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Interpreting during a wedding with a civil ceremony

Denisa and Davide’s wedding in Torre di Palme

Denisa and Davide celebrated their union with a legally valid civil ceremony in Italian and English in the stunning ancient village of Torre di Palme, surveying the Adriatic coastline of the Marche region.

Background

Denisa was born in Poland and Davide in Italy, but they fell in love in English. The civil ceremony was to be held in Italian by the Wedding Registrar of the local Italian municipality, but without an official interpreter, the ceremony would have no legal validity. The couple contacted me ahead of time so that they could carefully choose the voice that would unite them in matrimony.

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Collaboration

We agreed all of the details together prior to the ceremony: the order of service, legal formalities, which sections to be translated and what would remain private. Denisa and Davide chose not to translate their vows, creating an intimate moment just for the two of them.
During the ceremony, I stood alongside the Wedding Registrar as a second officiant, translating the wording from the civil code immediately after it was stated in Italian, employing a consecutive-interpreting method. I checked the timings for exchanging the rings and, together with the Registrar, I observed the legal documentation and swore an official oath to ensure the legal validity of the union.
As a member of the Italian Association of Translators and Interpreters, I perform my interpreting services in accordance with the Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct and I am authorised to swear an oath declaring the faithful translation of the ceremony, ensuring that not a single word is improvised or misinterpreted.

The outcome

Denisa and Davide were able to choose the voice that would join them in matrimony before their big day, avoiding anything that might undermine the legal validity of the ceremony or having to trust the municipal authority with the choice of their interpreter.

By getting in touch with me ahead of time, they were able to tell me their story and I became a familiar figure for the couple, allowing them to get to know the person who would celebrate their union in English, and avoiding any unwanted surprises.

What the couple had to say…

“I had the pleasure of hiring Valentina for my wedding in Italy. She was nothing short of amazing throughout the entire process. Her professionalism shone through from our initial interactions to the big day. What stood out the most was her exceptional ability to communicate. Not only was she incredibly fast in her translations, but she was also a breeze to coordinate with. She played a crucial role in making my wedding a memorable event where everyone felt understood and included, regardless of language barriers. She is gentle, polite and her ease of communication makes any event run smoothly. I wholeheartedly recommend her for any translation or interpreting needs.”
Denisa and Davide, married in Marche