First the preparation process, then three months to say "I do". Here's how to plan your civil marriage in Switzerland, with deadlines, fees and tips for a ceremony at a castle or villa.
You are only legally married in Switzerland after the civil wedding ceremony. It follows a fixed order: first, the civil registry office checks in the preparatory procedure whether you may marry. From the date of the positive decision, you have three months to say "I do", in front of two adult witnesses. The ceremony itself costs 75 francs according to the Federal Fee Ordinance, double that on a Saturday.
The civil wedding ceremony is the marriage conducted before the civil registrar. Only this makes you legally a married couple. A church wedding may only take place afterwards. A symbolic ceremony with a celebrant has no legal effect; it is a ceremony for you and your guests. You can find celebrants for your ceremony among our wedding service providers.
Many couples therefore combine the two: a small civil ceremony during the week, a large celebrant-led or church ceremony on the wedding day. Others want everything in one day and at one location. Both are possible, but the second option needs more lead time.
Since 1 July 2022, marriage in Switzerland has also been open to same-sex couples. A registered partnership can be converted into a marriage upon request.
1. Application to the civil registry office at your place of residence. You apply to the civil registry office at the place of residence of one of the two people. The office will tell you which documents you need for your situation. Those not living in Switzerland go via the Swiss representation abroad or directly to the office that will perform the ceremony.
2. Personal declaration. Both of you appear in person and confirm that the requirements are met: both at least 18 years old and capable of judgement, not closely related, no existing marriage or registered partnership. At this appointment, you also clarify the question of surnames.
3. Completion and appointment. If everything is in order, the office informs you of the positive outcome. From that point, the three-month period begins. The previously customary ten-day waiting period no longer exists since 2020.
4. The ceremony. It is public, usually lasts around 20 minutes, and takes place in the presence of two adult witnesses capable of judgement. You bring the witnesses yourselves, with a passport or identity card.
With foreign documents, step 1 takes considerably longer, because the office must examine them and sometimes have them verified via the Swiss representation. It is worth making initial contact with the office months before your desired date.
You can get married at any civil registry office in Switzerland, not only at your place of residence. The office at your place of residence carries out the preparatory procedure and issues a marriage authorisation for the office of your choice.
The ceremony takes place at the wedding venue of the chosen civil registry district. This does not have to be an office room. Many civil registry offices have additionally designated castles, villas or historic halls as wedding venues. The canton of Solothurn, for example, performs ceremonies in five castles within the canton during the summer months. In Basel-Stadt, external wedding venues are possible with at least ten days' notice.
What is not possible: holding the civil ceremony at any location of your choice, such as in a garden or on an alpine pasture. Outside of designated wedding venues, the office will only perform the ceremony if travelling there would be unreasonable for you, for example due to serious illness. Anyone wishing to marry at a desired location that is not a wedding venue plans a celebrant-led ceremony there and takes care of the legal matters beforehand at the office.
The dream of many couples: saying "I do" in the hall, aperitif in the park, dinner next door. This works if the venue itself is a recognised wedding location. A selection from various regions:
Important for planning: the wedding date is allocated by the civil registry office, not the venue. First clarify with the office on which days ceremonies are performed there, and only then book the venue.
You can find further wedding venues for ceremonies and celebrations here: wedding venues in Switzerland. When making your enquiry, ask directly whether the venue is a recognised wedding location or offers celebrant-led ceremonies.
| Timing | What | Note |
|---|---|---|
| up to 12 months beforehand | Book desired date with the civil registry office | Many offices accept bookings no earlier than 12 months in advance (e.g. Solothurn, Basel-Stadt) |
| from 12 months beforehand | Enquire about venue and service providers | Secure the wedding date first, then the venue |
| approx. 3 months beforehand | Start the preparatory procedure | The outcome must not be more than three months before the ceremony |
| earlier for foreign documents | Contact the office | Verification can take weeks to months |
| Wedding day | Civil ceremony, followed by church or celebrant-led ceremony | The church ceremony may not take place before the civil one |
Fridays and Saturdays in summer are the first to be fully booked at the offices. Those who are flexible will find it easier to get an appointment during the week or in winter. You can find everything else about planning, from the venue to the photographer, in our Getting Married section.
The fees are regulated by the federal government in the Ordinance on Fees in Civil Status Matters. The most important items:
| Service | Fee in francs |
|---|---|
| Preparatory procedure, both declarations at the responsible office | 150 |
| Preparatory procedure, only one declaration there | 125 |
| Wedding ceremony (base fee) | 75 |
| Surcharge for Saturday, Sunday, public holiday or between 6pm and 7am | plus 100% |
| Surcharge for ceremony outside the regular wedding venue | 50 |
| Surcharge for ceremony in a foreign language without an interpreter | 50 |
| Marriage authorisation for another office | 30 |
Also budget for costs for documents and extracts. Foreign documents incur higher verification costs. The surcharges may vary slightly depending on the canton; the binding invoice is issued by the office. The rental of a venue that is also a wedding location comes on top of this separately.
The fees may rise: in June 2026, the Federal Council sent a revision of the Fee Ordinance out for consultation, because current rates cover less than half of the offices' costs. The figures above apply until the new ordinance comes into force. Anyone marrying in 2027 should ask the office about the current rate.
In principle, both partners keep their previous surname. However, you can choose one of your birth names as your shared family name. You may use a hyphenated double name (alliance name) in everyday life and on your ID, but it is not entered in the civil status register. Citizenship does not change through marriage. You submit the name declaration during the preparatory procedure.
Swiss Civil Code Art. 97 to 102; Ordinance on Fees in Civil Status Matters (ZStGV); Federal Office of Justice, Revision of the ZStGV (June 2026); civil registry offices of the cantons of Basel-Stadt, Solothurn and Aargau. As of October 2026.
Wedding couples specifically search for places where the ceremony and the celebration fit together. State in your listing which civil registry office performs ceremonies there and on which days. 0% commission.
Create listingYou are only legally married in Switzerland after the civil wedding. It follows a fixed order: first, the civil registry office checks in a preparatory procedure whether you are permitted to marry. From the moment of the positive decision, you have three months to say "I do", before two witnesses of legal age. The wedding ceremony itself costs 75 francs according to the Federal Fee Ordinance, double on a Saturday.
The civil wedding is the marriage ceremony conducted before the civil registrar. Only this makes you a legally married couple. A religious wedding may only take place afterwards. An independent ceremony with a celebrant has no legal effect; it is a ceremony for you and your guests. You can find celebrants for your ceremony among our wedding service providers.
Many couples therefore combine the two: a small civil wedding during the week, a large independent or religious ceremony on the wedding day. Others want everything on one day and in one place. Both are possible, but the second option requires more lead time.
Since 1 July 2022, marriage in Switzerland has also been open to same-sex couples. A registered partnership can be converted into a marriage on request.
The civil wedding follows a fixed order. Here's how it works:
You contact the civil registry office at the place of residence of one of the two people. Those not living in Switzerland go through the Swiss representation abroad or directly to the office conducting the wedding.
Both of you appear in person and confirm that the requirements are met.
If everything is in order, the office informs you of the positive outcome. From then on, you have three months to hold the wedding. The former ten-day waiting period no longer exists since 2020.
The wedding is public, usually lasts around 20 minutes, and takes place in the presence of two witnesses of legal age with capacity to judge.
You can get married at any civil registry office in Switzerland, not just at your place of residence. The office at your place of residence carries out the preparatory procedure and issues a marriage authorisation for the office of your choice.
The wedding is held at the wedding venue of the chosen civil registry district. This doesn't have to be an office room. Many civil registry offices have additionally designated castles, villas or historic halls as wedding venues. The canton of Solothurn, for example, holds weddings in five castles within the canton during the summer months. In Basel-Stadt, external wedding locations are possible with at least ten days' notice.
What isn't possible: holding the civil wedding at any location of your choosing, such as in a garden or on an alpine pasture. Outside the designated wedding venues, the office will only conduct a wedding if travelling there is unreasonable for you, for example due to serious illness. Anyone wanting to marry at a desired location that is not an official wedding venue should plan an independent ceremony there and complete the legal formalities beforehand at the office.
The dream of many couples: saying "I do" in the hall, aperitif in the park, dinner next door. This works if the venue itself is a recognised wedding venue. The wedding date is always allocated by the civil registry office, not the venue. So first clarify with the office on which days weddings are held there, and only then book the venue.
A selection of official wedding venues from various regions.
The ballroom has been an official wedding venue of the town of Illnau-Effretikon since 2023. Industrial charm for couples who like things on a larger scale.
In the greenhouse, the Bülach civil registry district conducts weddings, surrounded by plants and blossoms.
Official wedding venue of the Regional Civil Registry Office of Lenzburg, suitable for smaller wedding parties of up to 50 people.
Civil weddings have been held at the Classic Center Schweiz since 2021. Celebrations take place among vintage cars in the old factory hall.
In the Mirror Hall, the Arlesheim civil registry office conducts weddings once a month. After saying "I do", you head to the castle garden, where celebrations can be held with up to 200 guests.
Four wedding venues under one roof, from the Pfyfferstube for 15 people to the Klösterli for 120.
Prunkstube for 10 and Rittersaal for 50 guests, ideal for a small, festive wedding.
Its own wedding room for up to 30 guests. The celebration stays right there in the same building.
External wedding venue of the canton of Bern, right in the middle of Lake Biel.
You can find more wedding venues for the ceremony and celebration here: wedding venues in Switzerland. When making your enquiry, ask directly whether the venue is a recognised wedding venue or offers independent ceremonies.
| Timing | What | Note |
|---|---|---|
| up to 12 months beforehand | Book desired date with the civil registry office | Many offices accept bookings at the earliest 12 months in advance (e.g. Solothurn, Basel-Stadt) |
| from 12 months beforehand | Enquire about venue and service providers | Secure the wedding date first, then the venue |
| approx. 3 months beforehand | Start the preparatory procedure | The completion must not be more than three months before the wedding |
| earlier with foreign documents | Contact the office | Verification can take weeks to months |
| Wedding day | Civil wedding, followed by religious or independent ceremony | The religious wedding may not take place before the civil one |
Fridays and Saturdays in summer are the first to be fully booked at the offices. Those who are flexible will find it easier to get an appointment during the week or in winter. For everything else about planning, from venue to photographer, see our Getting Married section.
Fees are regulated by the federal government in the Ordinance on Fees in Civil Status Matters. The main items:
| Service | Fee in francs |
|---|---|
| Preparatory procedure, both declarations at the responsible office | 150 |
| Preparatory procedure, only one declaration there | 125 |
| Wedding (basic fee) | 75 |
| Surcharge for Saturday, Sunday, public holiday or between 6pm and 7am | plus 100% |
| Surcharge for wedding outside the ordinary wedding venue | 50 |
| Surcharge for wedding in a foreign language without an interpreter | 50 |
| Marriage authorisation for another office | 30 |
Also budget for costs for documents and extracts. Foreign documents incur higher verification costs. Surcharges may vary somewhat by canton; the office issues the binding invoice. The rental of a venue that is also a wedding venue comes on top of this separately.
Fees could rise: the Federal Council sent a revision of the Fee Ordinance out for consultation in June 2026, because current rates cover less than half the offices' costs. The figures above apply until the new ordinance comes into force. Anyone marrying in 2027 should ask the office about the current rate.
In principle, both partners keep their previous name. However, you can choose one of your birth names as a shared family name. You can use a hyphenated double name (combined name) in everyday life and on your ID, but it is not entered in the civil status register. Citizenship does not change through marriage. You submit the name declaration during the preparatory procedure.
Swiss Civil Code Art. 97 to 102; Ordinance on Fees in Civil Status Matters (ZStGV); Federal Office of Justice, revision of the ZStGV (June 2026); civil registry offices of the cantons of Basel-Stadt, Solothurn and Aargau. As at October 2026.
Couples specifically search for places where saying "I do" and the celebration come together. State in your listing which civil registry office conducts weddings at your venue and on which days. 0% commission.
Create listing