In the Philippines, marriage is not merely a contract but an inviolable social institution. While many opt for religious ceremonies, a civil wedding is a legally binding alternative presided over by a government official. Governed primarily by Executive Order No. 209, otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines, specific legal requirements and procedural steps must be strictly followed to ensure the validity of the union.

I. Essential and Formal Requisites

For a civil marriage to be valid, the following requisites must be met. The absence of any essential requisite renders the marriage void ab initio (void from the beginning), while defects in formal requisites may make the marriage voidable.

1. Essential Requisites

Legal Capacity: The contracting parties must be a male and a female, at least 18 years of age.
Consent: Freely given in the presence of the solemnizing officer.

2. Formal Requisites

Authority of the Solemnizing Officer: Civil weddings can be officiated by:
- Any incumbent member of the judiciary within their court’s jurisdiction (e.g., Municipal Trial Court or Regional Trial Court judges).
- Mayors of cities or municipalities.
- Consuls-general, consuls, or vice-consuls (for Filipino citizens abroad).
A Valid Marriage License: Except in specific cases (e.g., marriages of exceptional character), a license is mandatory.
Marriage Ceremony: The appearance of the contracting parties before the solemnizing officer and their personal declaration that they take each other as husband and wife in the presence of not less than two witnesses of legal age.

II. Documentary Requirements

The primary step in a civil wedding is applying for a Marriage License at the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) of the city or municipality where either party habitually resides.

Basic Documents

PSA Birth Certificate: Original and photocopies of the Birth Certificates of both parties issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR): A PSA-issued document certifying that neither party has a prior active marriage.
Valid IDs: Government-issued identification showing residency and identity.
Community Tax Certificate (Cedula): For the current year.
Passport-sized Photos: Usually 2x2 white background.

Conditional Requirements

Parental Consent (Ages 18–21): An affidavit signed by the father, mother, or guardian.
Parental Advice (Ages 22–25): A written document stating that parents have been informed. Failure to obtain advice does not invalidate the marriage but may delay the license issuance.
Pre-Marriage Counseling Certificate: Issued by the local health office or a government-accredited counselor.
Death Certificate of Deceased Spouse: If either party is a widow/widower.
Judicial Decree of Absolute Nullity or Annulment: If the previous marriage was legally dissolved.
Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage: For foreign nationals, a certificate issued by their respective diplomatic or consular officials.

III. The Procedure

Step 1: Application for Marriage License

Both parties must personally appear at the LCR. Submit all required documents and pay the necessary fees.

Step 2: The 10-Day Posting Period

Upon filing, a notice of the application is posted on a bulletin board outside the LCR for ten (10) consecutive days. This period allows the public to raise any legal impediments to the union. The license is issued on the 11th day if no objections are filed.

Note: The Marriage License is valid for 120 days from the date of issue and can be used anywhere in the Philippines.

Step 3: Scheduling the Ceremony

Coordinate with the Office of the Mayor or the Clerk of Court. If choosing a judge, the pairing is often done through a raffle system in multi-sala courts to prevent "forum shopping" for specific judges.

Step 4: The Wedding Ceremony

On the scheduled date, the parties, the witnesses (at least two), and the solemnizing officer convene. While no specific religious rite is required, the law dictates that the parties must declare their intent to marry. The Marriage Certificate is then signed by the couple, the witnesses, and the officiant.

Step 5: Registration

The solemnizing officer or their staff is responsible for transmitting the signed Marriage Certificate to the LCR where the wedding took place. The LCR will then endorse the document to the PSA for official recording.

IV. Exemptions from the License Requirement

Under Chapter 2 of the Family Code, certain marriages do not require a license:

Art. 34 (Cohabitation): Man and woman who have lived together as husband and wife for at least five (5) years without any legal impediment to marry. They must execute an affidavit to this effect.
Art. 27 (Marriages in Articulo Mortis): When one or both parties are at the point of death.
Art. 28 (Remote Locations): If there are no means of transportation to enable the parties to appear before the local civil registrar.

V. Legal Effects

Once the civil wedding is registered, the parties are legally bound under the Property Relations chosen (typically Absolute Community of Property unless a pre-nuptial agreement was signed). The marriage creates a change in civil status, affecting taxation, insurance beneficiaries, and succession rights under the Civil Code.