GUIDE: Everything you need to know about having a civil wedding and how much it costs

Getting married soon?

Weddings are often seen as time-consuming and expensive, with costs for the venue, church, catering, and other essentials quickly adding up. But did you know you can tie the knot legally for around P5,000 or less through a civil wedding, depending on your location and requirements?

Actress Bea Alonzo and Puregold heir Vincent Co surprised many when they quietly tied the knot in a simple civil wedding last July 13, officiated by Makati Mayor Nancy Binay.

They join other celebrity couples—including Ria Atayde and Zanjoe Marudo, Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo, and Angel Locsin and Neil Arce—who also chose intimate civil weddings over lavish celebrations.

If you're engaged and considering a civil wedding, here's everything you need to know before saying "I do."

Requirements

A civil wedding is a legally recognized marriage officiated by a judge, mayor, or another authorized solemnizing officer instead of a religious minister. It is often the preferred choice for couples who want a simple, straightforward, and more affordable way to get married.

Before getting married, couples must secure the necessary legal requirements. These generally include:

• A duly accomplished marriage license application form
• PSA-issued birth certificate
• PSA-issued Certificate of No Marriage Record (CENOMAR)
• Valid government-issued IDs
• Community Tax Certificate (cedula), if required by the local government unit 
• Certificate of attendance from a pre-marriage counseling or family planning seminar, if required by the LGU

Additional documents may be required depending on the couple's circumstances, such as:

• Parental consent for either party aged 18 to 20
• Parental advice for either party aged 21 to 24
• Death certificate of a deceased spouse, if widowed
• PSA-issued marriage certificate with annotation or a court decree recognizing the annulment or declaration of nullity of a previous marriage, if previously married
• Certificate of legal capacity to marry, for foreign nationals

Requirements may vary by city or municipality, so couples should confirm the complete list with their local civil registrar before applying.

An authorized solemnizing officer must officiate a civil wedding. This may be a judge from a Regional Trial Court or Municipal Trial Court, a mayor or city or municipal administrator, a member of the Philippine Bar appointed by the local government, or another government official authorized by law.

Once the couple has secured a valid marriage license, they can coordinate with their chosen solemnizing officer to set a wedding date. Before the ceremony, they must submit the required documents, including their marriage license.

On the wedding day, the ceremony typically begins with the officiant explaining the significance of marriage, followed by the couple exchanging vows. They then sign the marriage contract together with at least two witnesses. To complete the process, the officiant submits the signed marriage contract to the local civil registrar within 15 days to officially record the marriage.

Registering the marriage

Your civil wedding doesn't end after the "I do's." To ensure your marriage is officially recorded and your PSA marriage certificate can be issued, your signed marriage contract must be registered with the Local Civil Registry.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the LCR is the government office in every city or municipality responsible for registering vital events such as births, marriages, and deaths. If you're getting married, the LCR is where you apply for a marriage license before the ceremony. After the wedding, it also registers your signed marriage contract and forwards it to the PSA, which issues the official PSA marriage certificate.

When you apply for a marriage license, the LCR checks your requirements, including your PSA-issued birth certificate, CENOMAR, valid IDs, and other required documents. Your application is then posted for 10 consecutive days to allow anyone with a legal objection to come forward. If there are no objections and all requirements are complete, the LCR issues your marriage license.

After the wedding, your solemnizing officer—such as a judge or mayor in a civil wedding—must submit the signed marriage contract to the LCR within 15 days. The LCR verifies the information, registers the marriage, and forwards the record to the PSA for processing.

Once the PSA has processed the documents, you can request your PSA marriage certificate, which serves as the official proof of marriage for legal and government transactions.

Fees

The cost of civil wedding requirements, including marriage license fees, varies depending on the city or municipality. In Taguig City, for example, a P100 fee is needed for the license application, P50 for the municipal form, P40 for the family counseling seminar, and P50 for the marriage license.

Other fees include PSA-issued birth certificate (P195), a PSA-issued Certificate of No Marriage Record or CENOMAR (P235), and notarial fees, which vary depending on the notary public.

Meanwhile in Quezon City, couples must pay P150 in filing fees to the Local Civil Registrar, P250 for the mandatory Family Planning Seminar conducted by the Quezon City Health Department, and a P310 marriage fee.

Based on the Makati City website, couples pay P50 for the marriage license application form, P50 for the filing fee, P100 for a seminar on Family Planning conducted by the Makati Social Welfare Department, P100 for the marriage license, and P100 for the pre-marriage counseling certificate. A TikTok user, who wed in Makati City Hall, also cites a P300 wedding fee payable to the Office of the Secretary General and P200 for a marriage certificate prepared by an RTC staff.

If you're planning to wed at the Supreme Court, you'll first need to coordinate with the Office of the Associate Justice. Once a Justice confirms their availability to officiate the ceremony, the office will provide the specific requirements, which may vary depending on the officiant.

In general, couples are asked to submit a valid marriage license, birth certificates, and pay a P300 solemnization fee plus P20 for documentary stamps.

Other things to know

A prenuptial agreement is not required in the Philippines, but couples who do not have one will automatically be covered by the default property regime of Absolute Community of Property under the Family Code.

Other than the general requirements, couples should also consider other legal factors that may affect their wedding process.

For couples from different faiths, mixed-religion marriages may require compliance with the requirements of both religious groups, while some may choose to have a civil wedding instead. On the other hand, Muslim marriages are governed by the Code of Muslim Personal Laws and follow separate procedures that may require additional certificates, per the PSA.

Meanwhile, same-sex marriages are currently not legally recognized in the Philippines, but Quezon City holds its annual commitment ceremony for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

To avoid delays, make sure to verify requirements with their LCR and civil officiant, as procedures may vary. It is also important to submit documents early, keep copies of submitted forms and receipts, ensure that the marriage license is still valid on the wedding date, and carefully check the spelling and details on all documents and contracts before submission.