How to Get Legally Married in Spain, Italy or France as a Foreign Couple
One of the first questions international couples ask when planning a destination wedding in Europe is: "Can we actually legally get married there?"
The honest answer is yes — but it requires careful planning, plenty of paperwork and a good understanding of the local requirements. The good news is that there is also a beautiful and increasingly popular alternative that most couples end up choosing.
Here is everything you need to know about getting legally married in Spain, Italy and France as a foreign couple.
The Two Options Every International Couple Should Know
Before diving into the specifics of each country, it is worth understanding the two routes available to destination couples:
Option 1 — Legal ceremony abroad
You fulfil all the legal requirements of your chosen country and marry legally at your destination. This involves significant paperwork, residency requirements in some cases, and coordination with local authorities. It is absolutely possible but requires time and planning.
Option 2 — Legal ceremony at home + symbolic ceremony abroad
You marry legally in your home country — in a simple civil ceremony — and then hold your dream celebration abroad as a symbolic ceremony. This is by far the most popular choice for international couples planning destination weddings in Europe, and it gives you complete freedom to design your day exactly as you wish without administrative constraints.
Both options are completely valid. A good destination wedding planner will help you decide which is right for you.
Getting Legally Married in Spain as a Foreign Couple
Spain is one of the most popular destination wedding countries in Europe, and it is possible to legally marry here as a foreigner — but the process requires advance planning.
What you need:
A valid passport and proof of single status (a certificate of no impediment from your home country)
Birth certificates — usually apostilled and officially translated into Spanish
Proof of residency if applicable
A civil ceremony conducted by a local judge or registrar (Registro Civil)
The timeline:
The process typically takes 3-6 months to complete, so start early. Documents must be submitted to the local civil registry in the municipality where you wish to marry.
The symbolic alternative:
Many couples choose to marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony in Spain with a celebrant. This is completely legal, widely accepted and gives you total creative freedom over your ceremony — which a civil ceremony in Spain does not always allow.
One important note: Religious ceremonies (Catholic church weddings) in Spain are legally recognised, but require both parties to be baptised Catholics and involve a separate process through the church.
Getting Legally Married in Italy as a Foreign Couple
Italy is one of the most romanticised wedding destinations in the world — and yes, it is absolutely possible to legally marry here as a foreigner.
What you need:
A valid passport
A certificate of no impediment (Nulla Osta) from your home country's embassy or consulate in Italy — this confirms you are free to marry
Birth certificates — apostilled and translated into Italian
Proof of single status
The timeline:
Allow at least 3-6 months for the paperwork. The Nulla Osta in particular can take time to obtain depending on your nationality.
Civil vs religious:
A civil ceremony (matrimonio civile) in Italy is conducted by the mayor or a registrar and is legally binding. Catholic church weddings are also legally recognised in Italy under a concordat between the Vatican and the Italian state.
The symbolic alternative:
As with Spain, many international couples opt for a legal ceremony at home followed by a symbolic ceremony in Italy. This is especially popular for couples who want a ceremony entirely in English, with personal vows and a celebrant of their choice — something a civil ceremony in Italy does not always accommodate.
Getting Legally Married in France as a Foreign Couple
France has some of the strictest residency requirements for foreign couples wishing to marry legally — which is why the symbolic ceremony route is particularly popular here.
What you need:
A minimum of 40 days residency in the commune where you wish to marry — for most destination couples, this is simply not practical
A valid passport and birth certificate — apostilled and translated into French
A certificate of no impediment from your home country
Publication of banns (publication des bans) at the local town hall at least 10 days before the ceremony
The reality:
The 40-day residency requirement means that a legal civil ceremony in France is genuinely difficult for most international couples to achieve. It is not impossible — some couples do stay in France long enough to fulfil the requirement — but it is the exception rather than the rule.
The symbolic alternative:
The vast majority of international couples planning destination weddings in France choose to marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony in France. French venues and vendors are extremely familiar with this arrangement and it in no way diminishes the beauty or significance of your celebration.
What is a Symbolic Ceremony?
A symbolic ceremony is a wedding celebration that is not legally binding in itself — because the legal marriage has already taken place elsewhere. It can include:
Personal vows written by the couple
Readings and rituals meaningful to you
A celebrant who speaks your language
Music, flowers and décor entirely of your choosing
All the emotion and significance of a traditional wedding ceremony
For most international couples, a symbolic ceremony actually results in a more personal and meaningful celebration than a legal civil ceremony would — because you have complete creative freedom.
Our Honest Advice
Having planned weddings across Spain, Italy and France for international couples, my honest advice is this: don't let the legal requirements stress you. Whether you choose to marry legally abroad or at home, what matters most is that your celebration feels true to you.
The paperwork is manageable with the right guidance. The magic is what we focus on.