Here you will find some general information and a guideline to get married in Tuscany. Be aware that there may be some differences between different municipalities, therefore make sure to consult the municipality you want to get married in. There are some municipalities that shorten the list of documents required for US citizens weddings, as they are common on their territory. Florence is one of these. Also remember that US citizens cannot get married by a US consul nor in a US consulate in Italy.
The first thing you will need is the Nulla Osta form. You can dowload the Nulla Osta form here. Print it and fill it out, but do not sign it as you need to be in front of an Italian official in an Italian consulate to do so.
If you want to get married in Tuscany, you need to appear at least three days prior to your wedding in front of the Ufficiale di stato civile (civil state official) in the town where you wish to get married, and must bring along two witnesses. There you will make a declaration of your intention to marry. Prior to this moment by law you must have gathered the following documents:
A: The Nulla Osta, notarized by an American Consul in Italy where it is specified that under American laws there is nothing forbidding that marriage. You will be required to have your passports and pay a 30 Euro fee. The signature on the Nulla Osta must then be certified at the Ufficio Legalizzazione at the Prefettura of any Tuscan province. You can find this office in Florence in Via Giacomini 8, open from from 9 am to 11 am Monday through Friday and from 2 pm to 4 pmon Thursdays. Their phone number is +39 055 2783562. You will also need a Marca da Bollo (a tax stamp that you can get in any tobacco shop) for the amount of 14.62 Euros before you got in Prefettura. One stamp per document.
B: The Atto Notorio, the oath of the US citizen sworn in front of two witnesses, notarized by an Italian Consul in the US, certifying there are no legal obligations to be satisfied before the marriage can take place, according to the United States laws the two people are subject to.
In the Atto Notorio must be stated that none of the conditions of Article 116 comma 2 (art. 85, 86, 87 # 1, 2 and 4 as per the Italian Civil Code) apply to those requesting the document. If you do not reside in Italy, the document can be obtained at the nearest Italian Consulate in the US before your trip to Tuscany. Or you can do it in Italy at a Pretura by appointment. That of Florence is in Piazza San Martino 2, Phone+39 055 27461 in room 30. However, you must be aware that you need to have some Italian language knowledge and that the waiting period is usually of several weeks. Before the appointment make sure you have two Marche per atti giudiziari that you can buy in any Tobacco shop. One for the value of 34.08 Euros and the other for the value of 14.62 Euros.
C: Your birth certificates showing the names of both parents.
D: A sworn statement of consent to the marriage signed by the parents or legal guardian of US citizens under 18 y.o.a.
E: There must be proof that any previous marriage is terminated, like a death certificate, divorce decrees, etc. unless it has already been recorded in the Atto Notorio. Take note that any prevous marriage of the bride must have been terminated at least 300 days prior the new wedding date.
Also note that all documents issued outside Italian territory have to be translated into Italian and authenticated at an Italian Consulate. Otherwise they have no legal validity before Italian authorities.
When all the above requirements have been satisfied at the city hall will be posted bans announcing your wedding, and should stay up there for at least two Sundays. However, banns can be waived if neither party is an Italian citizen and neither is residing in Italy.
For your Tuscan wedding to be valid, it must be performed under civil or religious auspices. The civil ceremony is performed at the City Hall and a translator must be present if one of the parties does not understand Italian. The religious ceremony will be under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church or any other congregation authorized to perform public functions.
To have your marriage recognized at home you should get the certificate of marriage at the Prefettura (the same office that authenticates the consul signature) and get an Apostille on the document. This is not mandatory by Italian laws, but could relieve you form some headhackes when you are back home.
More info on this US embassy page on marriage.
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