Your Guide to Getting Married in Italy

Destination Weddings, Planning & Advice

If you’re thinking about getting married in Italy, we salute your good taste – it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. Organising your special day abroad comes with its own unique challenges, so we’re here to give you all the best advice, with the aid of experts from Crowne Plaza Rome and Weddings in Tuscany by Chiara Sernesi.

Top Italian Wedding Locations

As you would at home, location would be your first decision. This is usually somewhat easier if you’re staying in Ireland – after all, most people will choose their home town, or the place where most of their friends and family live, etc. With a wedding abroad, you literally have the entire country at your disposal… what to do?

Your initial online foray into venues and real weddings will reveal hundreds of locations, each one more beautiful than the next. Vineyards, ruins, luxury hotels, the lakes… it’s easy to start wanting at least five weddings to cover them all. Or at least a tour of Italy for your honeymoon!

We asked Mr Matteo Rube, Restaurant Manager at Crowne Plaza Rome, how best to decide on the location. He suggests a practical approach: “to start off on the right foot, one must begin with the ideal menu, which in turns leads us to the location. If you’re a fish lover, then your best interest would be to take into account one of the many beautiful coastal towns in Italy. On the other hand, if you have a taste for meat, take into consideration our country cities and mountain towns. If you decide to hold the wedding banquet in Rome or any other major city centre, pay due attention to the laws and regulations concerning traffic flow and parking, as many cities limit access to the historical center (ZTL in Italian).One final but very important suggestion is to choose the classic traditional menu of the region you do end up deciding on. Would you ever order sushi in Rome over tasteful Carbonara pasta?”

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Image courtesy of Weddings in Tuscany by Chiara Sernesi

Chiara Sernesi from Weddings in Tuscany says it’s best to pick your wedding venue first – not your wedding date: “brides tend to lock down a date before anything else, but I recommend picking the dream venue first. Locking yourself down to a set date will likely limit your venue options, as there are many other brides out there booking weddings too. I suggest leaving a flexible window of opportunity — a few weeks to a month.”

Best Time to Get Married in Italy

The Italian wedding season runs from roughly April until October, but of course gorgeous venues are available all year round. Winter isn’t severe over there, in fact in the most popular places the average temperatures rarely dip below zero. Much like everywhere else though, brides do like their sunshine, and that’s pretty much guaranteed from spring to autumn. For comfortable temperatures without sunburn, April, May, September and October are best. June, July and August are the months when Italians themselves take holidays – with August being the most popular month for this – so if you’re not keen on crowds, you may consider ruling out July and August.

Do I Need a Planner for my Italian Wedding?

Chiara Sernesi from Weddings in Tuscany says there’s nothing like having a professional planner help you with all the details: “not long ago, the idea of hiring a wedding planner was a luxury – today, especially for a wedding abroad, it’s essential if you want a flawless day. It’s not a marketing ploy – many brides have found that it’s saved them money, stress, time and legal issues due to language difficulties. A locally based coordinator has access to vendors at the best prices that may not be available to private people.

In the last few years, countless wedding planning agencies started up in Italy, unfortunately ran by people who believe you don’t need any special skills to do it. This, of course, is regrettable, because experience is key. Look for professionals who have already organised numerous events, and choose ones who truly pay attention to your plans, and not the ones who cost the least. Customised weddings based on the couple’s personality require attention to details, design and creativity, time and care. Once you’ve found the right planner, trust them to do their job – your common goal is to create the best wedding possible.”

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Image courtesy of Weddings in Tuscany by Chiara Sernesi

The Legal Side of Getting Married in Italy

There are two basic options – you can have a legal ceremony in Ireland, then jet away to Italy for the reception, and even a second ceremony which will be symbolic and can be personalised in any way you please. Or, you can have the ceremony in Italy, but you must ensure what you choose will in fact be legally binding. For this, it’s best to verify with an Irish embassy or consulate of the region you’re interested in. The laws change without notice, so it’s best not to trust solely in what you read online, as it may be out of date. We cannot stress enough how important it is to contact the authorities before you proceed.

On this subject, Matteo from Crowne Plaza Rome says, “regretfully, many regions in Italy don’t have a grasp on the English language and believe me, when one has to plan a wedding, fluid communication is a must. Thus, I recommend you choose one of the following regions: Piemonte, Veneto, Toscana, or Lazio. And if you’re looking for a classic church ceremony, I recommend you hold an interview with the priest or church authority two or three times before you arrive for your wedding, to ensure everything goes precisely to plan. Your wedding planner can be of great help here.”

Chiara says, “Irish couples are usually concerned about the Catholic part of the wedding, because they attach great importance to the ceremony. Brides often ask us for suggestions about the dress code in the church, as they don’t want to be unsuitably dressed out of respect. Don’t be afraid to ask all the questions so you can be as prepared as possible.”

If you want to arrange a legally binding religious ceremony in Italy, you’ll need to start working on the necessary documents as early as possible, even up to a year in advance. You’ll need a Certificate of Freedom to Marry (Nulla Osta), and you may have to involve your local bishop in helping you obtain one. You’ll also need to present passports, and apply for a marriage licence at least four months prior to the wedding date.

The legalities are one of many reasons why a wedding planner will be of great help. Not only will they clarify all the timings and intricacies, but they’ll also make sure you’re informed of any changes in the law that may happen during your wedding planning.

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Image courtesy of Weddings in Tuscany by Chiara Sernesi

What about the Décor, Flowers, Favours, etc?

One of the reasons weddings abroad are easier on the budget is the smarter planning – for example, if you have certain décor in mind, it would be very impractical to lug it with you on planes, trains and automobiles. Your chief concern should be getting your wedding dress to its destination in one piece – not worrying about favours, candle holders, centrepieces and all the other bits you’d normally be buying if you were staying at home.

Of course, you can purchase everything and have it shipped over, but it may be an unnecessary expense. Your other option is to arrive at your destination in advance of the wedding, and make the arrangements at the last minute. Or, by far the easiest – leave it to your wedding planner, who already has a huge range of solutions at his or her disposal.

The Real Cost of an Overseas Wedding

As with a wedding at home, your budget abroad needs just as much consideration. Chiara says: “being realistic about your budget is essential. Don’t agree on an amount with your fiancé, only to secretly believe everything will be fine if you go over. When you’re realistic, you’ll have a much better chance of selecting the best possible vendors your money can buy, because your planner will act accordingly to the budget you give them, working within your set limits.”

Finally, some useful links for further reading:

Irish citizens’ information on getting married abroad

Irish embassies and consulates in Italy

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Main image courtesy of Weddings in Tuscany by Chiara Sernesi