Which Italian wedding day traditions to include?
So, you have chosen to get married in Italy (tick), booked a stunning Italian venue overlooking olive groves/the Adriatic Sea/vineyards/ (tick), have an epic team of Italian suppliers behind you (tick)….but how else can you add the Italian touch to your day?
Including Italian traditions is a fun way to nod to the country you are marrying in, but also adds those unique, personal touches to your day and treats your guests to new experiences.
Many traditions are old-fashioned, so we suggest 7 of our favs, which will add authenticity in a seamless and modern way.
The age-old tradition of throwing rice to symbolise good luck for the couple has been replaced by confetti (petali in Italian). Really, who wants unboiled rice in their eyes and 20 photos of them squinting and dodging the hits!
We love when fresh rose petals are thrown and surprisingly they are not dramatically more expensive than dried petals.
LL Tip: Get big, bright coloured petals - and when thrown these make for incredible photos!
Photo: Emily & Steve
To confuse the situation even further, wedding favours are called confetti in Italy.
The traditional sugared almonds are given out in bowls towards the end of the day. There are so many different colours and flavours you must check them out in local supermarkets and pastry shops.
LL Tip: Our favs are coated in chocolate and then dipped in the sugar coating. Bellissima!
Photo: Lewis Membery
Italians love food! Enjoying a meal with many courses, all sat together is something they pride themselves on and is truly at the roots of the country.
LL Tip: Trust your caterer to guide you through the courses and be open to all their suggestions - they know food!
Another massive deal for Italians is the wedding cake! It is completely celebrated and definitely needs a moment on your day. Millefoglie is one of the traditional cakes - layered thin crispy pastry, cream and berries / lemon curd. It is exceptional and probably one of the best things you will eat on your wedding day. Caterers even construct the cake (with or without your help) infront of guests as show food extravaganza.
The Italian tradition is to cut and enjoy the wedding cake altogether; so consider this when you are planning your Dolce (pudding).
LL Tip: To avoid food comas in all your guests, we suggest serving the cake as your pudding and a buffet style works really nicely here.
Photo: MIKI Studios
We absolutely adore this tradition - ladies, do you trust your future husbands to choose your bouquets!?
It is traditional in Italy for the husband to buy and gift the bouquet to his future wife. It makes for a magical moment when given at a first look (when the couple meets just before the ceremony). But if you want your first look at each other as you hit the aisle, then your husband could tie a note to it and send it up to your room whilst you are in glam prep!
No, we haven't lost our minds - this is a real tradition! Google it and see if it's for you.
A fun and memorable way to get all guests on the dancefloor together. Photographers and videographers have a great opportunity to take some epic footage and photos.
LL Tip: Pre-warn your bridal party, so you're not left as solo performers!
Brides, this one is for you! Who doesn't love an outfit change...you've guessed it, an Italian tradition is to have 2 dresses on your wedding day. And when you think about it, it does make perfect sense to have a more traditional dress for the ceremony, replaced by a lighter-weighted number for the evening's party and dancing.
LL Tip: You will probably feel like a freshen up either before or after the meal, so make the change then and enjoy another big reveal!
It's as simple as the title - the tradition of intentionally breaking a glass with your new husband/wife. It's fun, it's memorable and it might bring your marriage good luck!
LL Tip: Do it when the vibe is picking up, either just after cake cutting or before the party starts.
We have a private Facebook group, with over 700 other Italian wedding couples in exactly the same shoes as you. So come on over and find out what traditions they are including in their day.
Written by Emily Jennings, marketing person and wedding day-dreamer; lover of a boho vibe and a wedding night filled with a thousand lights.
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