Planning Your Dream Italian Destination Wedding

In Harper’s Bazaar list of 23 Top Destination Wedding Locations, Italy was top of the list with three spectacular regions to choose from.

Italy is one of the most popular locations for weddings far from home, thanks to its versatile landscape - offering rolling hills, vibrant cities and relaxing beach locations - and the romance that speaks from every hand gesture and golden hour photograph.

At Odicci, Italy is our second home having close ties with this incredible country and working there for many years on unforgettable weddings.

If you’re considering Italy, we’ve curated some of our key points in wedding planning to help you on your journey to say ‘I Do,’ under Tuscan skies.

Season

Depending on where you plan to get married, the weather will change at varying times of the year. In the northern parts of the country, you’ll find cooler weather and increased levels of thunderstorms thanks to the clashing of cool nights and balmy days.

Summers can be hot, up to forty degrees, particularly in the south of the country where it meets the Mediterranean Sea. If you’re getting married in the south in the heat of Summer, it will be worth considering your outfits - make sure you can breathe and are comfortable in what you’re wearing.

Krupa & Darragh / Spoleto, Italy

Location

Italy offers a variety of location options for romantic wedding locations. Cities filled with history and vibrancy like Rome, sprawling hills and vineyards in Tuscany and idyllic beach locations along the Amalfi Coast.

Choosing your dream Italian wedding location is possibly the most challenging part of the process when there are so many places to choose from. If you don’t have somewhere instantly in mind, ask yourself what you picture when you imagine your wedding.

Is it al fresco dining under star-filled skies?

Is it running through cobbled streets hand-in-hand, beginning your story in a city of a thousand stories?

Is it creating a weekend of relaxation for your loved ones?

Finding your intention, what you want for your wedding, will help you find your perfect wedding venue.

Transport

Once you’ve asked yourself what you want - it’s time to think logistically. Before you contact venues, take the time to understand their locations and the physical journey for your guests.

Proximity from an international airport will need to be a factor as, if you need to provide transfers and transportation to move your guests between accommodation and venue, you’ll need to add those costs to your budget.

For example, Rome has access to two airports, Fiumicino and Ciampino, alongside a metro system and strong overground rail links. If you’re hiring a Tuscan vineyard, your guests may need to fly into Pisa and then have an hour-plus drive.

Accommodation

With so many additional logistical considerations, it can make your life easier to find a wedding venue that can also house your wedding guests (or at least, the wedding party). This will make any transfers much smoother and will be beneficial if you’re having a wedding in the countryside where accommodation can be sparse.

Catering

Italy is famous for its food and is one reason it makes such a popular wedding location.

Understanding Italian cuisine is essential, and there are elements you should understand from your caterer.

Do their costs include furniture (tables and chairs), linen and glassware?
Does your venue offer catering in-house?
How do they manage dietary requirements?
When do you need to supply the final numbers?
Are drinks charged on consumption?

Wedding Planners

Planning an Italian wedding when you don’t speak Italian can be stressful. Having a bi-lingual wedding planner can help take the pressure off. A planner can also manage arrangements on the day so that you can enjoy yourself.

Wedding planning is a competitive market in Italy, so ensure that your quotation includes:

On the day planning and management
Site visits
Tastings and vendor visits
Per diems
Travel

Plan for a Rainy Day

While the Mediterranean climate in Italy offers increased chances for beautiful weather, nothing is ever guaranteed - even in the heat of Summer.

If most of your wedding is outside, ask your venue if they have a marquee as a backup or enough space inside to accommodate your wedding party.

Paperwork

If you plan on having your legal ceremony in Italy, prepare yourself for bureaucracy. The route to a legal ceremony is tied in mounds of paperwork and a complex system that won’t be in English. Some agencies can assist you with the process, but be prepared to pay for it and to arrive in Italy well in advance of your wedding day to complete the proceedings. We often suggest to couples to have their legal ceremony at home before their wedding day.

If you are planning a Catholic ceremony in a small parish church, bear in mind that some of the priests do not speak English, and many do not have access to emails. This can make the planning process stressful.

When in Rome

It is not unusual for a wedding vendor to take two weeks to reply to an email; this is just the way things are, and many vendors are small businesses working all year round. Be patient. The wait will be worth it.

If you have any questions about capturing your upcoming Italian wedding, get in touch with Stephen here.