Marriage in the Philippines is not merely a contract but an "inviolable social institution," as mandated by the 1987 Constitution and governed primarily by Executive Order No. 209, otherwise known as the Family Code of the Philippines. A civil wedding is a secular marriage ceremony officiated by a government official rather than a religious leader.

The following guide outlines the substantive and procedural requirements for contracting a valid civil marriage under Philippine law.

I. Essential and Formal Requisites

Under Article 2 of the Family Code, no marriage shall be valid unless these requisites are present:

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.

Formal Requisites

Authority of the Solemnizing Officer: The marriage must be performed by a person legally authorized to do so.
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 at least two witnesses of legal age.

II. Step-By-Step Procedure

Step 1: Application for the Marriage License

The parties must apply for a marriage license at the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) of the city or municipality where either the male or female habitually resides.

Standard Document Requirements:

PSA Birth Certificate: Original and photocopies of the Birth Certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR): Issued by the PSA, certifying that neither party is currently married.
Valid IDs and Community Tax Certificates (Cedula): For identification and residency verification.
1x1 or 2x2 ID Photos: As required by the specific LCR.

Step 2: Parental Consent or Advice

Depending on the age of the parties, additional documents are required:

Ages 18 to 21: Parental Consent is required. The father, mother, or guardian must give written consent. Without this, the marriage is voidable.
Ages 22 to 25: Parental Advice is required. The parties must seek the advice of their parents. If the parents refuse to give advice or if the advice is unfavorable, the marriage license shall not be issued until three months after the publication of the application.

Step 3: Pre-Marriage Counseling and Seminar

Under the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act, applicants must attend a Pre-Marriage Counseling (PMC) seminar, usually conducted by the local Health Office or Social Welfare Department. A certificate of attendance is a prerequisite for the issuance of the license.

Step 4: The 10-Day Posting Period

Upon filing the application, the LCR will post a notice of the application for ten consecutive days. This is intended to allow any person to provide information regarding any legal impediment to the marriage. The license is issued only after this period expires.

Validity: Once issued, the marriage license is valid for 120 days and can be used anywhere in the Philippines.

Step 5: The Wedding Ceremony

The parties must schedule the ceremony with an authorized solemnizing officer. In a civil context, these include:

Any incumbent member of the Judiciary (within their court's jurisdiction).
Mayors of cities and municipalities.
Ship captains, airplane chiefs, or military commanders (under limited, articulo mortis circumstances).

III. Special Cases and Exemptions

Marriage of Exceptional Character (Article 34)

A marriage license is not required if the man and woman have lived together as husband and wife for at least five years without any legal impediment to marry each other. The parties must execute an affidavit to this effect, and the solemnizing officer must attest to having verified their qualifications.

Foreigners Marrying in the Philippines

Foreign nationals must provide a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage issued by their respective diplomatic or consular officials in the Philippines. This document confirms that the foreigner is legally free to marry under their home country's laws.

IV. Post-Ceremony: Registration

After the ceremony, the Marriage Certificate must be signed by the couple, the witnesses, and the solemnizing officer. The officer is then responsible for transmitting the document to the Local Civil Registrar within 15 days (or 30 days for marriages in remote areas). The LCR will then forward the record to the PSA for official indexing.