The ultimate planning guide to eloping in Italy
If you dream of saying “I do” along the Mediterranean coastline, we highly recommend eloping in Italy. This country offers you some of the most romantic cities in the world, and we have the ultimate guide to help with your elopement planning. You will find everything from our top locations, average costs, to a timeline recommendation.
An Italy elopement timeline
Congratulations on planning your dream elopement! Especially for those not local to Italy, this timeline will give you an idea of what you need to complete during the year leading up to the big event.
12 months before:
Right now, excitement is high and you probably have a hundred questions running through your mind. We recommend starting by thinking about the big picture. What kind of aesthetic do you and your partner visualize? Is it the Italy countryside or one of their historical cities? Whatever you choose, you will want to base your location around it. Research cities, towns, and villages in Italy that correlate to your style of wedding.
Once you have secured a location, it’s time to start looking for a photographer. We think inquiring at least 2 to 3 is a good idea. Remember that with photography, their editing style is what makes each photographer stand out. Find a photographer with an editing style that matches your style of wedding, you won’t regret this!
Another priority and one of the most fun parts of the process is dress shopping. Shipping for wedding dresses can take anywhere from 6 to 8 months. This is why it’s crucial to have this checked off the list sooner than later. Our brides often tell us wearing a dress that allows them to move freely and feels true to their style are two important factors in decision-making.
6 months before:
The 6-month mark is when you and your wedding planner are making decisions regarding the ceremony and reception. Remember that you can still have an elopement with vendor professionals that specialize in destination weddings. You will want to choose vendors for things like catering, flowers, your officiant, and music. Your wedding planner or coordinator will most likely have a list of people they recommend for a seamless inquiry process.
This is also the time to check off all of your travel needs. Booking your flights 6 months prior is common for international flights. With that, look at finalizing your accommodations and arrangements for a shuttle or rental car. The last thing we need is for you to be stranded with no way to get from A to B!
Most importantly, check your passport expiration date. According to travel.gov, “Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met”. Applying for and receiving a new passport can take up to 3 months. So this time frame gives you flexibility and a worry-free experience.
1 month before:
At this point, you may be waking up with night sweats after a dream of nothing going as planned. We assure you, this is normal but all the more reason to stick to the timeline! When you are one month out from eloping in Italy, your checklist includes the following:
Picking up your wedding bands
Writing your vows
Having your final dress fitting
Confirm all final payments with vendors.
For anything that needs to be done on-site, your wedding vendor will help you coordinate it gets checked off.
The week of:
We’re not crying, you are! One week out means getting the last few things together before traveling to your destination. Packing at the start of the week prior to your flight will allow you time to check the weather forecast and pack accordingly. We also think bringing a wedding day emergency kit is essential. Remember to take a deep breath and give yourself a pat on the back, it’s time to get you wed!
When Is The Best Time To Visit?
We believe the best to visit Italy falls any time between May and October. Many of our couples also prefer September or October, due to the European holiday season coming to a close as Italy returns back to a calmer version of itself. During September and October, it is their fall, so the cities are bustling with fresh foods due to harvest season. Not to mention the stunning fall colors and warm light with little to no heat waves, making it an excellent time of year for a wedding.
In truth, Italy is beautiful all year round with spring days resting around the 50s-60s and winter days sitting between the 40s-50s with some chances of rain or snow. As we mentioned earlier, really take into consideration the style and aesthetic of your Italy elopement. Are you looking for something indoors or outdoors? Or even consider the time of year you have dreamed of visiting Italy.
3 of the most romantic places to wed
Northern: Lake Garda
The towns on Lago di Garga are historic towns, castles, old mansions, and small community churches. While there are many things to do within the towns of Lago di Garda, the closest big towns are Milan and Venice. The area is filled with a luminous environment, flourishing vegetation, and transparent water all throughout its territory that reaches from the steep Alpine foothills to the northern edge of the Po Valley.
Northern Italy: Lake Como
Lake Como is located in the Lombardy region of Italy. Magnificent villas with large-scale inlaid terrazzo floors, high walls, and extensive gardens make it a picturesque background for your wedding. With the area being easy to reach due to the international airport of Malpensa only being around an hour and a half away from Milan, you could easily turn your destination elopement into a honeymoon location.
Central: Tuscany
Tuscany with its incredibly diverse landscape is the region’s artistic hub, whether you browse Renaissance masterpieces or local boutique racks. The coastline is truly amazing with idyllic beaches and panoramic views. All this and more is what makes your elopement in Tuscany Italy a thing of beauty, charm, and elegance.
Southern: Puglia
The region of Puglia exudes certain calming energy with its rural buildings and olive trees growing throughout the cities. We of course can’t forget the stone-built farms, old historic masserias, and stunning views overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Art and music bring this place to life. The chic and minimalistic atmosphere gives a whole new meaning to slow living mediterranean sea everywhere you go. Puglia offers a bit of luxury with a quiet port town feel, perfect for a romantic destination elopement.
What’s the average cost of a wedding in Italy?
The average cost of getting married in Italy depends on what you want your elopement day to look like. Both of these greatly depend on the size of your wedding and how private you want the event to be. Thankfully some factors will stay within a predictable range and that would be based on the vendors you choose for music, photography, videography, and your officiant. Our personal tip is to get married in April or October since it is considered off-season. The weather around this time of the year is still gorgeous. If you want to cut costs, even more, choosing to tie the knot on a weekday can greatly bring down the cost. Our prediction for the average cost of a an elopement in Italy would start at $15,000.
Our top pick for a photographer in Italy
Europe has an amazing selection of modern and editorial wedding photographers. It’s important to note that their editing style is what sets each photographer apart. We recommend finding one that you see yourself loving 5 to 10 years from now. Make sure to also have a consult call prior to hiring your photographer. They are usually the closest ones by your side throughout the day, so having someone you really connect with is essential. One of our favorite photographers is also based out of Germany, The Saums. They have been featured in publications like BRIDES and Vogue. We have worked directly with the husband and wife duo on many types of projects. Trust us when we say they are worth checking out.
How can we help you plan your Italy elopement
At IDO Events, we pride ourselves on being destination wedding planners for a reason. We know the ins and out’s of all the different destinations in Italy and can help you find what works best for you and your vision. We have an extremely large network of creative partners that only continues to grow. This network can provide you with an array of options for your vendors and if you’re like us, you love yourself some options!
Our years of experience have allowed us to become well-established in the Italian wedding market meaning that if we have an in, you have an in. Lastly, we also provide help when booking wedding venues and tours. We offer in-person tours for you or with you and would be lying if we didn’t say it was our favorite part! Whoever you choose to plan your big day in Italy, we wish you all the success and happiness in creating something that reflects your love story.
