| Italy provides one of the world's most romantic | | | | repeat his words and this alone creates a sense |
| wedding venues, and is fast becoming a favourite | | | | of occasion. |
| place to get married - the romance, the food, the | | | | Whatever venue is chosen, the weather in Italy |
| climate - and it's easily accessible for family and | | | | certainly helps. Most weddings do take place in the |
| friends, particularly those travelling from the UK. | | | | summer months - any time from mid May to the |
| Is it legal? | | | | end of September - and the wedding reception is |
| Before focusing on the romance of the day - this | | | | often held outdoors, under an open sided gazebo |
| is the first question to answer, and the answer is | | | | - to protect from the sun as much as protect |
| Yes. | | | | against the unlikely event of rain. As your wedding |
| A wedding in Italy is perfectly legal, provided you | | | | will be the only wedding in the location, timing is |
| follow some straightforward guidelines. Unless you | | | | not so strict and you will be able to enjoy the |
| speak Italian, it is very important that you find a | | | | first moments after the ceremony, greeting your |
| good, bilingual, wedding planner. She will take care | | | | guests and enjoying a glass or two of Prosecco |
| of everything for you - from the simple legal | | | | whilst photographs are being taken. Guests can |
| requirements to liaising with the caterer, florist, | | | | mingle, choosing from the numerous trays of |
| local town hall, photographer, musicians... whatever | | | | delicious canapes that will be offered - stuffed |
| you need to make your day complete. | | | | olives, marinated salmon, crispy fried cheese, tiny |
| For British citizens, all the bride and groom need | | | | vegetable tarts - the list goes on. |
| to do in advance is to make an appointment with | | | | Everybody knows that Italians love their food, |
| their local UK Superintendent Registrar to get a | | | | and once again when it comes to choosing your |
| Certificate of No Impediment. This, and your birth | | | | menu for the day, you will be able to select from |
| certificates and photocopies of your passports, | | | | a vast range of options, or have a meal designed |
| will then be sent to your wedding planner, who will | | | | precisely to your own requirements. Remember |
| liaise with the British Consultate in either Florence | | | | that the Slow Food Movement was created by |
| or Rome, and the local 'comune' (council) in Italy | | | | an Italian to counteract the growth of fast food, |
| to arrange your permission to marry. She'll talk | | | | and outside of the tourist areas, fast food just |
| you through the whole thing, step by step. If you | | | | cannot be found - with the notable exception, of |
| come from other parts of the world, including the | | | | course, of pizza! But this obsession with food |
| US, the process is similar and not at all | | | | ensures that each dish served will be a delight to |
| complicated. | | | | the senses - from how it looks, to how it smells, |
| There is a legal requirement in most parts of Italy | | | | and most of all - how it tastes. And not only that, |
| for the marriage to take place in the local town | | | | they like to serve each part of the meal in a |
| hall. In many cases, this will be a beautiful room - | | | | different location within the venue. This creates a |
| perfect for a larger wedding. The town halls are | | | | sense of movement and anticipation, wondering |
| often set in stunning piazzas, and they make an | | | | what new delights are going to be on offer. |
| amazing backdrop for photographs. | | | | After the canapes, the guests may be invited to |
| And for the romance... | | | | stroll round to the next location - the antipasti |
| If you are looking for something more personal | | | | buffet - which may perhaps be served close to |
| and romantic from your wedding in Italy, as long | | | | the pool with an informal arrangement of chairs |
| as you go through the legal formalities at the | | | | and tables protected from the sun by large |
| town hall, you can hold your wedding in the | | | | umbrellas, or placed in the shade of a tree. The |
| location of your dreams. | | | | antipasti tables heave with plates of meat, fish, |
| Perhaps you favour the splendour of Florence, or | | | | cheese and vegetables - perhaps an individual |
| a terrace in Sorrento, overlooking the | | | | glass of Italian gazpacho with a skewer of |
| Mediterranean Sea. For some, a wedding in Italy | | | | roasted vegetables, or smoked turkey with a |
| might be about getting away from the tourist | | | | pepper and melon salad, or battered courgette |
| centres of Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, and | | | | flowers stuffed with ricotta cheese. Depending on |
| heading to one of the beautiful but less well | | | | the number of guests, there can be ten or more |
| known locations. Areas such as Le Marche and | | | | different selections on the antipasti table This is an |
| Abruzzo both border the Adriatic Sea, and have | | | | opportunity for the bride and groom to meet |
| some of the finest beaches in Italy - but without | | | | their friends and family, and perhaps move from |
| the tourists. Further inland you will find quiet hill top | | | | table to table before the more formal part of the |
| towns and villages, surrounded by ancient walls. | | | | evening. |
| Cobbled streets and antique arches inspire | | | | And then... dinner! Up to now, the food has simply |
| beautiful photographs, and you will be assured of | | | | been an introduction of what is to come. Imagine |
| a warm welcome by the local people. | | | | an open sided gazebo, myriad candles, and |
| Many people choose a beautiful Italian villa - full of | | | | beautiful vases of flowers forming the |
| atmosphere and charm. And some of these villas | | | | centrepiece for each table. Each course is |
| even have their own small chapels - perfect for | | | | presented almost as a gift in itself, with elegantly |
| creating a dream wedding. They are usually | | | | designed plates of food, and copious quantities of |
| deconsecrated, so they create a perfect | | | | excellent Italian wine. At least one pasta course |
| backdrop for a stunning and original wedding day. | | | | will be offered - perhaps a pasta parcel stuffed |
| Italians love weddings. And their weddings are | | | | with delicately flavoured sea bass in a lemon |
| usually huge affairs of three hundred or more | | | | sauce - and then maybe a risotto course as well. |
| guests. Couples manage to afford this by | | | | There may be a choice of main course - or |
| following the custom of guests actually presenting | | | | 'secondi' - perhaps guinea fowl, or fillet steak in a |
| the bride and groom with an envelope of money, | | | | herb crust, or monkfish in a lime scented jus - |
| rather than a present (or sometimes both) to | | | | and with the gazebo set on a terrace, guests can |
| cover the cost of the lavish meal that follows the | | | | be free to wander between courses and soak up |
| ceremony. This love of weddings means that the | | | | the atmosphere - perhaps with lanterns casting a |
| Italian services that you need to complete your | | | | soft glow around the gardens. Then it's back for |
| perfect day are readily available, whether your | | | | the speeches - and the desserts! In Italy, the |
| wedding is large or small. | | | | desserts are usually served as a buffet, with so |
| If you choose to get married in a villa setting, you | | | | many mouth watering choices - semifreddos, ice |
| will inevitably have the location set aside just for | | | | cream cake, mousses, tiramisu, fruit. Italian ice |
| your party. You will be free to use the house and | | | | cream - or 'gelato' is the best in the world and the |
| grounds for your photographs, and guests can | | | | more adventurous chefs are constantly |
| enjoy the relaxed ambiance. There is no sense of | | | | developing new flavours - and new ways of |
| urgency - time not being a critical factor if the | | | | eating ice cream and sorbets - such as deep |
| whole place is yours for the day - thus removing | | | | frying in kataifi pastry, or mixing it at the table |
| one significant area of stress from some | | | | with liquid nitrogen 'smoke'. |
| weddings in more traditional venues. | | | | The relaxed and leisurely pace of the food |
| Italians are by their very nature romantic. | | | | provides an incredible atmosphere. It's something |
| Everything involved with a wedding in Italy is | | | | special. And finally the bride and groom can invite |
| about romance - and they take particular care of | | | | their guests to join them to dance the night away |
| the bride and groom throughout their day. The | | | | under the stars. |
| florist will be the first person to arrive on the 'big | | | | So what do you need to do to create your |
| day' - and she will have already spent several | | | | perfect day? |
| hours with you, or with your wedding planner on | | | | - Decide on the region of Italy that you want to |
| your behalf, talking about the types of flowers | | | | get married in - whether that be in a city such as |
| you like, the colours, the theme. There is no such | | | | Florence or Rome, a famous town like San |
| thing as a 'wedding package' in which you get to | | | | Gimignano, on the beach at Positano, or in a villa in |
| choose from a predetermined list of possible | | | | the glorious Le Marche region. |
| flower arrangements. She will come up with | | | | - Choose the type of venue - a villa, town hall, |
| something that is unique to you - whether that be | | | | castle or beach. |
| based on a simple cream and green theme, or on | | | | - Search specifically for these terms on the web - |
| a flamboyant multi coloured medley of vibrant | | | | using both the region and the venue in the search |
| blooms. | | | | terms |
| Hairdressers and makeup artists are next to | | | | - Find either the venue that you would like (which |
| arrive - should you need them - and they will | | | | will almost always have a wedding planning |
| typically spend two or three hours getting the | | | | service) or find a wedding planner that can |
| bride and other members of the party ready. | | | | perhaps suggest a range of venues to you. |
| They always do a trial run in advance of the day | | | | - Check the credentials of the wedding planner - |
| - just to be sure you are clear about the style | | | | you need evidence of other successful weddings, |
| you want - and your planner will be on hand to | | | | and preferably the contact name of somebody |
| make sure there are no difficulties in translation. | | | | whose wedding they organised. |
| Photographers now like to blend the more formal | | | | - Make sure that in your package you have an |
| shots with a reportage style of photography, and | | | | option to go and visit the venue before the big |
| the Italian wedding albums are a work of art in | | | | day. |
| themselves. Designed purely to convey the | | | | - You should also be able to have a tasting with |
| romance of the day, the albums are a photo | | | | the caterers, and meet the florist. |
| journal of the wedding, with montages depicting | | | | - Ask as many questions as you like, and make |
| everything from the preparation to the last dance. | | | | sure you speak to the planner in person - not just |
| The bride and groom can determine the style | | | | via email. This is your big day, and you need to be |
| they are looking for, and the photographer will not | | | | sure that everything will be perfect. |
| only prepare the wonderful albums, but will | | | | - Do all of this at least six months in advance. |
| normally give the couple a DVD containing the | | | | - Relax, and enjoy it - knowing that your wedding |
| images - so there is no hefty charge for any | | | | is in safe hands |
| member of the family who subsequently wants | | | | The planning and the anticipation of your big day |
| some pictures for their own wall or shelf. | | | | should be exciting, and your planner should |
| When all is prepared, it is time for the bride to | | | | encourage you to be involved at every step of |
| make her entrance. Music is a key part of any | | | | the way. You should have regular, documented |
| romantic wedding ceremony - and the couple will | | | | updates on all the meetings the planner has had, |
| be able to choose not only the music pieces, but | | | | decisions taken, and decisions still needed. Where |
| the style in which they are played. Perhaps they | | | | necessary, these should be supported by |
| will opt for a string quartet, an Italian soprano, a | | | | photographs (of flowers, table designs, etc). And |
| harpist, or even the mellow notes of a | | | | there must be no surprises in the budget - with |
| saxophone. | | | | quotations given before you make your decisions. |
| The words of the Italian marriage ceremony are | | | | If all of this is organised for you, all you have to |
| very moving, with huge emphasis placed on family | | | | do is sit back, have a wonderful day, and soak up |
| and on the joint responsibility of the couple to | | | | the atmosphere and your memories for the |
| take care of each other and any children they | | | | future. This is what a romantic wedding in Italy is |
| may have. Although the mayor will undoubtedly | | | | all about. |
| conduct the ceremony in Italian, an interpreter will | | | | |