A Milestone for Equality: The EU’s Decision on Same-Sex Marriage Recognition

Photo Credit: @lchacal

On 25 November 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued a landmark ruling: all member states of the European Union must recognise same-sex marriages lawfully concluded in any other member state.

The decision came after a case involving a same-sex couple from Poland married in Germany in 2018. When they returned to Poland, their marriage certificate was refused recognition solely because Polish law did not allow same-sex unions. The CJEU declared that such refusal violates fundamental EU provisions — notably the right to freedom of movement and the right to respect for private and family life.

Importantly, while this ruling does not force every EU country to legalise same-sex marriage domestically, it does require them to recognise — and grant the same rights to — legally married same-sex couples from elsewhere in the bloc, without “extra hoops” or discrimination.

Why This Ruling Matters — Especially for Couples Considering a Legal Ceremony in Portugal

As a celebrant based in Portugal, this decision resonates deeply with me — and importantly, with countless couples across Europe.

• For many LGBTQ+ couples, love and life are increasingly borderless: career, family, relocation, or simply the desire to build a shared life in another country. This ruling guards those possibilities.

• If a same-sex couple married elsewhere in the EU decides to move to or live in an EU country where same-sex marriage is not—or not yet—criminalised, their union still must be recognised. That brings crucial rights: civil status, residence, inheritance, taxes, social benefits, parental and family rights, and more.

• For couples who marry in a “pro-equality” country (like Portugal), this offers broader security — their marriage will carry weight across all 27 member-states.

This is fantastic news! It means the EU has reaffirmed that same-sex marriages, once lawfully formed anywhere in the bloc, deserve dignity and legal validity everywhere.

Portugal — A Place Where Love is Already Free to Flourish

Portugal has long been a place of welcome and acceptance. Since 2010, same-sex couples have had the legal right to marry. This means:

• Portuguese couples — or couples wishing to marry in Portugal — enjoy full recognition of their union under national law.

• With the new EU ruling, a marriage celebrated here automatically carries recognition throughout the European Union, adding an extra layer of mobility and legal reassurance for couples who travel, relocate, or have roots elsewhere in Europe.

• Be it a ceremony in Lisbon’s iconic old town, a seaside celebration in Cascais, or a peaceful countryside wedding in Mafra, your union will be honoured, respected, and valid.

As a celebrant, I feel privileged to craft ceremonies that honour each couple’s unique story, personality, and love. If you're considering getting legally married in Portugal and want to combine it with a celebrant led symbolic ceremony, here is a blog post which may help you with that decision - https://www.celebrantportugal.pt/post/combining-a-legal-and-symbolic-ceremony-in-portugal-is-it-the-right-choice-for-your-wedding

A Message to All Couples: Your Love Is Valid, Celebrated — And Protected

This new ruling is more than just a legal milestone: it’s a reaffirmation that love — in all its forms — deserves recognition, respect, and celebration.

To every couple looking toward the future: know that your marriage is valid beyond borders.

As your celebrant, I am here — to honour your story, your journey, your love. And now, more than ever, that love has the protection and dignity of all of Europe behind it.

I'd love to hear from you if you're looking for a celebrant in the Cascais, Lisbon and Mafra areas of Portugal, whether that's for a Symbolic only ceremony or a Legal and Symbolic ceremony combined.

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