One of the best events in one’s life is getting married. Whether it’s an intimate wedding with only a few people or an extravagant wedding with families and friends; it’s going to be a memorable event. If you are Filipino or in love with one, here’s a helpful guide on how to get Married in the Philippines.

There are two types of weddings; they are civil weddings and church/religious weddings. Both are legal in giving you marriage certificates. However, getting married is not simply “saying I do,” you’ll have to prepare documents for a marriage license, attend seminars, and much more. If it’s going to be an extra special one, then there are prenuptial picture taking, dress fitting, food selection, etc. Read more about our guide!

Other articles you can read:

Step by Step Guide in Getting Married in the Philippines

STEP 1: Get a marriage license.

In case one of you is a foreign national, this guide is more helpful: How Filipinos and Foreign Nationals Can Get Married in the Philippines.

Here are the requirements you need with the expenses:

You can read: How to get your Marriage License in the Philippines for more information about the requirements:

Valid IDs during Personal Appearance
PSA Birth Certificate (PHP 155 at PSA Serbilis or PHP 330 through online, per copy)
CENOMAR (PHP 210 at PSA Serbilis or PHP 430 through online, per copy)
Community Tax Certificate (a minimum of PHP 5.00 + 1 peso for every PHP 1,000 gross income)
Certificate of Attendance in Pre-Marriage Counseling
Recently Taken Picture (PHP 50 – 100)
Marriage License Application Form (can be asked from the Local Civil Registrar)
Parental Consent or Advice (for ages 18 – 21 – Parental Consent; for 22 – 25 Parental Advice)
For Previously Married:
- Death Certificate (PHP 155 at PSA Serbilis or PHP 330 through online, per copy)
- Judicial Decree of Absolute divorce
- Judicial Decree of Annulment or Declaration of Nullity of Previous marriage
For Foreigners: Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage (depends on the Embassy)
Application Fee will depend on your local government

Getting a marriage license may take a minimum of 2 weeks; 10 days for an announcement, another day for Pre-Marriage Counseling (which is held once a month or every week depending on your municipality), and gathering of documents. Foreigners may take more if they haven’t prepared documents to be submitted to their Embassy.

After getting the marriage license, you need to get married within 120 days.

STEP 2: Civil or Church Wedding?

While gathering your documents and waiting for your marriage license – you will need to choose between a civil wedding or church wedding.

Civil Wedding in the Philippines

Here’s a guide on Civil Wedding Requirements.

Civil Weddings are cheaper than church weddings. The preparations are also easier.

Get a solemnizing officer:

Judge or Mayor
Ship Captain or Airplane chief
Military Commander
Consul-general or Consul or Vice-Consul
Registered Civil Wedding Officiant

You will need to book public chambers of the judge, an open court, or an office. You can also invite a solemnizing officer to your house for the ceremony or any reception e.g., hotel or garden. Solemnizing Officers may offer their services for free or could cost you as low as PHP 200 – 600. However, if invited out it may cost at least PHP 3,000; this depends on the solemnizing officer.

P.S. Make sure they are legit, there are people who pretend to be solemnizing officers, too. Your marriage may be void if you were wed by someone not authorized.

What else do you need:

2 witnesses that are of legal age
The couple

Other Expenses You may consider:

Wedding Rings
Wedding Outfit – a white dress would suffice for women (no need for long gowns) as for men, you can do it with a white polo shirt or long-sleeve or barong
Bride’s Bouquet – this isn’t really required
Make-up – ask a friend or do it yourself
Photographers or Videographers – but you can ask your witnesses to do this for you
Wedding Invitations

Church Wedding

Here’s a guide on Church Wedding in the Philippines.

This is generally for Catholic Weddings. Other churches may have different requirements aside from the Marriage License. It’s quite a long list, so be ready:

Other Requirements You May Need Besides the Marriage License:

Baptismal Certificate
Confirmation Certificate
Certification for Marriage from Barangay, Sitio Chapel Leader
Permit to Marry if outside the Parish
Pre-Nuptial Investigation by the Priest In-Charge
Pre-Cana Seminar
Publication of Marriage Ban for 3 consecutive Sundays
CENOMAR
Confession
Principal Sponsors (at least 2)

A reservation or booking at the Church may cost at least PHP 1,000. You can reserve as early as a year especially if you want to get married in June, on a holiday or a date that ends with the number 8. There are churches that would cost about PHP 30,000 especially the Cathedrals or air-conditioned ones.

Other Things you May Need:

These are important as it is included in the ceremony.

Wedding Rings
Arrhae/Aras
Cord and Veil – you can rent this along with the gown
Candle

Other Expenses for Church Wedding:

Wedding Outfits plus Hair and Make-up – for the bride and groom and the entourage and the parents, this will usually cost at least PHP 5,000 for a set
Bouquet, Flowers, and Decors – of the Bride and the Bridesmaids and flower Girls plus at the church
Church Choir or Singer – you will need to ask permission if the church is okay with an outsider singing or if there is a selection of choir. When I was a maid of honor at a wedding, the church didn’t allow outsiders to sing.
Priests’ Stipend – in case you have invited other priests on your wedding ceremony
Bridal Car and Car for Entourage and Parents
Photographer or Videographer
Wedding Invitations

It will depend on the couple if they want it at the wedding or not. You can make it simple or extravagant depending on both of you.

STEP 3: Get Married!

Whether it’s civil or church, say your vows and I do’s in front of the solemnizing officer, pastor, or priest. Don’t forget to have at least 2, witnesses or sponsors, during your wedding day. This will last less than 2 hours; the preparation part is more.

The couple, witnesses, and solemnizing officer will need to sign the Marriage Certificate – 4 copies of it. The staff will take care of the post-processing (e.g. submitting it to the local registrar). They will submit it within 15 days after your wedding.

STEP 4: Wedding Reception

For Filipinos, reception is part of the wedding and planning. You will need to let your visitors or relatives eat. If you want to spend less, then you can dine at the house or at the restaurant after the ceremony. But in case a lot of people know that it’s your wedding day, you will need to budget for food.

Possible Expenses:

Food and Drinks – you can get caterers which will cost of a minimum PHP 250 per head with drinks
Deserts especially the Cake and Wine – a common Filipino Tradition is couple feeding cake to each other and drinking wine
Reception – it could be at your house (this might come without rent, but you’ll have to invite neighbors and sometimes there would be gate crashers), hotels or events spaces (this could cost at least PHP 3,000 for the venue, some hotels have also package deals in where you will have free use of their convention rooms but they’ll handle the catering for about PHP 700 – 2,000 per head)
Decorations – you can also ask the caterers or the hotel if they can do decorations for free or
Wedding Invitation
Program with an MC
Music and Light
Souvenirs
Honeymoon

STEP 5: Get your Marriage Certificate

You can get a copy of your Marriage Certificate 10 working days after your officiant has submitted it at the Local Civil Registrar.

As for your PSA Certificate of Marriage, you will need to wait for 2-3 months to get a PSA Copy. The LCR needs to submit it to the PSA and the PSA will have to register it in their system.

That’s it on our guide on How to Get Married in the Philippines. You could spend at least PHP 10,000 (from preparation to reception) on your wedding or even more than a million! That solely depends on you and your budget. The cost doesn’t really matter; it’s your love and devotion to each other. Good luck and may you have a blessed marriage!

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