Types of Weddings: Civil, Religious, Symbolic and More

Not all weddings are the same, and choosing the right type defines everything else: the venue, the tone, the guests and even the budget. Beyond the legal side, each format tells a different story. In this guide we explain the differences between civil, religious and symbolic weddings, review other increasingly popular formats and give you keys to choose the one that best fits you.

Civil wedding

The civil wedding is the one that grants legal validity to the union before the State. It is the most flexible in place and time, has no religious component and applies to couples of different or the same sex. If you want the detail of requirements, documents and costs, we cover it in depth in our guide to civil marriage in Colombia.

Religious wedding

The religious wedding is celebrated according to the couple's faith, with the Catholic one being the most common in Colombia. It involves requirements specific to each church, like documents and pre-marital courses, and tends to have a more solemn frame. In the Catholic case, it also has civil effects when registered in the civil record, which avoids holding both.

Symbolic wedding

The symbolic wedding has no legal effect: it is a personalized ceremony, with no fixed rules, centered on vows, rituals and emotion. It is ideal for couples who already married civilly and want a celebration their way, or for those seeking a free, creative format, like a beach ceremony at sunset.

Other increasingly popular formats

• Themed wedding: the whole celebration revolves around a concept or era.
• Intimate or micro wedding: few guests, lots of detail and closeness.
• Destination wedding: in a special place that combines ceremony and trip.
• Elopement: the couple marries almost privately, with very few or no guests.