How to choose the right Italian region for your wedding
We may well be a little biased, but Italian weddings are THE BEST! Check you out for making your first big decision (!) - next is deciding where in this bloody gorgeous country you should say ‘yes’ to.
Pros and cons and a little geographical breakdown is coming your way, but first you need to download our Venue Finding Ticklist. Doing exactly what it says on the tin, this expert-designed tool will help you narrow down your venues; and bonus, it contains key questions and advice to help you when visiting your shortlist.
Tuscany
Tuscany is in central Italy, well-known for it’s capital city Florence and many an epic Italian wedding!
Photo: Olly Knight
Why get married here? There is a reason why so many couples choose Tuscany for their wedding celebration and it is pretty simple - this region delivers excellence on so many levels - food, landscape, true essence of Italy, wine, people, options a plenty.
Travel: Two international airports makes Tuscany easy to get to from most other countries. Pisa International (PSA) and Florence Airport, Peretola (FLR. Tuscany is easy to navigate by train and car, with dual carriageways connecting the major towns and cities and trains are regular, well run and easy to use.
Landscape. The region really has it all - stunning coast line, mountains, beautiful lakes and rolling Tuscan hills. In South Tuscany you will find golden rolling hills, haystacks and cypress trees around Val d’Orcia. Then you also have the medieval hilltop towns, like Montepulciano, Montalcino and San Gimignano as well as the rugged Apennine Mountains and the island of Elba on the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Venue. From Borgos to castles, vineyards to grand villas and everything in between. There is a new luxury trend for modern and minimalist interiors and we’re seeing many locations renovate and modernise like farmhouse venues Pancolina and Villa Nemora. All the authentic warmth of charm of the original building but with slick and stylish interiors.
Price. With a huge variety of suppliers and venues comes good value wedding experiences. Tuscany offers options to suit different budgets. Venues are more flexible with their supplier policy, meaning you aren’t restricted to using certain caterers or suppliers.
Time of year. We would say June, when the weather is warm (but not the hottest of the summer) and the land is still green and not parched. September is also nice as the grapes are in harvest, so the vines look lovely and full.
Puglia
In southern Italy, Puglia is the largest region forming the heel of Italy’s “boot” and the one with hundreds of kilometres of Mediterranean coastline. Pronounced ‘Poolia’.
Venue: Masseria Le Torri | Photographer: Danilo & Sharon
Why get married here? Puglia really is a destination! If you want to do something a little different but still have the incredible scenery, food and wedding options, this is the region for you. It screams stylish destination wedding, in an ultra cool, laidback way.
Airport. There are four airports: Bari (BRI) Brindisi (BDS) Foggia or Taranto. Otherwise fly into Naples (NAP) (3.15 hrs from Bari, 4 hrs from Taranto) or Rome (5 hrs from Bari, 6 hrs from Taranto).
Food. The high quality of Apulian gastronomy is another reason for their success. Eating in Puglia with its traditional dishes and excellent and award-winning local doc wines, really is good for the soul.
Service. Marriage in Puglia is literally seen as a work of art. Nothing is left to chance. Every detail is taken care of with care and precision to give life to a magical and unforgettable event. Suppliers in the region are generally high quality and known for their impressive services.
Price. There is a myth that Puglia is a low cost place to get married. In our opinion it isn’t cheap. Venues in Puglia tend to work with set catering partners which can make things more expensive. If you’re looking at venues in this region remember to check if they work with set suppliers and factor this into your budget from the start. The overall cost is on the higher side but you are paying for a completely unique and authentically Apulian experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
Need to know!
Some of the local roads are disconnected to main ones and beach roads can get extremely packed in the summer.
As with any region, don’t just assume your wedding day is going to be a sunny one (even in mid-summer storms can hit Puglia) - have a plan B option for rain. Please don’t chance this!
Sometimes booking a flight to a larger central airport and on to Puglia via a domestic flight saves money and gives you greater time/date options.
Le Marche
The region is in central Italy, next door to Tuscany which sits to the west. It boasts a gorgeous hilly landscape and a small coastline.
Venue: Casa Olivi | Photographer: Silvia Falcomer
Why get married here? There’s been a growing demand for a more untouched Italy and Le Marche offers just this! If you’re looking a unique location, good value for money and suppliers who provide attention to detail and that personal touch, Le Marche could be for you.
Airport. Ancona Airport (AOI) - 33.7 km away. Other nearby airports are Florence (FLR) (164.3 km), Rome Ciampino (CIA) (177.8 km), Rome (FCO) (187.3 km) and Bologna (BLQ) (198 km).
Location. The landscape in Le Marche is beautiful all year round. It offers a myriad of panoramic points to look down on the stunning hilly landscape and lovely coastline.
Venue. From farmhouses, to castles, to fortresses and villas, with many having breathtaking views of the rolling hills; some sit above beautiful lakes, others have views of the stunning Sibillini Mountains or Adriatic Sea.
Food. Authentic and traditional. Many of the traditional (and delicious) Le Marche dishes derive from the simplest peasant cuisine. Simple is best!
Price. Thanks to this region not being seeing as one of the most well-known wedding destinations, the price is technically more reasonable. However, price is subject to supply and demand and as there are fewer suppliers serving this area, you might find fewer options to choose from.
Famous for. Wine! Treat your guests to the lesser known wine from this region.
Umbria
Umbria is a region in central Italy bordered by Tuscany to the west and the north, Le Marche to the east and Lazio to the south. It includes Lake Trasimeno and the Marmore Falls, and is crossed by the River Tiber. The regional capital is Perugia.
Venue: Castello di Petrata | Photographer: Alessandro Mari
Why get married here? The charm and authenticity of Tuscany, but doing something a little different than the many Tuscan weddings.
Airports. Perugia San Francesco d'Assisi – Umbria International Airport (PEG) from the UK. Fly to Rome from the USA and then car/train to Umbria (roughly 2 hrs).
Food. Its exquisite cuisine is the result of ancient recipes that have been handed down for centuries.
Style. The area is a much like Tuscany but feels a little more rustic. It has an untouched, rustic feel. On the flip side, Umbria also has a lot of luxe historic venues with breathtaking panoramic views, ideal for a more glam and polished affair.
Price. Venues and suppliers in Umbria are moderately priced. It is not a sought after or trend-led destination (like for example Puglia and Lake Como), so you do get a bit more value for money, personalisation and a good value wedding experience.
Venue. These tend to be a bit further from the airports than say Tuscany. Perugia airport is well located but flights tend to only fly there from major cities.
Suppliers. These tend to come from Tuscany or Rome although there are also some great local ones.
Wedding. Whilst you get a real untouched atmosphere in Umbria, it can be slightly harder to plan a wedding here - finding suppliers, the cost of travel for suppliers coming in from Tuscany, logistics and transport for guests can be more complex.
Weather. Best time of year for a wedding in Umbria is very similar to Tuscany, with June delivering sunny days and warm nights, with the landscape still looking fresh. September is equally as wonderful. Disclaimer - we cannot control the weather, it can be so interchangeable any month of the year.
Amalfi
Amalfi is a town on Italy’s southwest coast. Located in a dramatic natural setting below steep cliffs the Amalfi Coast, running from from Punta Campanella to Salerno, is one of Italy's most memorable destinations.
Photo: The Springles
Why get married here? This really is La Dolce Vita! Glam, luxe and a real vintage Italian feel. A world-renowned wedding ‘destination’ and the place to be seen.
Airports. Naples International Airport (NAP), approximately 60km from the Amalfi coast.
Venues. Towering over the sea below, incredible views, amazing food and exceptional service. The venues here know how to host and then some! The venues in Amalfi are mainly hotels that have day packages. You can also find the odd villa with a more personalised approach
Style. Amalfi has a distinctive and unique landscape that can’t be found anywhere else. Providing a pretty unbeatable backdrop for your wedding snaps and perfect for those wanting a sea view with that vintage and authentic Italian feel.
Need to know. Amalfi weddings have their own unique nuances and complex rules which an experienced planner will take control of. Things like music curfews, travel logistics on extremely narrow coastal roads and many venues working with specific suppliers all need to be considered.
The Lakes
A group of large lakes lying on the south side of the Alps. Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore, Lake Varese, Lake Lugano, Lake Como, Lake Iseo, Lake Idro, and Lake Garda. The three largest are Lake Garda (largest in Italy), Lake Maggiore (largest in southern Switzerland) and Lake Como.
Venue: Venue: Villa Rusconi-Clerici | Photographer: Ti Amo
Why get married here?
Airports and Transport. Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) or Turin Airport (TRN). Milan is closer to Lake Como, being just over an hours drive and Turin is a little further out taking just over 2 hours to drive. Another option is to take the direct train from Milan to Lake Como (Como San Giovanni).
Extra activities. Arrange a lake cruise as part of your day; imagine after the ceremony arriving to your reception venue boat or organise a boat trip for guests the day after the wedding.
Style. The lakeside villas have bucket-loads of old-school Italian opulent glamour. Very great-gatsby-esque…but in Italy!
Price. Many Lake Como venues have set programmes for weddings, for example start and end times, as well as set catering packages and sometimes even music and tent providers. These set suppliers often come at a premium which could push your budget up.
Need to know.
Many of the venues are day rental only. This means you don’t have the benefit of hosting guests at your venue or having an extended three day celebration with pre and post wedding events.
Lake Como tends to be more expensive so you could try the other lakes that are slightly further out and get more for your money, for example Lake Garda, Lake Iseo or Lake Maggiore.
The best time of year for wedding here is May. The end of summer tends to bring more light rain showers.
Totally aware we missed out Sicily - a new fave of ours! Don’t panic, we will be reviewing Sicily, what makes it ace and all the important details to know. Other regions to consider are Piedmont and Maratea, if you are in love with these regions already, then head over to our Venue Directory and check out the venues we recommend here.
