How to get married in Italy
Discover how to elope in Italy as a foreigner!
Marry your elopement adventure in our Bel Paese.
You are dreaming of an intimate wedding in Italy, embracing the local slow culture and romantic appeal of the Bel Paese.
Whether you’re after a quiet ceremony on a hilltop in Tuscany, looking for a cultural escape in an historical villa, or wanting to savour every moment of your romantic getaway on a beach, Italy has it all.
Our innate desire for connection and belonging will make your time in Italy rich of emotions and memories.
Not sure how to make this dream elopement a reality? Check out this complete guide and how my services will ease you of the stress of Italian bureaucracy!
“Being Italian means bonding over common pleasures and ancient rituals, sharing joy and pride in something bigger than ourselves”.
Best time to elope in Italy
The best time to elope in Italy depends on your preferences. Dreaming of golden sunshine or a snowy mountain wedding? Prefer peace and quiet or don’t mind a few tourists? Each region brings something unique—weather, scenery, and experiences vary wildly from North to South.
Summer (mid-June to mid-August) is hot and busy, with temps hitting 35°C or more—especially in the South. Northern Italy offers cooler lakes, green hills, and humid Alps. The South is warmer and drier, with iconic coastlines like the Amalfi Coast and historic gems like Agrigento. Central Italy has rolling hills and warm weather, with stunning spots still off the beaten tourist track.
Winter stays mild down South but gets cold and snowy up North—think fairy winter landscapes in the Alps and sub-zero temps.
My top pick?
May or September. Perfect weather and great colours, fewer crowds, better prices, and a more authentic Italian vibe. You’ll still get dreamy backdrops, cheaper flights, and—best of all—aperitivo season never ends. And in general, you can always visit touristic areas the days before/after the ceremony.
Top tip: Bring a mosquito repellent. They bite. Hard.
How to get married in Italy
First, you’ll need to gather a few documents—but don’t stress, I’ll guide you through it all (see below for the legal details).
Next, you’ll need to book your ceremony location. Italy may be small, but it’s full of people—so whether you’re planning an indoor or outdoor elopement or micro-wedding, booking is a must (and I can help with that too!).
Religious ceremonies—especially Catholic ones—must take place in a church. Civil ceremonies, to be legal, must happen in a location authorized by the local Comune (town hall). This includes the town hall itself or approved civil venues like villas, castles, gardens, or museums. Some are breathtaking, like Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio and Rome’s Campidoglio.
If you’re dreaming of an outdoor elopement—vineyards, rooftops, beaches, forests—that’s considered a symbolic ceremony. To make it legal, you’ll need to marry at the town hall first. You’ll also need permission from the Comune or the relevant authority (like the Ente Parco for nature reserves). But don’t worry—I handle all of that for you.
You can risk a low-impact “stealth” symbolic ceremony for low-key gatherings in very remote locations, but you could be asked to leave, or even fined.
Some couples choose to legally marry at home, then come to Italy for a symbolic ceremony—that works beautifully too!
Elopement planning
Get in touch with me to schedule a free consultation. In this session, we will go through your dream elopement and location, and get to know each other. You can tell me what fires you up and the must haves of your wedding, and I will answer any question you might have on getting married in Italy.
Find out how it works!
Once we got our date pinned, I will send you a checklist where you can indicate EVERYTHING you like, from style of wedding, ideal locations and activities, and I will help you craft your perfect Italian elopement.
Recommended timeline: contact me 12-9 months before your desired date.
Get it booked
This is where the fun begins: while you start paperwork with your home country (your to-do list), I contact local officials to seek out venue/outdoor permits, and get the ball rolling*.
I assist you in filling out forms and delivering them to the relevant Comune (Town Hall). I remain available to answer further questions you might have.
I provide an hand-picked list of local vendors and celebrants, and I can help booking appointments too!
I will draft a suggested timeline, completing your ideal wedding with my local knowledge. I will scout the location in your behalf, to confirm everything is as expected. Closer to the date, we will review the timeline and logistics, and plan your photography.
Plus, Italian-English translation throughout!
*Consider that we might have to book high-demand spots, especially in high season, at least 1 year before, while for symbolic outdoor ceremonies or lesser known venues permits need to be sought out 4-6 months in advance.
“Your trusty local photographer, interpreter and boots on the ground…”
placeholder
Ceremony day
Just show up and say “I do”. Literally. Couples spend so much time planning and forget to enjoy the process. Luckily, I will take care of the boring bits, so you can just be present and savour the moment, in a truly Italian style.
Live every minute of your wedding day, enjoy the little things and all your favourite activities with the person you love. Slow down and embrace your Italian adventure.
I will photograph your wedding day, and be your photographer, maid-of-honor and interpreter all at once. Do you need a hand fixing your hair mid-session? No problem. Do you want to add a last minute activity? I will help you find one. Are you short of a witness and need a second signature? I’d be an honour!
Your to-do list
& timeline
6–9 months Start checking requirements for all legal documents and Passports expiration dates (must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the wedding date, and might need a translation depending on each Italian Town Hall).
4–6 months Apply for your translated Birth Certificates. Also, book appointment for the Atto Notorio, if your country requires it.
3–4 months Obtain translated Divorce/Death Certificates (if previously married).
3 months Request the translated Nulla Osta (or equivalent document) from your country’s embassy/consulate.
2 months Schedule any required consular appointments or legalizations.
1.5 months Get your documents apostilled, if required, and translated by an official translator.
1 month Submit documents to the Comune (Town Hall) in Italy. Some require at least 4 weeks' notice.
1–2 weeks Sign your Declaration of Intent to Marry in person in Italy (some municipalities require this in advance).
After the wedding obtain the official marriage certificate. You can request an International (multilingual) Marriage Certificate ("Estratto per riassunto dell’atto di matrimonio") – this is legally recognized abroad and can be mailed to you, picked up in person, or requested via your country’s consulate.
My to-do list
AKA what you can forget stressing about!
✔️ Location scouting – from wild beaches to hilltop villages, I’ll be your boots on the ground
✔️ Contact authorities - gather info /translate requirements and find main point of contact for venues
✔️ Paperwork guidance – what you need & how to get it; help fill out forms
✔️ Clear communication - English + Italian
✔️ Draft a suggested timeline- completing your ideal wedding with my local knowledge
✔️ Provide a list of English speaking celebrants - and save you the money for an interpreter
✔️ Provide a list of local vendors - if required; and can help translating to book appointments
✔️ Witness (if needed)
✔️ Full photography coverage of your wedding day
✔️ Gallery of images- so you can relive your wedding day forever
✔️One complimentary printed or digital album- if requested
✔️ Engagement session photography - if requested as add-on
Ready to make your dream a reality?
About me
Are you dreaming of an intimate wedding in Italy — but not sure where to start with the paperwork, the language, or the logistics? I’m Isabella, an Italian citizen and UK-based photographer, and I help couples elope in Italy and Scotland with zero stress.
Whether you’re dreaming of a forest, a vineyard, a quiet beach, or a romantic town hall — I’ll guide you through every step and photograph your love story along the way.
If you are ready to get started, I would love to hear from you! My job goes far beyond photography. I can be your planner, maid of honor, guide and source of information; all you have to do is relax, show up at your personalised elopement, and enjoy the day with you favourite person.