How to host a Jewish Wedding in Italy
The best Jewish weddings in Italy are those which embrace some Italian wedding traditions combined with the key Jewish elements to really make it feel true to the location and help immerse guests in the beauty of this wonderful country. Michelle from Elegante by Michelle J helps couples unite the important Jewish wedding traditions whilst celebrating their choice to have a destination wedding. Michelle shares her wisdom with us on how to achieve perfect balance when planning a Jewish wedding in Italy.
The Challenges
One of the challenges of having a Jewish wedding in Italy is the kosher catering. While it is available, it is not as easily accessible as in the UK or US, so choosing your location wisely from the start is really important. Major cities have more options, and many catering teams travel to venues outside of the cities. Also, some caterers who aren’t ordinarily kosher can team up with the Jewish community to also make it possible.
Even when kosher catering is available, Michelle’s team still recommends that couples opt for a fish and dairy meal so the Italian cuisine can really have its moment. If there was a meat main course, it would mean any creamy pastas or cheeses couldn’t been served. As Michelle explains - this is one of the greatest joys of eating in Italy!
When considering kosher catering, the couple must think of the entire guest experience and accessibilty to kosher restaurants for the time guests spend outside of the wedding celebration. Again, major cities such as Rome (with a large Jewish ghetto), Florence (with kosher restaurants near the synagogue) and Milan are most suited to this need.
The Party
Another important consideration is that Jewish weddings always become big parties, and entertainment is one of the most influential aspects of the whole day. There will be dancing and music all the way through the ceremony and drinks reception, as well as before, during and after dinner. Entertainment is one area where almost always a band is flown in from the couple’s home country, with travel costs and logistics forming an important part of the planning process. The best bands in Europe for Jewish weddings are in the UK and France, which means bringing them over and providing all their technical set up on the ground in Italy. Michelle explains this can be a challenge, but one well worth it - and one certainly best handled by an experienced wedding planner!
The Process + Paperwork
One of the most wonderful things about Jewish wedding ceremonies is that they don’t have to take place in a synagogue or other licensed structure, so the process and legal paperwork can be quite straightforward. The criteria is that the couple must get married under a chuppah or canopy, therefore it can go anywhere - a real benefit in Italy which offers incredible backdrops and settings for these celebrations. The Jewish wedding ceremony itself is therefore quite straightforward to arrange.
In terms of the legal paperwork, most do their civil ceremony at home and then have a religious marriage contract (ketubah) provided by the Rabbi, who marries them either in a synagogue or at their venue under the chuppah. If the couple is marrying in their home country (UK or US), the Rabbi takes care of all the civil legal paperwork as well. However, in Italy a Rabbi doesn’t have the authority to do that unless they are specifically associated with one of the synagogues there.
Many bring their own Rabbi from home, in which case the civil part of the marriage (signing of the register) must be done at home. The Rabbi can then perform the Jewish marriage ceremony and oversee the signing of the ketubah in Italy in any location.
Key considerations:
The Jewish community in Italy is quite traditional - worth bearing in mind if you have your heart set on finding a progressive local Rabbi.
Florence delivers on beautiful synagogues and kosher restaurants.
Your guests may have individual catering requirements. Ensure those who have stricter kosher catering have this available to them throughout their trip; this will involve some research - a planner experienced in Jewish weddings is such a wise investment here.
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