Muriel Saldalamacchia
For more than 10 years in the destination wedding business, travelling the world for weddings, Muriel is France based, but has also rocked in Italy few years ago.
Asides her travels with her clients, Muriel is also an International Speaker, dealing with her peers onto the Luxury and destination Wedding Market.
Muriel is also a French author, dealing with business methods to international peers accros the globe, while having the clients in the focus of attention. Her first book "The Anti-Ghosting-Method" is available on Amazon and Barnes & Nobles.
What do couples like George Clooney & Amal Alamuddin, Kim Kardashian & Kanye West and Chrissy Teigen & John Legend have in common?
They all decided to have a destination wedding in Italy!
Luxury destination wedding in Italy: a complete guide to plan
Italian weddings are certainly the most glamorous and most whimsical ones.
When couples contact us to plan their dream wedding in Italy, it’s because they want to be sure they will get a romantic wedding. Italians, like French people, are very well known for being romantics.
It’s then about the Italian Experience: landscapes, weather, history, food, and dolce vita timeless style.
What is the best season to get married in Italy?
Italy is various and is a North to South oriented country.
According to me, in the North of Italy, the best time to get married is June / July / August / September. In the south of Italy, from April to late October.
Italy is a gift in terms of weather!
Where to start?
If Italy sounds like a good destination to get married, the first step you should take is to book a seasoned destination wedding planner.
After that, you should also book the venue.
The planner will recommend the best ones based on their potential for sure, but (not) surprisingly when you come to think of it, also on where you come from.
Knowing what local airport(s) connects with your multi-departure location is key.
When you have them both, you have the date and you can start to secure the save the dates.
The most important point in a destination wedding is to make sure your guests will be available to travel and celebrate with you.
Best places for a destination wedding in Italy
From South to North, Italy is an extremely beautiful country and it offers lots of gorgeous landscapes and venues to “Say I do”.
I recommends places like
- Lake Como (Northern Italy),
- Capri & Amalfi Coast (Southern Italy).
For sure those places are also super popular :
- Tuscany
- Apulia is also a crush to me. Raw, and unexpected: this Italian area is a gem too.
Legal paperwork: is it possible to have a civil wedding in Italy?
Indeed, you can have a civil wedding in Italy. For sure, all paperwork is made simple for all European citizens. For American, Brazilian, Australian, you have a few more steps to make it legal:
For example, step-in your country-embassy two times, here in Italy before the wedding to make sure you’re a real couple, preparing a real wedding.
Then meeting with a local notary/lawyer to confirm the wedding once celebrated to make it legal in your own country.
And the same for Middle Eastern citizens.
If you haven’t hired a wedding planner, that is a good reason to do so. We cannot officially do the paperwork for you, but we can provide you the exact process to follow depending on your citizenship.
It is not a big deal. It’s a step-by-step process that we know and control.
If you’re not keen on all of this paperwork, you can fly to Italy and embrace for a symbolic ceremony while getting married in your own city before the flight.
Where to stay?
Hotels, accommodations, and villas provide high-end service, as elegance is part of their DNA.
They are also proud of their roots, of whom they are.
So no matter where you’re traveling to in Italy for your wedding, you will find places to meet your expectations.
Then, to confess, I love to recommend your stay at mystic Villa D’Este in Cernobbio, as well as in historical Villa Sola Cabiati, iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo.
When going South, Capri Palace is the place to be in Capri, incredible service, magic beach club with Il Riccio.
And then, going on Amalfi Coast, I am very excited by the new location Giardini del Fuenti, and of course, the incredibly incredible Villa Cimbrone in Ravello.
But again, so hard to name only a few ones!
There’s always a good reason to recommend plenty of others!
Italian traditions
Once in Italy, be like the Italians.
If you are having a destination wedding in this country, you might like to add some of their traditions to your own wedding.
Italians are very proud of their traditions and they will always help you in their local ones.
The further south you go, the biggest variety of traditions you’ll discover. The most famous ones, all across the country, are:
- Confetti. Confetti is a little candy that the couple has to give to each guest, in a small bag. Each bag needs to have 5 confetti. Each of the five means something: – health, wealth, prosperity, fertility, chance.
- Then, some local traditions in the South of Italy are super nice to include in a way into an Italian destination wedding: the house where the bride spends her night the day before has to be celebrated with great decoration. What’s the meaning of it? This is the last time the young woman is leaving her parents’ house before getting married and embracing her new life. And if the groom is utterly lovey-dovey, the night before, he can make a surprise with an Italian singer for an everlasting experience: the serenade.
You might also add local products depending where you plan your wedding:
- Limoncello, in Amalfi Coast;
- Fragrances from Carthusia when in Capri;
- Olive oil when in Tuscany;
- A fresh food basket with burrata when in Apulia;
- A hat when in Lake Como.
Honeymoon in Italy
Looking forward to spending the honeymoon in Italy after your destination wedding?
I recommend Lake Como for the one who is looking for a very stylish honeymoon. The lake offers plenty of great venues and a palace to stay at. Bear in mind they could meet celebrities all around.
For a very VIP-Sunny experience, then a honeymoon combining Amalfi Coast-Capri and all its islands is memorable.
And then, already classic but still very attractive: Sardinia, Sicilia and Apulia. La dolce-vita-farniente by the sea! It’s our Maldives!.
Foods and drinks
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about Italy?
If you answered gastronomy, you got it right! “Italian gastronomy is one of the most renowned in the world with French Cuisine.
Italians provide an unparalleled experience for such food & Wine diversity.
Looking for tips on what you should try?
Here are some of my recommendations :
All super cliché, I know, but worth it as you would then be able to say ‘I know how a risotto should taste now.
- Risotto
- Ravioli
- Pizza (looks common? Nay… do try Pizze – yep, plural – in real trattoria)
- Cheese like pecorino, mozzarella, burrata, and charcuterie.
Of course, Italian cuisine is very creative and Italian Chefs will design the menus with a twist, to make your reception unique and memorable.
You absolutely need to have several receptions to be able to provide your guests all Italy has to offer. Then, close the loop with Prosecco and strong red wine. You’re in: you’re soon an Italian!
Best experiences for you and your guests
Italy is one of the most historical countries in Europe. Wherever your eyes look, there’s a story behind. Meet the Italians, they love to share their stories while asking you where you come from.
When looking for epic experiences, Italians are here to answer:
Lake? Go and sail on the lake. Experience a sunset on the lake. Fly over it. Drinks by the pool a local cocktail made of Prosecco.
Big cities? Shopping, shopping, shopping! The fashionista you are (or your dream to be) will find her dream haute-couture shoes, bag or dress…
South of Italy? Farniente, beaches, VIP clubs while sipping very trendy cocktails or mocktails if you’re tired at some point with alcohol.
One last piece of advice…
“STAY LONGER!!
I’m very involved in my clients’ experience.
I would never entice them enough to enjoy and stay as long as they can.
If you have the opportunity to travel several times for your wedding planning preps, just do it!
Indulge yourself: Italy has so many things to offer, you can’t experience it only once.
