Guide

Getting married in Umbria: a practical guide

The ceremonies, the paperwork and the practicalities, in plain English, with links to the official sources.

At a glance

Foreign couples can marry legally in Umbria with a civil ceremony at the comune (town council) or with a religious ceremony that has civil effect. Each partner usually needs a certificate stating they are free to marry, the «nulla osta», issued by their country’s embassy or consulate in Italy. A symbolic ceremony has no legal effect.

Legal options: civil or religious ceremony
Key document: nulla osta from your embassy
Symbolic ceremony: no legal effect
Last reviewed: 24 September 2026

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements depend on your nationality and on the comune where you marry, and they can change. Always check with your embassy or consulate, the comune’s civil registry office and, if you have one, your wedding planner.

Three kinds of ceremony

Civil ceremony. Under Italian law a civil marriage is celebrated publicly before the civil registrar (ufficiale dello stato civile) of the comune (Italian Civil Code, art. 106 and following). In Perugia, besides the city’s own halls, civil weddings can take place in a number of historic venues that take part in the city’s «SpoSì a Perugia – Wedding in Perugia» project, among them Villa Montefreddo di Bagnaia and Borgo Colognola. The current list is on the City of Perugia website.

Religious ceremony. A Catholic wedding can also have civil effect when it is registered with the civil authorities (Italian Civil Code, art. 82). The Church has its own requirements and timings: speak to the parish and the diocese well in advance.

Symbolic ceremony. A symbolic ceremony can take place in a garden, a castle courtyard or a vineyard, but it is not a legal marriage in Italy. Couples who choose it usually complete the legal formalities in their home country first.

The nulla osta

Foreign citizens marrying in Italy need a nulla osta al matrimonio, a declaration that there is no impediment to the marriage. It is issued by the embassy or consulate of their own country in Italy. The City of Perugia specifies that it must show full name, place and date of birth, parents’ names, residence, citizenship and marital status.

The signature on the nulla osta must be authenticated at the competent Prefettura (legalizzazione), unless the country is party to the London Convention of 7 June 1968. Citizens of countries party to the Munich Convention of 5 September 1980 may present a certificate of capacity to marry instead, together with a birth certificate showing parents’ names. (Source: City of Perugia, civil registry.)

At the comune

With the documents ready, the couple goes to the comune’s marriage office. In Perugia this is the Ufficio matrimoni – Unioni civili. If you don’t speak Italian, an interpreter with a valid ID must be present. Popular months such as May, June and September book up early at many town halls, so contact the comune well ahead. (Sources: City of Perugia; U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy.)

UK citizens

British nationals apply for a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI), which is the same document as the Italian nulla osta, from the British Embassy in Rome, by post. GOV.UK provides the notice and affirmation templates to download. The signature on the notice is witnessed by a notary. Check the current GOV.UK pages for the full procedure and fees. (Source: GOV.UK.)

US citizens

U.S. citizens generally need two documents:

an Atto Notorio, a declaration that there is no obstacle to the marriage under U.S. law, which can be obtained from an Italian consulate in the United States;
a Dichiarazione Giurata, an affidavit sworn before a U.S. consular officer in Italy, then authenticated at the Prefettura.

The couple then makes a declaration of intention to marry at the town hall. Procedures vary by consular district, so follow the page for the district where you will marry. (Sources: U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy; Consulate General of Italy in Boston.)

Same-sex couples

Italian law provides for civil unions between same-sex couples (Law no. 76 of 20 May 2016). The City of Perugia has a dedicated civil union service, and the U.S. Embassy publishes separate guidance on civil unions in Italy.

Seasons and light

This section is our own experience as filmmakers, not an official requirement. Late spring and September bring long evenings and warm light over the hills; high summer is hot in the middle of the day, so ceremonies are often planned for late afternoon; October brings the grape harvest and misty mornings. For a film, the hour before sunset is the one to protect in your timeline.

Umbrian venues we have filmed

Castello di Rosciano in Torgiano, a wedding venue in Umbria

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Official sources

City of Perugia — Civil registry: marriage banns and documents for foreign citizens: comune.perugia.it (page updated 09/07/2026)
City of Perugia — «SpoSì a Perugia – Wedding in Perugia» venues: comune.perugia.it
City of Perugia — Civil unions: comune.perugia.it
GOV.UK — Italy: certificate of no impediment application documents: gov.uk (updated 20 August 2024)
GOV.UK — Getting married or registering a civil partnership abroad: gov.uk
U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy — Getting Married in Italy: it.usembassy.gov
U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy — Entering into a Civil Union in Italy: it.usembassy.gov
Consulate General of Italy in Boston — Notary act (Atto Notorio) for marriage in Italy of U.S. citizens: consboston.esteri.it
Italian Civil Code (arts. 82, 106 and following) and Law 76/2016 — Normattiva