Your wedding menu: Italian style

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Like in many other aspects of Italian culture, a typical Italian wedding tends to be a traditional affair. When it comes to the wedding meal, tradition is very often followed, and with delicious results!

The exact food you eat will depend on the region you choose, and the time of year. Each region is famed for certain specialties, and some ingredients are best in a particular season, although there are some ‘staples’ which you’ll certainly be able to find all over the country at any time. Naturally, you can guarantee everything you eat will be scrumptious – Italy doesn’t have a fantastic reputation for nothing!

The typical format for a sit-down meal in Italy is a multiple-course meal, made up of the following stages:

1. APERITIVO (Cocktail Hour)

Upon arrival at the venue, an aperitivo will usually be served. Guests will be given either a cocktail or a glass of traditional Italian prosecco, and will be able to enjoy the bite-sized nibbles, taken either from a buffet-style arrangement or from trays carried around by waiters.

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2. ANTIPASTI (Starters)

The first dish served at the tables is the starter. These tend to be seasonal, and again will depend on the region. Depending on your tastes, or on the local delicacies, you may choose meat- fish- or vegetable-based starters.

3. PRIMO PIATTO (First Main Course)

In Italy, even at home, the main course is divided into two parts; the primo (first) and the secondo (second). ‘Primi’ usually consist of pasta or risotto, and may be served with a variety of typical sauces. The region may again play a part in your choices; in Piemonte you might like to try the traditional agnolotti – typical ravioli stuffed with meat, or if you get married in Liguria, you mustn’t miss the vivid green pesto.

4. SECONDO PIATTO (Second Main Course) with CONTORNO (Side Dish)

The secondo usually consists of meat or fish (of course, vegetarians will also be catered for upon request!). Italian cooking is famed for its fresh, quality ingredients, so you can be sure that whether you choose fish, beef, pork, or anything else, your ingredients will be top quality. These are often served with fresh vegetables on the side.

5. SORBETTO (Sorbet)

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After the main courses, a sorbet is traditionally served to cleanse your palatte and allow you to taste the flavours of the next course. Sometimes, this is mixed with an alcohol such as prosecco or vodka. Sorbets are typically lemon flavoured, but sometimes you can find strawberry, mint, ginger, or apple too.

6. DOLCE (Dessert)

To close off your meal, you may opt for a typical Italian pudding like tiramisu or panna cotta, or simply for a serving of fresh fruit to cool down and refresh your guests during the summer heat.

Other important features:

TORTA NUZIALE (Wedding Cake)

Just like in many other countries, in Italy, the wedding cake plays a key part in any reception. We’ll be writing another post soon to give you more details about the Italian way with wedding cakes…

CONFETTATA/SWEET TABLE

Another great Italian tradition is a table full of sugared almonds and other sugar-coated treats, or indeed a Sweet Table featuring all kinds of desserts, just in case your guests had a little space left! For more information on the confettata/sweet table, click here to see our previous post.

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CAFFE E DIGESTIVI 

(Coffee and After-Dinner Liquor)

Typically, an Italian meal will be rounded off with a good hit of caffeine in the form of an espresso, and a little glass of liquor to help with the digestion of all that food! Typical liquors served include potent Grappa, a herb-infused Amaro, or sweet, lemony Limoncello.

Of course, the vast majority of venues and restaurants will be more than happy to accommodate your likes and dislikes, and will let you tweak the dishes to create a personalized menu which suits you, and we’re more than happy to give you our advice and local knowledge so that you and your guests can enjoy the very best food that Italy has to offer.

Discovering... The Langhe Region

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While getting married in Florence, Venice or the Tuscan hills is the perfect choice for some couples, there are many others who are dying to discover the real Italy. Some of the country’s most popular wedding destinations are indisputably gorgeous places, but they are also indisputably full of foreigners.

If you’re dreaming of a truly Italian experience, The Langhe region could be just the place for your wedding day.

Many destination couples have never heard of this area of Italy – situated in the Piedmont region in the North – simply because it gets very little publicity abroad. This comes as a surprise to Italians, as the area is incredibly famous here for its fine wines (Barolo, Dolcetto, and Nebbiolo are some of the most well-known) and world-famous truffles from Alba, where there’s even an annual truffle festival. Probably most importantly, it is also renowned for its stunning scenery – rolling green hills covered in vineyards and punctuated by little towns and historic castles which have inspired art and poetry throughout history. Its stunning setting and unique charm make the Langhe region a perfect wedding location.  

Photo credit: Andrea Bagnasco - Fiori di Tulle Wedding Photographer

The Langhe can be reached easily from Turin airport or instead from Milan Malpensa airport. Despite being easy to get to, the Langhe is away from the buzz of the cities, and the entire region will make you feel truly relaxed.

Picking a venue will be your biggest challenge as there are just so many to choose from. The rustic castles here are probably the most traditionally picturesque locations, but you can also find luxurious hotels, period villas, or farmhouses and agriturismi. You can be sure that whatever your budget and however big or small your wedding may be, you will be able to find a venue that you love. Most venues have the option of a civil ceremony inside, or an outdoor blessing. If you prefer a Catholic Church ceremony, many venues have a church within walking distance.

        

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Having such beautiful scenery all around you means that you can keep decorations quite simple for a country chic style wedding. You may choose an outdoor or indoor reception; perhaps in the grounds of a historic castle, or maybe inside a cellar surrounded by wooden barrels full of some of Italy’s finest wines. You may like to give a subtle nod to the location by incorporating wine boxes, corks, or bottles as centerpieces or placeholders, or simply by incorporating rich wine reds into your bouquet or bridesmaids dresses.

Whichever venue, colour scheme or theme you choose, you can be sure that you and your guests will fall in love with one of Italy’s best-kept secrets as you stroll around the countryside of the Langhe with a glass of Barolo in hand.

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Let us share this secret with you: get in touch by leaving a comment, writing to us on Facebook, or emailing Irene to find out more... 

Sweet Treats: Bombon...what?

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When you’re planning your wedding in Italy, sooner or later you may come across these unfamiliar words: bomboniere, and confettata. So what are these mysterious things?

Bomboniere are, in essence, wedding favours. Some couples choose to give something personal to their guests, others prefer not to. Most couples will at least give their friends and family 5 sugared almonds (representing health, wealth, happiness, fertility and long life), wrapped in tulle and tied with a ribbon. These are known as ‘confetti’, but are not to be thrown at the bride and groom – ouch!

It’s also popular to have a ‘confettata’ after the cutting of the cake, which is essentially a beautifully decorated table covered with little jars of different kinds of 'confetti' (see photo at the top of this post to get an idea of what these look like). Traditional confetti are made with almonds, but the 'confettata' table lets guests taste flavours like strawberry, lemon, coconut, coffee, nutella... As you can imagine, these tables usually go down a storm!


 In recent years, it has also become popular to have a 'sweet table', which looks similar, but is maybe even more delicious, as it offers different desserts, ranging from traditional/regional Italian patisseries to vintage sweets and pretty cupcakes. Not all couples having a destination wedding want a confettata table but if you do, you can be sure it’ll be heavenly.

 While many Italians stick to tradition and give at least a little bag of sugared almonds to their guests, couples having a destination wedding in Italy often choose to give their friends and family a different kind of memento of the day. This can be something very personal, or just something to help your guests on the day of the wedding itself (getting married in Italy in August? Treat your guests to a pretty parasol to shelter them from the rays). Getting married abroad means you can be extra imaginative when choosing your wedding favours. If you want your nearest and dearest to have a special and unique souvenir from your big day, here are 5 imaginative and fun recommendations:

1. Something to give them a buzz

Italy is famous for its incredible espressos and cappuccinos. Why not wrap up some beans in a pretty parcel and give guests some fragrant Italian coffee to take home with them? You can buy something similar from Etsy, but these little sachets could easily be made at home, too.

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2. Something to remind them of the journey

Some of your friends and family have flown half way across Europe or even the world to be with you on your special day. Make them think of you every time they jet off, with pretty, personalized luggage tags. Alternatively, personalise little compasses which double up as place names and favours.

            

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3. Something local

Food and drink are two things that all Italians are proud of. Send your guests home with a little bottle of olive oil, limoncello, or even local delicacies (depending on the region) to eat or drink at home and remember their time in Italia. If your guests are coming on short haul flights, be careful not to give over 100ml bottles or the men at airport security will be toasting your wedding instead!

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4. Something a little bit Italian and a little bit destination wedding

Why not combine Italian ‘confetti’ with a personalized touch. These tiny suitcases contain sugared almonds and will remind your guests where they’ve been long after the almonds have gone!

Photo credit: www.littlethingsfavors.com

5. Something to protect them

There’s little worse than going to an outdoor wedding and coming back home looking like a lobster, or looking back at the photos just to see yourself squinting. Come to the rescue with personalized sunscreen bottles, or even some sunglasses to make sure all your guests see the wedding as you intended!

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Spring has sprung

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May is one of my favourite months in Italy. The city’s so green that you almost forget you’re in a city at all, the days are lovely and long again, and the warm spring light never fails to bring a smile to my face. 

Spring is also a fantastic wedding season. Not only is it not too hot and not too cold, but spring trends always lend themselves perfectly to a charming, pretty and unique wedding. 

Although there always needs to be a contingency plan, an outdoor reception becomes an option in spring, and the beauty of the outdoors lends itself to a very fresh, natural theme.

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One of the best things about springtime is that so many beautiful flowers are in season, and you can take your pick from any number of them for your bouquet and decorations. 

Daisies and peonies are solid spring favourites, and the combination of smaller and larger blooms creates a playful feel.

Every spring, pastel colours are bang on trend, and if traditional bouquets aren’t your cup of tea, there’s no need to settle for a sphere of roses. For spring, I love garden-style bouquets and centrepieces, which have the look of just-picked flowers and incorporate pastel shades with bright natural greens: simple but gorgeous for a fresh feel to your big day. 

Pastels and neutrals compliment the green all around to create a real spring feeling, and combinations of pastel hues make for a whimsical feel. 

Use coral, peach or blush as accent colours to create a gorgeous, girly wedding. Sage or mint tones are ideal for springtime elegance if you’d prefer something less pink, or a mixture of pastels can be happily put together if you'd love a vintage-inspired day. 

Keep your background colours neutral – think simple whites, creams, or champagnes – to highlight your accent colours beautifully.

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Getting married in Italy: your questions answered

We’ve decided to make a regular feature of publishing some answers to your questions. Get in touch with us either by leaving a comment on this blog, writing to us on Facebook, or sending us an email (just click here), and we’ll try to answer your question next.

1. How much will we have to spend on a wedding in Italy?

It’s possible to spend any amount of money on your wedding in Italy. Your overall spend will depend on a lot of factors, for example the size of your wedding, the venue, the type of meal you choose to have, and of course the type and quantity of things like flowers, transport and decorations. While it’s not true that Italy is a cheap place to get married, a destination wedding is likely to be a more intimate affair, and a small wedding is unlikely to cost as much as a huge one! You should also remember that what you get for your money in Italy is different; for example, food is always a high priority here, and while it may not come especially cheap, you certainly won’t be disappointed with what you get. Of course, as wedding planners, we’re here to help you find the best solutions to suit you and your budget, and will be here to help you make the best decisions along the way.

2. Isn’t there a lot of paperwork involved when you marry abroad?

Italy is well known for having a lot of bureaucracy and red tape. Does this mean that it’ll be impossible to organise all the necessary paperwork ahead of your big day? Absolutely not. One of the many things that a good Wedding Planner will do for you is dealing with the bureaucratic headache so that you don’t have to – we’ll tell you exactly how to proceed with the paperwork, and will do as many things for you as we can.

3. I want an outdoor or beach wedding – is that possible?

Laws about where you can hold a civil ceremony in Italy are pretty strict. For this reason, legal outdoor ceremonies are quite rare. That said, it’s often possible to hold a symbolic ceremony outside as well as an official one indoors. If an outdoor element is important to you, there are quite literally hundreds of incredible castles, villas, agriturismi, and other venues to choose from where you’ll be able to have an outdoor reception and take in the fresh Italian air as you eat, drink and mingle with your guests. Symbolic ceremonies on the beach are occasionally possible, but many of Italy’s beaches are monopolized by private companies and covered in sun loungers for the peak season, so finding a private spot of sand can prove almost impossible. If you’ve always dreamt of getting married on the beach, however, we’ll do our very best to make the impossible possible and find the perfect location!

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4. We don’t speak any Italian at all – will that be a problem?

Not at all! When it comes to booking all the different parts of your wedding, your Wedding Planner will take care of everything, meaning there won’t be any awkward misunderstandings or stressful phonecalls for you to deal with. Once you get to Italy, you’ll find that most people speak a little bit of English, and are usually keen to practice what they know, so you should have no trouble in restaurants, hotels, or out and about once you arrive. To put the icing on the cake, Married in Italy’s staff includes native English speakers who will be on hand to help you overcome the language barrier without any stress or worries.

5. So far, so good. When should we come?!

Picking the right season for your wedding is key. Italy can offer all kinds of settings and scenery for your big day, and many of these locations will be equally stunning in any season. Italy certainly has better weather than northern Europe, but it would be misleading to tell you that there’s no chance of rain. Of course, some months are much more predictable than others. The most pleasant temperatures are in June and September. July and August are the sunniest months, but temperatures can get very high. Spring and autumn can offer fantastic colours and some stunning weather, but rain is not uncommon. High winter is from December to February, and is relatively mild in the South and a little more serious the further north you go! Alpine areas are the ideal setting for a romantic winter wedding, and the famous Lakes are just as stunning in winter as they are in the summer months. The key to a fantastic wedding at any time of year is to hope for the best and plan for the worst so that whatever the weather, all will go smoothly and you and your guests will just be left with fantastic memories of the whole day.

Benvenuti!

Welcome to Married in Italy's blog. If you’ve seen our website, you’ll know that Married in Italy is the English-speaking little sister of Il Giorno Che Vorrei.

We're Wedding Planners with plenty of experience, especially in the north of Italy (think The Langhe, the Lakes and hundreds of beautiful castles).

Our Italian site has had a blog going for many years now, and we thought it was high time we created a special place for our English-speaking brides too. So we’ll be using this blog to help you get to know us a little better, to share with you lots of beautiful photos and weddingspiration, as well as answering your questions or alleviating any fears about getting married in this beautiful place!

We’ll be posting as much as we can, so make sure you come back soon to see what’s new.

Love,
Emma and Irene
Married in Italy