Would you like to incorporate Italian wedding traditions into your wedding in Italy?
As a wedding planner, with a niche specialisation in Italian destination weddings for UK couples, I firmly believe that when planning your wedding it should not be a case of simply picking up on everything that we do here in the UK and then replicating it in the country where you are marrying; instead I feel that the best destination weddings are those that effortlessly blendthe traditions of the country where you are marrying with those of your own that are important to you.
So, what are the main Italian wedding traditions that I would advise you to consider?
Later Ceremony Time
The first Italian wedding tradition that I urge you to take into consideration is a later ceremony start time. The typical start time for an Italian wedding ceremony is 6pm ie early evening.
The rationale behind this is simple…. If you are planning an outdoor ceremony, it is likely to be far too hot for you and your guests if this were to take place earlier in the day. If your ceremony is indoors, for example in a place of worship, the heat may or may not be an issue (depending on how well the building is equipped to deal with the heat), but you still don’t want to be taking your guests outside for your drinks reception whilst the temperature is still high, after the ceremony.
So around 6pm is recommended, perhaps slightly earlier if indoors, but certainly not at 1pm, 2pm or 3pm as would be considered usual here in the UK.
You might now be saying… “but this means we have less time for our wedding celebrations”. Please bear in mind that at the opposite end of the day, you will typically run on later than here in the UK. It is not unusual for an Italian wedding to run on into the early hours of the morning… so essentially, the timeline follows a similar schedule but with a later start.
Italian Wedding Tradition – Courtyard Ceremony at 6pm
Food
Food and drink are of huge importance to the Italians; no surprise here considering just how good the food is wherever you go in Italy. And this carries over into your wedding meal; whoever handles your catering, I can assure you that your food will be delicious; something your guests will be talking about for years afterwards.
So do make sure you devote sufficient time during the evening to the wedding meal, certainly don’t rush it, and plan the food carefully with your caterer.
Typically, an Italian wedding day menu will include:
- Canapes and food corners, featuring traditional Italian items such as a Caprese station, a cheese/ mozzarella bar, a ham station, a fried finger foods station
- A “primo” course.. equivalent to our starter
- A “pasta” course comprised of delicious home-made pasta and sauce
- A “secondo”, the equivalent of our main course, which could be fish or meat
Italian Wedding Tradition – Caprese Station
Italian Wedding Cake
Italian Wedding Cake
The Italian wedding tradition for cake is very different to our own. There is no tiered cake on display throughout the day.
Instead, the Italian wedding cake is known as Mille Foglie and is comprised of delicious flaky pastry, chantilly cream and fresh fruits. It is assembled by the chefs after the wedding meal as effectively a theatrical show in front of the guests who are encourage to gather around and even participate.
It really is a huge showstopper and an Italian wedding tradition that I strongly urge you to incorporate.
Italian Wedding Tradition – Wedding Cake
I am passionate about planning Italian destination weddings and could talk to you endlessly about the Italian wedding traditions and how to blend them with your own. If you would like to find out more, please get in touch. You can contact me by heading over to the contact page on my website.
All of the weddings featured in this blog post were planned, designed and co-ordinated by Elegante by Michelle J.
Photography by David Bastianoni
FAQs
The newly married couple will appreciate a food-themed present, such as a lasagna pan, Italian dinnerware, or a pizzelle maker. Gift baskets of Italian cheeses, olive oils, olives, herbs, meats, pasta, sauces etc., are also a wonderful wedding present idea.
What is the cash gift for an Italian wedding? ›
In Italy, particularly in the south, WHAT to give isn't nearly as important as HOW MUCH to give. That's right! It's all about the busta, or soldi, or, in other words – the cold hard cash! A wedding guest is expected to present the sposi with an envelope containing those cute, brightly-colored, odd-sized Euros.
What is traditional at an Italian wedding? ›
At the end of the wedding day, just before guests leave, Bride and Groom give small gifts to their guests to say thank you. Italians call them bomboniere, made of a present, confetti (sugared almonds), and printed ribbons. Italian Bomboniere with confetti are a symbol of family life.
Who pays for a traditional Italian wedding? ›
The best man or witness may culturally pay for the wedding rings. The groom is known to buy the bride's bouquet. The groom's family pays for almost every wedding expense except for the bride's garment, wedding invitations and flower decorations which are settled by the bride's family.
What is the blessing for a wedding in Italy? ›
Blessing Ceremonies are not legally binding unlike an official wedding. A blessing usually involves a selection of readings, poems and music. You could include traditional wedding music or something of special significance to you both. Blessings do not have to include religious references.
What is an Italian wedding blessing? ›
Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years, May happiness be your companion and your days together be good and long upon the earth.”
What is the average monetary gift to give for a wedding? ›
If it's a co-worker or a distant friend, TheKnot.com recommends guests give at least $75-$100 on the wedding present. If your guest is a relative or a friend, the wedding website suggests somewhere between $100 and $125.
What is the average monetary gift for a wedding? ›
They suggest the following breakdown: coworkers or distant relatives should spend 50 to 75 dollars. Friends or relatives, 75 to 100 dollars. For close friends, family members, or if you're in the wedding party, you should spend 100 to 150 dollars—or more.
How much to give for a wedding gift cash at a destination wedding? ›
Think About How Close You Are to the Couple
The average wedding gift amount hovers right around $100, which is a great place to start, and you can increase or decrease that based on how close you are.
What are favors in Italian wedding traditions? ›
From a silk bag with sugared almonds which is the most traditional “bomboniera” (wedding favor, in Italian), to hand-painted ceramic Limoncello bottles, personalized bottles of Italian wines or olive oil, decorative little Venetian masks, gorgeous custom boxes with Italian chocolates, Murano glass crafts…
Traditional Italian wedding dress
Italian wedding dresses are deeply rooted in tradition, with a focus on timeless elegance and symbolism. Like many Western cultures, white or ivory is the most common colour for Italian wedding dresses. These colours symbolize purity, innocence, and the beginning of a new life.
What is the Italian tradition the night before the wedding? ›
La Serenata
This is undoubtedly one of my favourite Italian wedding traditions, and definitely one for the more romantic amongst you! The night before the wedding, the groom arrives underneath the bride's window or balcony and serenades her with a romantic song.
What do the five almonds mean at a wedding? ›
The Traditional Bomboniere – A Sachet of Five Jordan Almonds
The perfect wedding bomboniere, which is Italian for wedding favor, includes five Jordan almonds to represent five wishes for the bride and groom. These are health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and a long life.
What day of the week do Italians get married? ›
For traditional Italian weddings, getting married on a Friday is seen as bad luck. The preferred day over all is a Sunday, where this is seen as good luck, and this day signifies not only fertility, but prosperity for the newlyweds in their future life together.
What are the groom's parents responsible for? ›
The groom's family traditionally paid for all costs associated with the rehearsal dinner and honeymoon, wedding day transportation, and the officiant. The groom paid for the bride's engagement ring, wedding ring, and groomsmen gifts. It is also common for the groom's family to pay for the alcohol at the reception.
What are the traditions for gift giving in Italy? ›
Gift Giving
- Gifts are often open in front of the giver when received.
- It is common for Italians to wrap gifts in decorative and beautiful wrapping. ...
- Avoid giving knives or scissors as gifts. ...
- With the exception of alcohol, giving specialty foods from one's country may not be well received by your Italian counterpart.
Anyone who received a separate invitation from their parents to the wedding should give their own gift. Because a family gift tends to include more people, it is customary to be on the nicer end of the registry, spending in the $200 to $300 range, but, again, stick to what fits within your budget.
Is gift giving common in Italy? ›
In Italian culture, gifts are given on various occasions — from birthdays and weddings to religious festivities and social gatherings. Regardless of the event, the thoughtful act of gift-giving fosters a sense of unity and goodwill among individuals, strengthening bonds between friends and family.
