Celebrating a marriage in Geneva

Opening hours: 8h30 to 11h45 and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

A marriage celebration is preceded by the preparatory procedure. This procedure can take several weeks or several months (in particular if foreign documents need to be legalised). Consequently, fiancés are advised not to set a date for the wedding celebration before the preparatory procedure is complete. The registry office declines all liability for costs resulting from the cancellation or postponement of the celebration.

When can the marriage be celebrated?

Once the preparatory procedure is complete, the civil registry office notifies the fiancés of the legal deadlines for celebration their marriage.

The marriage can be celebrated no earlier than 10 days and no later than 3 months after notification that the preparatory procedure is complete.

The celebration cannot be held on Sundays or public holidays.

If the marriage is registered in the City of Geneva, the celebration can be held Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 11.15 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. The following Saturday mornings, from 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. are reserved for natives of Geneva or persons resident in Geneva.

2024

• 13 January 
• 10 February       
• 9 March    
• 20 April     
• 4 May           
• 8 June   
• 15 June            
• 6 July               
• 24 August               
• 14 September
• 21 September       
• 12 October              
• 9 November           
• 7 December

What is the fee? 

• CHF 125.- for the celebration during opening hours or CHF 650 for a celebration in a specific venue (see paragraph below);
• CHF 50.- per witness for the provision of witnesses;
• CHF 50.- for the marriage certificate + a case;
• CHF 30.- for the marriage deed.

Where can the marriage be celebrated?

The marriage is celebrated in the banquet hall in the district of the civil registry office chosen. In the City of Geneva, this is located in the former town hall of the municipality of les Eaux-Vives, which now houses the civil registry office. The married couple can also apply to hold the celebration in one of our two specific celebration venues made available by the City of Geneva. An Internet connection (WiFi or cable) is, in principle, available in the banquet hall.

If it is held in a different Swiss municipality from that where the preparatory procedure was completed, an authorisation to celebrate the marriage will be issued (fee: CHF 30).

If it is held abroad, a certificate of the legal capacity to marry will be issued for persons of Swiss nationality (fee: CHF 30).

What to do?

The ceremony is public. The fiancés must be accompanied by two adult witnesses who are capable of discernment. If they so desire, they can exchange rings.

Which documents are received?

At the end of the ceremony, and on request, the couple receives:

• a family certificate (only provided for spouses resident in Switzerland);
• a marriage deed.