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!

Photo credit: Maison Pestea (www.maisonpestea.com) via Pinterest

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.