Church Weddings in Austria
More than 85% of people in Austria are Catholic, with most of the others members of various Protestant Churches.
It is possible to have a church wedding in a number of religions, but these ceremonies have no legal validity, you must have a civil wedding beforehand, either in Austria or before you travel.
Other religions are poorly represented and it will be difficult to find a church in Austria.
Roman Catholic Weddings
For general details about the procedures and paperwork for organising a Catholic wedding in a foreign country,see here.
To get married in a Roman Catholic church in Austria you must already have been married in a civil ceremony. This can have taken place in your home country, in Austria on a prior date or can take place earlier on the same day as the church wedding.
If you are having your civil ceremony in Austria, all the requirements for that apply for civil weddings must be met, in addition to those which specifically relate to the religious ceremony.
Getting Started
You will need to contact the parish priest at the church in Austria where you plan to get married well before you start making arrangements at home, both to ascertain that he will consent to your marriage in his church and to enquire about available dates.
You should contact your local priest at least 6 months before the date of your wedding in order to allow adequate time to meet all requirements and for completion of all church paperwork.
Finding Roman Catholic Churches in Austria
A very useful link is the English-Speaking Catholic Community in Vienna, who hold services in the Votive Church in Vienna's 9th district. This is an historic and very beautiful twin-spired church.
The main areas of interest to visitors are in the Dioceses below. You will need to contact them in German.
| Archdiocese of Wien (Vienna) Wollzeile 2, A-1010 Wien, Oesterreich Tel: +43 1 515 52 3229 Diocese of Innsbruck
| Archdiocese of Salzburg Postfach 62, A-5010 Salzburg, Oesterreich Tel: +43 662 804 7101 Diocese of Linz
|
Protestant Weddings
With its predominantly Catholic, population it is not always easy to find churches of other faiths in Austria. The major population centres are your best chance - there are Protestant churches in most larger towns.
Because Protestant weddings have no legal standing in Austria, you must have a civil wedding, either in Austria or before you travel, before your religious one can take place.
Protestant Churches in Austria
The following are some English speaking congregations in Austria. Not all will perform weddings, but they may be able to assist with finding a church that will.
The Anglican/Episcopal Church in Vienna
Christ Church Vienna
Jauresgasse 17-19
A-1030 Vienna
United Methodist Church in Vienna
Sechshauser Strasse 56
A-1150 Vienna
Tel: +43 1 895 8175
Jewish Weddings in Austria
The Jewish population of Austria is small and you will only find Synagogues in the larger cities. As Jewish weddings have no legal standing in Austria, you must have a civil wedding, either in Austria or before you travel, before your religious one can take place.
Synagogues in Austria
Jewish Community for Tyrol and Vorarlberg - Innsbruck
Sillgasse 15
A-6020 Innsbruck
Tel: +43 512 586 892
Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Salzburg
Lasserstraße 8, 5020 Salzburg
Tel: +43 662 872 228
Synagoge der Israelitischen Kultusgemeinde Linz (Liberal)
A-4020 Linz, Bethlehemstrasse 26
Tel: +43 732 779 805