Legal vs. Symbolic

On the first step in your wedding planning is to define the type of ceremony you would like to have. Symbolic or legal? It is sometimes hard to understand the difference. Please, let us explain the differences, advantages and disavantages of both options.

What is a symbolic ceremony?

A symbolic ceremony is the promise of love between two people. It is the exact same as a regular wedding ceremony, including the exchange of vows and exchange of rings. The only difference with a ceremony with legalities is that it is not legally binding.

You can opt to get legally married in your home country and have a symbolic ceremony in the Czech Republic. If you prefer, your wedding guests don’t even need to know this is a symbolic ceremony. About 30% of our couples decide to have a symbolic ceremony, and for them this is the actual wedding; the legal paperwork is then only a formality.

What are the advantages of a symbolic ceremony?

Larger choice of ceremony venues, dates and availabilities

Signature of legal document take place another day in your home country, the documents are usually a lot easier for you, do not require verification and translation
No legal documents are required to have a symbolic ceremony
You save time and money by not obtaining the documents necessary to start the legal paperwork, as no legal translations and office meetings are necessary
Valuable offers for symbolic ceremony
You can arrive to Prague only one day or two days before your wedding

What are the disadvantages of a symbolic ceremony?

Signing of legal documents takes place on another day than your wedding.

What is a legal ceremony?

Having a legal ceremony means that your wedding will be legally valid in the Czech Republic, and worldwide. You will receive a valid marriage certificate issued by the Czech authorities, with a legal verification and translation into your language, that you will later present at your home offices.

For a legal wedding, we will request a number of legal documents several weeks before your wedding.

What are the advantages of a legal ceremony?

Your wedding is valid legally, signatures of the legal documents is at the same time as your wedding day

What are the disavantages of a legal ceremony?

Legal documents you need to obtain for us need to have higher verification, the process can be time-demanding and also costs money
You need to arrive to Prague 2-4 days in advance and spend about 2-3 hours at office meetings with us to finalize your legal papework
Choice of ceremony venues and ceremony dates/times is limited due to register offices restrictions

For more information, please, do not hesitate to contact us, or read our eBook " legalities" below, we have arranged legal paperwork for more than 70 different nationalities:

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