Documents for a wedding

Civil marriage: requirements and documents (Bulgaria)

The civil marriage is celebrated at the municipality (civil registry office).

✅ Basic requirements

• both of them to be of age 18 years
• not be in another marriage
• not be in a prohibited degree of consanguinity

✅ Documents required (most common)

• identity cards the two
• declaration/statement for civil marriage (to be filled in at the municipality)
• medical certificate (premarital medical examination)
  is often required to be valid at the date of marriage, and validity is limited in time
• proof of payment of the fee (if applicable)
• in a previous marriage:
  - a divorce document (final judgment) or
  - death certificate (if widowed)

📌 In many municipalities it is also required presence of witnesses (groomsmen) with ID cards on the day of the ceremony.
For example, at a wedding ceremony in Sofia, the identity cards of the bride and groom and witnesses are indicated.

🔎 Recommendation: check your municipality's website because they may have specifics.

Church marriage (wedding): requirements and documents

A church wedding does not replace a civil marriage - it is a separate religious ritual.

✅ Basic requirements

• both to be Orthodox Christians
• not prohibited by canon (e.g. certain degrees of kinship)
• in many temples you are required to have civil marriage Pre

✅ Most frequently required documents

• marriage certificate/certificate
• baptismal certificates of the newlyweds
• in some cases - baptismal certificates of the bridegrooms
• declarations (according to the temple)

Some temples require proof of baptism (baptismal certificate) for the bride and groom.

📌 Important: conditions may vary by temple. It is best:
contact the church directly at least 2-3 months before the date.