Planning a wedding in the Philippines in 2024? It’s important to know about the different documents you’ll need and how much they cost. Whether you’re having a church or civil wedding, here’s a simple guide to help you understand and budget for these expenses.
1.NSO Birth Certificates
Cost: Php 365
Details: Both the bride and groom need birth certificates from NSO. You can easily get these online through the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) website.
2. Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR)
Cost: Php 420
Details: This certificate, also available online via the PSA website. Basically, it’s documentary proof that neither of you are already married.
3. Community Tax Certificate (Cedula)
Cost: It varies
Details: The cost of a cedula changes depending on how much you earn and the value of your property.
4. Marriage License Form
Cost: Php 150 – Php 350
Details: The cost of this form varies in different cities in the country. Check with your local office for the exact price.
Bride Tips:
Just from personal experience, the first thing we did was get our birth certificates and CENOMARs. We made sure to get a few extra copies, just in case they were needed. This turned out to be a good idea because our church also asked for an original birth certificate, not just the city hall, for the marriage license. Having extra copies really helped us avoid any last-minute stress.
We also left getting our marriage license for last because it’s only good for 120 days after it’s issued. Our wedding was set for early December, so we went to city hall in September to apply. It takes about 10 days to get the license after you apply. During those 10 days, you’re supposed to attend a pre-marriage counseling seminar, which you can also do at city hall. This was our experience in Quezon City, but remember, other cities might have different procedures. It’s always a good idea to check what applies in your area.
1.Baptismal and Confirmation Certificates
Cost: Php 50 – Php 300
Details: The cost depends on your church. These papers show that you were baptized and confirmed.
2. Marriage Banns
Cost: Free to Php 500
Details: This is a notice at the church about your wedding. Different churches charge different amounts.
3. Canonical Interview and Pre-Cana Seminar
Cost: It changes
Details: These are meetings and classes you take at the church before getting married. The cost can vary anywhere from free to Php 100. It’s best to check with your parish for the exact amount.
Additional Church-Specific Requirements:
1. Confession: This is free and necessary prior to your wedding.
2. List of Sponsors and Entourage Members: Some churches charge for each person you include in your wedding. The fee could vary anywhere from free to Php 200 per sponsor (or more).
Bride Tips:
In our experience, getting the church documents was relatively straightforward, especially the baptismal and confirmation certificates. It’s important to ask for these specifically for marriage purposes. We managed to get ours within a week. For the marriage banns, it’s a good idea to visit your church office at least three months before your wedding. This timeframe allows for all the necessary steps: registration, counseling, canonical interviews, and the publication of the banns.
We were also getting married in a church different from where we were members, so we needed an extra certificate for that. This certificate allowed us to marry in a different parish. Getting this took us an additional week, so it’s something to keep in mind if you’re planning a wedding in a church that’s not within your parish’s scope.
1. Pre-marriage Seminar Certificate: Free in most cases, but some municipalities may charge a small fee.
2. Marriage License Fee: This payment will be collected upon claiming your marriage license and is separate from the marriage license form fees. Typically, it will cost you Php 100.
3. Affidavit of Parental Consent/Advice: If you’re under 25, you need this. It’s a paper signed by your parents and costs a notary fee to get stamped.
4. Barangay Certificate: This shows where you live and you get it from your local barangay office for a small fee (usually less than Php 100).
5. 1×1 and 2×2 Pictures: It’s best to have these on hand in case you get asked for them.
Bride Tips:
To save time, we planned to complete multiple tasks in a single day whenever possible. For instance, since our parish was close to the barangay hall, we decided to request our church documents and then immediately head to the hall for our cedula and barangay certificate. On another day, we went to Quezon City Hall to apply for our marriage license and attend the pre-marriage counseling session. To make this approach work, it’s important to check your local municipality’s schedule for these requirements. This way, you can efficiently manage tasks like applying for the marriage license and attending the counseling seminar in one visit, effectively hitting two birds with one stone.
In hindsight, the cost of wedding documents in the Philippines can be different depending on what you need and where you are. This guide gives you an idea of what to expect so you can plan your budget. Remember, it might cost a bit to get all these papers, but they’re all part of getting ready for your special day!
Note: Please note that the fees mentioned in this guide are as of January 2024. However, costs can vary and may change over time. It’s always best to check with your local municipality and parish for the most current and exact costs related to your wedding documents.