I am marrying an Italian man in Italy, which has definitely brought its fare share of legal work. He is in the U.S. on a work visa and we will live here (that is until we want to retire in Italy!), but for us to get married legally in both countries we have spent more time in consulates and city government offices in NYC than we have planning the fun details!

In case any future brides are going to marry an immigrant (especially if you are marrying them OUTSIDE of the U.S.), I would like to give you a briefing of the procedure ahead of you:

• you have to make an appointment at the consulate of your future spouse – this can be its own headache – this (along with many more appointments at the consulate) will make your marriage legal in the country where you will be married
• before you go to your appointment, you need to speak with someone at the consulate to get all of the papers that you will have to fill out and submit before your appointment
• you will need two witnesses to come with you to your first appointment to sign on your behalf as a couple – they also need their passports  and birth certificates
• make sure you have your BIRTH CITY on your U.S. birth certificate as well – I ended having a big issue with an Italian woman because Pennsylvania only has the COUNTY on their certificates. I apparently should have known this and requested the “long form” before our appointment…this will take annoying phone calls, $ and weeks to wait for it to be mailed to you
• go to the city government offices to get a “Certificate of Nonimpediment” which gives you permission to be married in another country and proves to the other country that your city recognizes that you are able to get married…you will need to go to three different offices for this if you live in Manhattan, pay for it, and have it stamped with the special seal.
• take this certificate to the consulate (another appointment!) for them to send to the country where you will be married
• organize a “Ceremony of a Married Couple” once you return home to sign the legal paperwork to have a U.S. marriage certificate
• begin your name change (if desired)

Now…I would have no idea of what would be involved if Cotton Dude and I had decided to get married in Mexico! haha.