Tell me about civil ceremonies!

[Bev Davies]

We have our ceremony booked for 9th April in Venice but can anyone tell me what an Italian Ceremony is like? Is it like in the UK where you have a bit of chat, maybe a reading, signing the Register etc?

Thanks

[Dream Academy]

Hi Bev,
The civil ceremony is very short. Approx 15 minutes.
It is in Italian and by law you will need someone to translate it for you.
There is the usual welcome on behalf of the local comune followed by tyhe customary questions "are you here to celebrate your marriage etc etc.
There follows a reading of articles 143-144 & 147 of the Italian Civil Code.
143 is all about Reciprocal rights of the spouses
144 about the setting up of the family home and establishing the family address.
147 deals with the duties towards i bambini!!!

This is followed by your vows which you can write and declare as you wish.
No religious parts are supposed to be inserted into a civil ceremony.
Exchange of rings and signing of the register.
They will then read what will be logged into the register of the local town hall.

You can make the ceremony a bit more personal by inserting a couple of readings and also some music if you wish.

Good luck.

[Sancho the Fat]

Originally Posted by Bev Davies

We have our ceremony booked for 9th April in Venice but can anyone tell me what an Italian Ceremony is like? Is it like in the UK where you have a bit of chat, maybe a reading, signing the Register etc?

Thanks

It's pretty banal, actually, although those who make money from organising the things will doubtless have you believe otherwise. You sign in an office with the national flag, etc, then you go out, and you get whatever extras you've arranged (a photographer, meal, car...), but they have nothing at all to do with the ceremony, which is actually rather low-key.

[Sebastiano]

Originally Posted by Sancho the Fat

It's pretty banal, actually, although those who make money from organising the things will doubtless have you believe otherwise. You sign in an office with the national flag, etc, then you go out, and you get whatever extras you've arranged (a photographer, meal, car...), but they have nothing at all to do with the ceremony, which is actually rather low-key.

You might like this...when we got married in milan in the royal palace..we got the vice sindaco who was a comunist so we got a twenty minute harangue against the clericals followed by signing..

[Bev Davies]

Originally Posted by Dream Academy

Hi Bev,
The civil ceremony is very short. Approx 15 minutes.
It is in Italian and by law you will need someone to translate it for you.
There is the usual welcome on behalf of the local comune followed by tyhe customary questions "are you here to celebrate your marriage etc etc.
There follows a reading of articles 143-144 & 147 of the Italian Civil Code.
143 is all about Reciprocal rights of the spouses
144 about the setting up of the family home and establishing the family address.
147 deals with the duties towards i bambini!!!

This is followed by your vows which you can write and declare as you wish.
No religious parts are supposed to be inserted into a civil ceremony.
Exchange of rings and signing of the register.
They will then read what will be logged into the register of the local town hall.

You can make the ceremony a bit more personal by inserting a couple of readings and also some music if you wish.

Good luck.

Thanks for this! We have a translator sorted - all we want is a reading and hopefully a CD with our own choice of (non-religous) music. As for Bambinis there are unlikely to be any - I hope my Mum doesn't get her hopes up!

[Skichi]

Yes definitely have something like a reading in there (or 2) and music whilst you do the signing is possible as well. You will need to come up with your own words etc. for the ring exchange - I'm sure you've heard enough of those to think of something appropriate. The main problem is that it can all be extremely formal (i.e. impersonal) and it's up to you to inject something into it that will ensure there's some emotion in there - especially since you've got one of the world's greatest PJ photographers on hand :))

One good thing - I seriously doubt there will be any photography restrictions ;)

Andy

[Bev Davies]

Originally Posted by Skichi

it's up to you to inject something into it that will ensure there's some emotion in there - especially since you've got one of the world's greatest PJ photographers on hand :))

Andy

That's funny! Oh my goodness, writing our own vows is something I'd not even thought about. Can I make him promise to make my breakfast in bed every morning?!

[Skichi]

Who? Gordon??! :)

[Bev Davies]

Gordon and PJ being used in the same sentence! Barrie has just bought a new Hassleblad so I think I am going to be on my own in the photos and have the two of them snapping away all day - just as well I'm not shy ;-)

[Nicola]

Originally Posted by Sancho the Fat

It's pretty banal

Sorry have to totally disagree there - it doesn't have to be banal - the bits that you add to it can make all the difference. My brother and now wife had a civil ceremony on the terrace at Lerici castle in the summer and while very short it was really lovely. The backdrop of the coastline was stunning, we had arranged for an excellent flautist and pianist to play and their friend did a Rabbie Burns poem. Everyone that was there thought it was a very memorable and not in the slightest bit banal ceremony. (and I think to be honest everyone was quite pleased with the shortness of it!).