotel Villa Cora in Florence in 2003.
Image credit: Instagram/Melissa Joan Hart
See more: Amazing celebrity weddings
Getting Married in Florence – What You Need to Know
You’ll need to have your documents in order to get married in Florence – a Certificate of No Impediment (this costs £35), which you’ll need to get from your local registrar. This will have to be translated by a lawyer in Florence. You’ll also need a statuory declaration which must be signed in front of a solicitor or public notary which will cost a fee.
Your Certificate of No Impediment must be publicly displayed at your local register office for four weeks – if nobody objects to the marriage you can collect your CNI at the end of the 28 days. CNIs don’t expire if they’re from England, Wales or Northern Ireland, but CNIs from Scotland expire after three months.
Under Italian laws CNIs are valid for six months.
Civil ceremonies in Florence can take place in the Palazzo Vecchio or in Florence’s city hall which is a lot more elaborate than most UK register offices.
It’s advisable to contact the local Italian town hall (‘comune’) to check their marriage laws and find out if any additional documents are needed.
You need to be in Italy for a full three days before you give notice for your wedding – this costs around £50 to do and can be paid by card. Cash payments must be made in the local currency.
Your marriage will be recognised as legal in the UK providing it would be allowed in the UK and that you follow the correct processes according to Italian law.
Wedding Venues in Florence
Civil ceremonies can take place in the Palazzo Vecchio which faces the Piazza della Signoria. The City Hall is in the heart of the city surrounded by the beautiful architecture.
If you want a religious wedding ceremony, you’ll be more than catered for in Florence – there are lots of small churches dotted around that are perfect for a church wedding ceremony.
Follow up your Florence wedding with a glamorous reception at a venue in the city or in a rustic Tuscan villa in the countryside to really make the most of this wonderful location.
Still undecided? Read up on 17 reasons why you should consider a wedding in Italy.
