If you're all untold between relegated and CIVIL, we help you that you can decide.
Today we are going to explain to you the 7 differences between a religious and civil ceremony, and some advice so that this decision is not a head breaker.
We cannot say that one is better than the other because we both love, love and illusion are present in them. This is a decision you can only make vosotrxs, but let's give you some tips to guide you on this path.
1. Legal validity
First of all, we will specify that the religious and civil ceremony has the same legal validity. The decision to make one or the other is mainly the belief and tastes of the couple. Some couples are clear that they want to marry for the church because they have a family church where all the important events have been held there and others simply because they believe that civil ceremonies are not so valuable for that great day. Nothing further than reality, a civil wedding can be as emotional, romantic and valuable as in a church. It can be at your liking and you can personalize it in your style.
2. Place of the ceremony
Civil ceremonies have more choice in terms of scenarios as it can be in a court, in a city hall or in the open air, the latter case is increasingly demanded, provided that you have the appropriate authority to sign the documents that prove your union. Or do it in a symbolic way and go before or after the city hall, judged or notary to sign the papers. And not only that, but the possibility of being able to choose all the decoration of the ceremony; chairs, flowers, ceremony arch... You will be able to personalize it more to your liking and perform rites that you could not perform in a religious ceremony, such as planting a small tree, the ritual of the sand, etc.
On the other hand, religious weddings need a consecrated place to take place, such as a church, chapel or chapel.
If you want to decorate your ceremony very much to your liking, which is in a specific place, like on the beach, and you are not very religious, we recommend you to celebrate a civil wedding. On the contrary, if you have very deep religious beliefs, doing a religious ceremony will have more meaning for you.
3. Protocols
In a religious ceremony the protocol is more firm and strict, and it will be more difficult to get out of its regulations. As requirements, they impose that the brides be baptized, and there are priests who also ask that they have communion and confirmation made. In addition, couples must have conducted pre-marriage workshops and have their best men, in addition to the witnesses who will prove their link.
Civil ceremonies are more flexible in this sense, there is no specific regulation to follow, basically you can create it and provide it with the environment you like best. The presence of two witnesses, but not of the godparents, will also be necessary in this type of ceremony.
On the other hand, in religious ceremonies, it is often more cautious with the chosen dress, trying to avoid extremely clogged dresses and wearing sleeves.
If you have been decanted by religious ceremony, we recommend you read this post of bodț where you explain the 5 requirements for marriage by church.
4. Documentation
As for the paperwork to request date for your wedding is where there is the most difference between religious and civil ceremony.
The documentation you will need for a civil wedding will be as follows:
- ID.
- Certificate of registration.
- A bachelor's certificate.
- A witness with his ID to request the marriage file.
With this documentation, you will be able to apply for the marriage file in the civil registry and that is the document you will have to sign on the day of the wedding. In this case or you can sign it before the celebration or a councillor (or another person with powers to do so) could officiate your link.
On the other hand, the documentation you will need for an ecclesiastical wedding will be as follows:
- ID.
- Birth certificate.
- Photocopy of the family book.
- Baptism.
- A bachelor's certificate.
- Certificate of having received the sacrament of confirmation.
- Pre-marriage workshops.
In addition, each church may request a different documentation, so once you have decided where you would like to enter into religious marriage, ask for an appointment with the parish priest to detail the documents necessary to marry you in that church.
5. Prices
With regard to the prices for a religious ceremony, there are churches that only ask you for the will, investing that money in decorating the church for the celebration, in cleaning it later, administrative paperwork, music, etc., and there are other churches that can get up to 1000€depending on how important it is, although they generally ask between 200- 300€.
In a civil ceremony, the cost of signing papers, and the displacement of notary or person of authority if necessary, round between 100- 250€. The symbolic ceremony, held in estate, hotel, etc will have a higher price, because it will also have to pay for decoration, chairs, suppliers, etc.
6. Duration of the ceremony
The civil ceremony, as a general rule, is much shorter than the religious ceremony, usually lasts a half hour, depending on the length of the official's text and the number of people who read during the ceremony. You always have the decision to do it in less time. Religious ceremonies are usually a little longer, because they have a more detailed and strict protocol, which can last up to an hour, in case the priest gives the Mass. If the priest does not give the mass, it can last 30 or 45 minutes.
7. Date you get married
That will quite determine what kind of ceremony you can choose as religious ceremonies are only done on Saturday, and in some churches, on holidays. So if you want to get married on a Friday, for example, you'll have to opt for a civil ceremony.
For more wedding tips we recommend you read 5 wedding tips that will make your day much easier.
