A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2003 to February 2003 to investigate the magnitude and determinants of utilization and demand for pre-marital voluntary HIV testing and to describe the VCT schemes preferred by newly marrying individuals. A total of 640 individuals (320 males and 320 females) who attended the civil marriage in Addis-Ababa municipality were enrolled in the study. Fifty five percent of study subjects reported having had pre-marital HIV testing and among those who did not have pre-marital HIV testing (284), 63.4% of them claimed to wish to have testing, but had not had it for some reason (unmet need group). The main reason given by the unmet need group was thinking that he/she feels healthy. Most couples had sexual relations but consistent condom use was reported by only 15.5% of them. Being of Gurage ethnicity, having been introduced more than five years back and frank discussion between couples on HIV/ VCT were seen to be predictors of pre-marital HIV testing in both males and females. The demand for pre-marital VCT was significantly (positively) associated with age 35 and above, and free discussion between couples on HIV/ VCT. The agreement level with in pairs for utilization as well as demand of pre-marital HIV testing was good, while that of future plan for testing among the non-tested ones was almost zero. Confidential testing, integrated VCT services, medical doctors as counselors and a face-to-face method of hearing results were the VCT schemes preferred by most respondents. Advocacy on pre-marital VCT, promotion of free discussion between couples on STD/ HIV, improving people’s awareness of self-perceived risk, consistent condom use before deciding for marriage and integrated VCT sites are recommended.