Author: Анастасия Леонова

💍 Getting Married in Italy (Civil Ceremony) — Legal Rules for Foreign Non-Residents

Posted on by Анастасия Леонова

Italy allows civil marriages anywhere in the country, including Sicily, even if neither partner is a legal resident. A civil wedding in Italy is fully legally binding under Italian law and is therefore recognised abroad once registered with the appropriate foreign authority.

Fast navigation:

General requirements | Apostille | British citizens | US citizens | Irish citizens | Russian citizens | Maltese citizens | Norwegian citizens | Greek citizens | Where to translate? | Common issues

General legal requirements

1️⃣ No official residency requirement

You don’t need to be resident in Italy to marry civilly — a valid passport is enough.

2️⃣ Key documents needed:

  • Valid passports
  • Birth certificates with parents names
  • Evidence of divorce or death of spouse if applicable.

Please, note: under Italian law, a divorced woman must normally wait 300 days (about 10 months) from the final divorce judgment before marrying again in Italy.

  • A Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) / Nulla Osta / Affidavit showing you are legally free to marry in Italy
  • Translations and legalisations/apostilles where required

3️⃣ Document validity & timing:

  • Civil documents must generally be issued within 6 months before the ceremony (official Italian requirement).
  • If you are divorced, the decree must be final (no appeal) and incorporated with your other papers.
  • In some cases, Italian town halls want documents well in advance (2-3 months, if especially peak season).

4️⃣ Marriage banns / publications:

Italy’s traditional pubblicazioni di matrimonio (banns) are not required for non-residents in all Comuni; many allow civil weddings without the 8-day publication period that applies for residents. However, many town halls will kindly ask you to arrive 1-3 days in advance and to sign these banns personally just before the ceremony.

5️⃣ Witnesses:

Two adult witnesses of any nationality (with a valid ID/passport) must attend the civil ceremony — Italian rules are strict about their presence.

📜 What Is an Apostille and Why It Matters

The Apostille is a certification stamp that authenticates foreign documents for use in Italy and other countries part of the Hague Apostille Convention (1961). Italy accepts documents apostilled in the country of issue if that country is a signatory.

👉 Example: If a U.S. birth certificate has a U.S. state apostille, Italy will accept it with correct translation and authentication.

Which countries may NOT need apostille for Italy?

Within the EU, Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 simplifies formalities for certain public documents. Italian diplomatic sources explicitly note that, under this Regulation, an apostille may not be required in specific civil-status contexts (example: apostille not required for some purposes of transcription).
The EU e-Justice portal provides the Multilingual Standard Forms that can accompany certain EU public documents (birth, marital status, etc.).

Reality check: Some Comuni still ask for apostille out of caution or because your document type doesn’t fall neatly under the Regulation. Always align with your specific town hall.

🇬🇧 British & Scottish Citizens legal requirements

📄 Certificate of No Impediment (CNI)

📍 For Scottish couples, the local Registrar issues the CNI and includes the required details (parents, etc.), similar to the rest of the UK. Certificate of No Impediment (Scotland): If resident in Scotland, you can apply for a CNI no earlier than three months before the wedding date (standard Scottish rule).

Practical tip: UK CNIs often involve a notice/publication period, so UK/Scotland couples should start early.

💡 In addition, British citizens also need a bilingual statutory declaration signed before a notary/solicitor and apostilled.

🇺🇸 American Citizens

Certificate / Declaration of No Impediment

Italy generally requires U.S. citizens to produce an official affidavit (Dichiarazione Giurata / Atto Notorio) showing you are free to marry under U.S. law. This can be issued at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Italy under oath or via Italian consular procedures. Many Italian Consulates in the U.S. also publish detailed lists for U.S. citizens marrying in Italy (birth certificate format, apostille, translations, divorce docs, etc.).

Birth/Divorce Documents

  • U.S. long-form birth certificate (with parents’ names) is usually required to prove identity and status.
  • If applicable, your divorce decree must also be apostilled and translated.

📍 Apostille & Translation Rules

  • Apostille is issued by the Secretary of State of the state where the document was issued.
  • Certified Italian translation with a Certificate of Accuracy is required.

🇮🇪 Irish Citizens

📄 Certificate of Freedom to Marry

Issued by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and confirming no marriage impediment. The Irish government provides an online service and guidance (updated April 2025).
The Embassy of Ireland in Italy also provides a dedicated page explaining the process for marriage/civil partnership paperwork.

📍 Apostille

Depending on where it’s issued, you might need an apostille (confirm with the issuing office).

🇷🇺 Russian Citizens

📄 Certificate of No Impediment

Issued by the Russian consulate in Palermo on the same day. It must state your legal capacity to marry.

You can consult the list of documents for the submission HERE

📍 Apostille

Russia is a signatory of the Apostille convention; Russian documents must be apostilled and translated into Italian before submission. In Palermo, the local Prefettura issues the apostille, which can take from one day to one week.

🇲🇹 Maltese Citizens

📄 Certificate of No Impediment

Issued by Maltese authorities confirming freedom to marry.

📍 Apostille

Maltese apostille costs are typically modest (e.g., around €12) and confirm document authenticity in Italy.

🇳🇴 Norwegian Citizens

📄 No Impediment Document

Norway’s Tax Administration (Skatteetaten) provides official guidance and forms for the certificate of no impediment process.

📍 Apostille

For document legalisation, Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that legalisation by the Ministry is free of charge.
For the apostille/legalisation of Norwegian documents, the County Governor (Statsforvalteren) provides guidance on the use of apostilles for documents intended for use abroad here.

🇬🇷 Greek Citizens

Our recent legal wedding for a Greek couple from Sweden in Taormina

📄 Certificate of No Impediment

Issued by Greek consular authorities or Greek civil status offices.

📍 Apostille

EU advantage: As an EU citizen, you may be able to use the EU public documents regime to avoid apostille in specific cases (see Section 6). Even as an EU citizen, confirm whether your local EU multilingual format can be used (often still easier with apostille and translation).

Translations: do them in your home country or in Italy?

Option A — Translation abroad (home country)

Pros:

  • Often faster if you already have a trusted sworn/certified translator
  • Convenient before travel

Cons:

  • Some Comuni prefer or require an Italian “sworn” translation model or a translation that meets Italian court/consular standards (this is especially common with U.S. documents, where some Italian consulates specify translation requirements)

Option B — Translation in Italy (sworn / “asseverata”)

In Italy, sworn translations often involve the Tribunale and stamp duty (“marca da bollo”) rules. For example, Italian court guidance (Tribunale di Bologna) explains the stamp duty logic (e.g., €16 marca da bollo per a defined number of pages/lines).

Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them) during your legal paperwork for getting married in Italy (Sicily)

1. Documents issued “too early”
Some countries’ no-impediment documents have practical validity windows; some registrar systems also restrict how early you can apply (e.g., Scotland guidance: no earlier than 3 months). Follow your wedding planner’s advice regarding the town hall requirements on the document submissions (some can accept docs just a few days before the wedding, some not)

2. Wrong birth certificate format
Some authorities request “long form” birth certificates (notably in U.S. consular guidance for marrying in Italy). Be sure to double-check the format with your wedding planner and/or the town hall before the apostille issue and translation.

3. Missing apostille on the correct item
Apostille applies to the public document (and sometimes to notarised translations, depending on where they were produced and how the Comune treats them). When in doubt: apostille the original public act, and keep the translation pathway aligned with Comune instructions.

4. Consulate appointment delays
Especially for U.S. affidavits in Italy, you should also book the Russian Consulate in Italy in advance for Nulla Osta issue. Contact your wedding planner and/or start the planning in advance – at least 2-3 months before the wedding date is the minimum requirement.

If you plan a legal wedding in Sicily, you are in the right place, we have experience in providing legal paperwork assistance within full and partial wedding planning services, you can check this real wedding from the portfolio, as an example. You can request a first complimentary consultation regarding your case here

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Tips on luxury wedding decor planning in Sicily

Posted on by Анастасия Леонова

Check our last video of a modern style all-white epic ceremony setup for E&W from Panama, merged with breathtaking views of Villa Hera in Milazzo, Sicily. If you are dreaming of a luxury decorated wedding in Italy, you should consider these key steps:

A modern wedding ceremony setup, before and after, Sicily, credit: Torrefilm, planning Etnamare Weddings and Events
  • First and foremost, you should choose an independent destination wedding planner who will guide you from the very beginning in your principal vendors and location choices. Not booking the venue first, but the planner! When you arrive at the logistic & accommodation breakdown and to the 5th paragraph, you will remember this advice😉.
  • Think wisely about your overall wedding budget limits and priorities. A large amount of flowers can cost a lot, as can important installations, even if all of them look very simple and “minimal”. The planner will help you to manage your budget from the beginning of the planning, so you can dedicate the best part of it to the specific decor without exceeding the limits
  • Start planning in advance, especially if you picked a Saturday as your wedding date in high season (June to September). The best hi-end vendors are booked 1-2 years in advance in Italy for weekend dates
  • Be honest with your wedding planner, as he/she is honest with you while providing a clear, independent overview of the best suitable vendors and venues. Usually, we select specific vendors that fit a specific budget provided by couples. If you intentionally understate your budget, you may potentially miss the opportunity to work with a vendor of your dreams
  • Consider that some decor installations may require more than one day of venue hire.
  • While choosing your wedding planner for the full wedding planner service, ask how they will build and manage the teamwork during your wedding day. It is a crucial aspect for a successful event implementation with complicated setups and where a lot of vendors are involved.

Need some advice? you can always contact us for the first free consultation

Types of symbolic ceremonies: how to choose the most important 20 min of your wedding?

Posted on by Анастасия Леонова

You have finally decided on the location, the style of the wedding, and perhaps even the banquet menu, but the main thing remains to understand: how will the shortest and most emotional part of the event go: the ceremony, during which you will exchange the most important words in your life.

In this article, I will talk about the main rituals that you can include before or after the exchange of vows, and sometimes instead. Of course, we are talking about a symbolic ceremony, the main difference of which from the official marriage is the absolute freedom of what you want to do and how you want to express your feelings. The marriage ceremony at the city hall has strict regulations, the text of the ceremony resembles a legal contract, and only a few Italian city halls will allow you to include all sorts of romantic elements to diversify the process.

So what type of symbolic ceremony to choose, and how to express your feelings so that something tangible remains as a memory, which can later be passed on to children as a talisman of a happy instant?

There are a huge number of symbolic rituals, for now I will give examples of the main ones that have gained maximum distribution throughout the world.


Unity sand ceremony


a ritual of mixing of sands of different colors and structures
Julia and Arthur chose the ritual of mixing the magical sand of mt Etna and the Baltic sea sand. Photo: Eximia events

The ritual is based on the principle of unity of a couple in the process of beautiful mixing of sand of two colours in one vessel. The vessel itself (of any shape, according to the taste of the newlyweds) is then being preserved as a family heirloom and a talisman (it can also be used as an interior item). It symbolizes the inseparability of the couple, just as it is no longer possible to separate the layers of sand in the vessel.

The master of ceremonies makes a beautiful speech (the text can be personalized for the couple), explaining the sacred importance of this ritual, sometimes he himself first pours out the first layer as the foundation of relations, or one of the guests or friends can be involved in this. Then the newlyweds simultaneously or alternately pour their sand into a common vessel, creating bizarre and unique patterns.

bottles for sand ceremony

You will need:

  • 3 glass transparent vessels (or the 4th if the host is involved),
  • two-coloured sand. Alternatively, you can use sand from Etna and from Sicilian seaside (provided for free for my clients)
  • a funnel
  • a decorative table

Hint!

find original sand containers, such as photo frames, or particular bottles (Etsy site has many). Do not forget the cork, for transporting the main vessel back to home.

Unity candles ceremony

The only ritual allowed during the church wedding
A mistic candles ceremony from one of our weddings. Photo: Gianluca Sammartano

This ritual symbolizes the couple’s unity as they light one large candle using two smaller candles, held by the newlyweds. Often accompanied by a heartfelt speech, these candles are then kept as cherished keepsakes. They can be relit during difficult times in the relationship or simply to celebrate an anniversary. This is the only symbolic ritual permitted by both the Catholic and Orthodox churches during a religious wedding ceremony.

You will need:

  • A table, but not necessarily, you can do without it
  • Candle decorations or personalization, if need it
  • 1 large main candle, two smaller candles, needed to lit on the main candle
  • holders for 3 candles (optional)

Hint! During the windy weather ask some of the guests to cover the candles with hands for its protection.

Handfasting ceremony

an ancient Celtic ritual
Handfasting ritual on mt Etna. Photo: Gianluca Sammartano

In ancient times, it was customary to perform a ritual of interlacing or unification of hands. This was a symbol of the unity of two entities, two destinies and two souls. Ancient people believed that if you join hands and tie them with special ribbons, the marriage will be strong and last a long time. The colour of the ribbons was selected in accordance with the sacred meaning of each colour. It is popular to use multi-colored ribbons, but you are free to choose exactly what you like.

Hint!: Choose ribbons or make your own from family heirlooms. Use materials that once brought joy and love to their previous owners. Ribbons create a stunning effect when photographed outdoors, especially in windy conditions, as they dance in the breeze. I can provide you with a quality natural handmade silk ribbons, produced locally.

Ceremony of Roses

one of the simplest ceremonies

The ritual beautifully captures the essence of a couple’s unity, symbolized by the exchange of red roses. This vibrant hue carries a dual meaning, representing not only the deep and passionate love shared between partners but also serving as a powerful ward against negative influences, specifically the evil eye, offering a layer of spiritual protection. The Italian iteration of this ritual is especially renowned for its elegance and emotional depth. At its heart, the newlyweds exchange two identical roses, a gesture that, at first glance, might appear to be a simple act with little consequence. However, beneath this surface lies a profound and sacred significance, deeply woven into the fabric of their union.

Following the ceremony, these symbolic roses are to be carefully preserved in a special, secluded spot within the couple’s home, a private sanctuary where their shared memories and commitment reside. This cherished memento is not meant to be static; it is to be lovingly renewed each year, specifically on the anniversary of their wedding. When the couple inevitably faces moments of adversity or challenging periods in their journey together, the simple, yet potent, gift of a red rose acts as a tangible and heartfelt reminder.

A minimum amount of materials is required: 2 red (or any other colour, as long as they are the same) roses, a table and a vase with water if desired.

Hint! ask the florist to remove the thorns from the roses to make them more comfortable to hold in your hands

Unity wine ceremony

for sophisticated gourmet
wine ceremony

This ritual is an homage, a sacred undertaking for the true connoisseurs of Italian winemaking, those who seek the deepest truths within a glass. The very ground beneath our feet, the Sicilian countryside where this ceremony unfolds, is a realm of profound enchantment and a cradle for exceptionally rare autochthonous grape varieties. Sicily is more than an island; it is a living testament to the ancient dance between vine and soil, a place where grapes have been nurtured and perfected over countless generations, remaining distinctly their own. Our focus is drawn to the dramatic, almost mythical vineyards that ascend the slopes of Mount Etna, a volcanic giant whose mineral essence is infused into every berry. Here, grapes like Nerello Cappuccio and Carricante absorb the fiery spirit of the mountain, yielding wines of astonishing complexity and longevity. Furthermore, the province of Syracuse, kissed by the Mediterranean sun and blessed with ancient traditions, acts as another vital bastion for these indigenous varietals. It is here that wines of pure character, unadulterated by time or external influence, are born – a true expression of Sicily’s untamed spirit.

The ritual can be performed in two ways:

1. the first simple way: choose a bottle of good wine and exchange glasses during the ceremony or mix two types of suitable wine in a decanter or directly in a glass, but here you may need the help of an experienced sommelier who may help in wine selection (in general, in Italy it is not common to mix different types of wine, but we can try).

2. The second method is complicated but very romantic. A suitable bottle of wine is selected, one that can be stored for many years or a specific time. The newlyweds write warm confessions/messages to each other on pieces of paper and seal them without reading them. A wooden box and decor for it are selected; during the ritual, the couple seals the wine and messages in the box, hammering it with hobnails and a special hammer. They agree to open the box, and the wine and read the secret messages on the desired date, which should refresh the relationship and remind the couple of the moment of their union birth.

Example of wine ceremony box, generated by AI

Hint! Choose the type of wine carefully, taking into account the period for which it should be stored. We can suggest sommelier who can help you with your choice.

Wedding in Italy 2021: new anti-covid protocols and borders reopening

Posted on by Анастасия Леонова

Good news for those in love with Italy: after long discussions with representatives of the wedding business, the government has finally set the date for the opening of the wedding season in Italy. Let me remind you that before this, from the end of 2020, all events (weddings, christenings, first communion) were prohibited, except for the official ceremonies in the city hall or church with strict restrictions and without a banquet.

What are the new rules announced by the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Italian Ministry of Health, necessary to organize a wedding party and banquet in complete safety? And how can these restrictions be turned into an extravagant detail of your wedding?

extravagant wedding sicily

The date

June 15, 2021, is the date of the official restarting of weddings, christenings and communions for regions in the yellow zone. At the same time, weddings are allowed both indoors and outdoors in the fresh air without guests limitation. The most popular forecast that is now circulating on the network is that all restrictions will be lifted for regions in the “white” zone, including the ones described in this article. Time will tell, but so far all restrictive decrees are valid until July 31, 2021, including the state of emergency. Vaccination is proceeding by leaps and bounds, at the time of this writing, about 500 thousand people a day (18% overall of the total population) are being vaccinated in Italy every day, which creates a favourable basis for optimistic predictions.

Masks usage


The mask is an accessory that must be at hand for all participants, including spouses, and must have at least a degree of surgical safety and protection (and above). It should always be worn both indoors and outdoors if it is impossible to maintain a distance of 1 meter between non-cohabiting guests, excluding when guests are seating at the table to eat. Therefore, the ideal option would be to organize an outdoor banquet and ceremony and prepare family tables so that you can live the most important Day in a serene and relaxed atmosphere. In summary, it is allowed to be outdoors without masks, provided that a minimum distance of 1 meter is observed. What is the most convenient region of Italy for outdoor events all year round? Sicily, of course! A list of fantastic wedding venues in Sicily can be viewed here.

covid free wedding sicily
Distancing during a ceremony

Also, masks are not needed at the table during the banquet, but there is nothing new here since we have already lived in this way for 2 years.

If the party takes place indoors, air exchange should be guaranteed whenever possible. It is also recommended that staff wear masks and disinfect their hands frequently. But don’t worry about these measures, all major locations have already taken steps to enforce them.

The rule of using masks also applies to photographers, if they are at a distance of less than 1 meter from people and newlyweds, and for musicians, only when the latter move indoors during a banquet.

A curfew

If someone did not know, for many months in Italy there has been a curfew from 10 pm to 5 am, introduced to curb the spread of SARS-COV-2. In the latest decree of the DPCM, the ban on movement is confirmed from 11:00 pm until 7 June, by midnight from 7 to 21 June and the curfew will be lifted from 21st June. That is, on the day of the summer equinox, Italy will return to normal life without night restrictions, which means that you can organize a wedding with a party until the deepest night in venues where it is allowed.

Catania by night

Temperature, hygiene, and how to dress properly


Spouses, witnesses and guests at “Covid-free weddings” in 2021 will also have to measure the temperature at the entrance, which will be prohibited to them with a temperuature above 37.5 ° C. This rule was in effect last year. Hand hygiene should be provided within special places. The wardrobe area is of great importance, clothes, bags and accessories must be placed in special bags, disposable or sterilized so that nothing comes into contact with other people’s objects. Thus, even changing clothes is completely safe.

wedding dress italy
Wedding preparations, ph Tatiana Costantino

Green Pass


This is the documentation that allows each guest to take part in the ceremony and wedding. It can be of three types and you must demonstrate ONE of the following:

1. A negative test for coronavirus, which can be a rapid antigen swap or saliva test. It can be bought at any pharmacy for 4-5 euros. The test must be done 48 hours prior to the event.
2. Document certifying that you have been vaccinated with any EMA-approved vaccine at least 15 days before the wedding (the first dose is sufficient). The validity of the vaccination certificate at the moment is 9 months.
3. You can provide an official document from the hospital or your doctor that you are cured of coronavirus. The validity period of this document at the moment is 6 months starting from the end of the isolation.

I will add that at the moment (from May 16, 2021) Italy has opened its borders for the entry of tourists from the USA, Canada, Israel, Great Britain and the Schengen area, subject to a number of conditions. In particular, citizens of the United States and Canada are allowed to enter without quarantine, provided that they arrived on a so-called “Covid-tested” flight. A list of such flights and detailed conditions can be found on the government website in English.

destination wedding sicily
Destination wedding in Palermo, ph Gianluca Sammartano

For entry with a tourist purpose and without subsequent quarantine from the Schengen countries and the UK, at the moment, a negative antigen and a molecular test are sufficient 48 hours before the trip. Original source from the website of the Italian Ministry of Health with conditions of entry: HERE.

It is also stipulated that the PCR certificate of the coronavirus test will become part of the single European Green Pass, which is currently being prepared by the countries of the European Union and the Schengen area. The introduction of this European certificate, which allows free movement in Europe, is announced by the end of June 2021. If the green pass will be introduced, then in order to avoid quarantine on tourist trips, it will be enough not only to do the test, but also to show your vaccination certificate OR a document on the recovery from covid.

That is, in fact, if you and your guests arrive from countries listed by the last link above, and they have recently been recovered from covid or vaccinated, you can freely enter Italy without observing quarantine and organize a wedding for any number of people without additional costs for tests either for entry or for the event itself. Otherwise, you will need to do two tests – one for entry and the second, probably (an express test for a couple of euros) for the wedding itself. At the moment, all these restrictions are valid until July 30, 2021.

Reception and banquet


It will not be possible to exchange the wedding menu between guests, and therefore, as an option, you can choose an individual menu for each guest or a spectacular maxi menu for each table, which can become a unique decoration element of your wedding party.

Greenlight for any sit-down reception, the main thing is that the tables are at a distance of 2 meters, and even better – 2.5 meters. At the same time, self-service during the buffet service is prohibited, because the common food cannot be touched. However, show cooking is permitted as long as it is served by waiters, or a buffet table is allowed with single and packed portions too.

show cooking by Graziano catering

Who knows if these innovations will open the door to an innovative and modern mise en place. Banquet seating cards are also of particular importance and should be clearly identified and, if possible, positioned so that they are not easily confused or moved.

Dancing

Indoor dancing is allowed for a maximum time of 15 minutes. At the same time, a minimum of 2 square meters for each person must be guaranteed.

There is no time limit for outdoor dancing, and the individual area should be 1.2 square meters per person.

I have wonderful wedding packages in Sicily, which includes villas with gorgeous outdoor terraces overlooking the sea and mountains, where you can have an amazing wedding party in maximum safety. Some terraces have rain protection.

wedding party sicily
Outdoor dancing, ph Tatiana Costantino

Distribution of Bonbonniere to guests

Bonbonniere are Italian typical wedding favors. I wrote about them and Italian traditions in this article.

As with food distribution, the delivery of the bonbonniere to the guests must also be carried out by staff or spouses in accordance with the rules. So the hands are always disinfected, without unnecessary contact between people not living together.

Covid-Manager: recommended but not required


In Italy, in the last weeks before the adoption of the protocol on the resumption of weddings, real battles flared up over the mandatory presence of a covid officer or covid manager. The newlyweds won in the end, and the government eliminated the need for a covid manager to avoid unnecessary costs.

Thus, the manager of the wedding venue where the party is held is no longer required to assign a dedicated person in charge. However, someone has to make sure that all of the above measures are followed and comply with the rules: – keeping a guest register, checking the green passes, seating charts and making sure that all security protocols are followed by both contractors and guests. In the days leading up to the wedding, the person in charge of the ceremony will still need to make sure that the newlyweds and guests are informed of all the measures that need to be followed during the event.

Also, after the wedding, it is necessary to keep a list of all guests for 14 days for possible control in case of the spread of infection.

Anyone who knows the subject and why a wedding planner is needed will immediately realize that all these duties and controls can be assumed by the wedding planner or coordinator. So you don’t need to hire anyone else.

And for foreign couples and destination wedding in Sicily, the presence of a professional planner in this situation becomes simply essential. Since none of their foreign moms and friends will be able to constantly check for compliance with local anti-covid regulations throughout the wedding.

Anastasia Leonova in Carastro

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Why Sicily is the best destination for your ECO WEDDING?

Posted on by Анастасия Леонова

Did you know that Sicily can be the best destination for your eco-wedding! Here are reasons why👇

🍋300 sunny days per year, Sicily is the sunniest region in Italy, which means you will have less opportunity to catch the rain during the ceremony and more opportunities to have an outdoor wedding even in low season. Take a look at our couples’ wedding photoshoots during the low season: late April and early November:

  • April Sicily
  • November Sicily


🍋Different plants blooming in nature all year round. The flowering seasons alternate one after another in Sicily, at the turn of winter and spring the flowering season begins with almonds. Tourists from all over the world come to look at this incredible beauty. One of the most famous places is the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, which has been buried in a snow-white cloud of flowers in February every year:

In the spring of April-May, orange blossom starts to bloom – the sacred flower of Sicily (see the article about it), and a delicate white and yellow plumeria follows it. Also in February, after a short break, jasmine covers all of Sicily. Its blooming continues until autumn, and the ubiquitous bougainvillaea blooms in Sicily all year round.


🍋Availability of affordable fruits for decorations. Traditional lemons can be found here for 1-1.5 euros per kg, and some local venues, immersed in citrus orchards, will provide them even cheaper or free of charge.

Example of wedding decor with lemons


🍋Waste availability of potted plants and flowers for your sustainable wedding: they will not die like cut flowers after your ceremony. The range of such plants in Sicily is huge and available all year round. Not all garden centres offer the opportunity to rent their plants, but an experienced wedding planner probably has a couple of contacts that cannot refuse this service to be provided 🙂 An example of eco-style wedding table decor using a mini olive tree:


🍋Traditions of Mediterranean bio cultivation and the waste range of genuine dishes from “km 0” products for your eco-friendly reception. A lot of Sicilian venues offer dishes from vegetables and fruits from their own beds. Vitamin and flavour explosion guaranteed! I have proven locations with their own gardens, they consider as an honour and a duty – to feed their guests only with their own grown vegetables. Your guests will remember your Sicilian wedding menu for a lifetime.

Homemade limoncello prepared in one of our wedding villas.

Nowhere like in Sicily you will let no flower to die.

The remaining fruit can be gifted to guests or used during the honeymoon.

And I will help you to find delicious solutions for all your vegan and vegetarian guests if you’ll have so. Sicily is considered the queen of fried vegetables, how they are been prepared here (for example, caponata), you will not find in any other country of the world.

Describe the wedding of your dream in the centre of the Mediterranean: wedding@etnamare.org , or on WhatsApp:
+393346487734

Anastasia Leonova in Carastro, your destination wedding planner in Sicily. About me.

Wedding elopement: history, advantages and tips on planning

Posted on by Анастасия Леонова

Wedding for two, or the word “elopement”, is been increasingly seen on pages of bridal magazines and fashion wedding blogs. Due to the situation with 2020 events worldwide, an intimate wedding for only two may become a trend for the next few years. More and more couples after cancellation of their classic wedding or after the date has been rescheduled (and some have already had their celebration postponed several times!) are beginning to think about a less stressful and more easier wedding for two organised and surrounded by only their closest relatives (usually parents). Afterall this type of wedding has many advantages, which exactly will be discussed below.

Ph: Tatiana Costantino. Beach elopement between the sea and the Alcantara river

First of all, let’s remember what this – elopement – word means, from which the modern tradition of celebrating a wedding without guests has started. “Elopement” according to the Oxford dictionary means “Runaway secretly to get married.” Imagination immediately draws pictures of forbidden marriages, not receiving parental blessings, an adventure with a romantic tint. This is essentially how it was, starting from the 14th century, to which the first mention of elopement dates back. Couples, who were faced with all sorts of obstacles, ran away from their parents’ house as far as possible, has been married in secret, and then presented their families with this fact. Also in the distant past, elopement could wear a shade of adultery, when a wife ran away from her husband with her lover, then people talked about her like “she eloped with a paramour”. During the Great Depression, the number of weddings for two increased in the United States simply because newlyweds did not have enough money for a classic celebration with a large number of guests. Getting married in Las Vegas at one time was fashionable, cool and rebellious.

Sicily has its own historical term of “weddings for two” or “elopement”:

La fuitina d’amore – the couple does not receive blessings from the parents for the wedding, afterwards they secretly escape together, after certain time is passed the families of the newlyweds understand that the relationship between them has taken place and there is no way back. Families have no choice but to allow the so-called “compromise marriage”.

Ph: Tatiana Costantino. Elopement to Savoca, the Godfather’s town

Nowadays, a wedding for two certainly has a different meaning and carries completely different values. Often this type of wedding is chosen primarily because of the convenience and the impossibility or unwillingness to organize a large-scale and expensive celebration. Sometimes conflicts between the families of bride and groom push this choice, then choosing a wedding without guests is the optimal and least stressful decision. A wedding for two in some countries is synonymous with a wedding abroad or destination wedding.

A wedding for two is chosen by couples who want to combine their honeymoon with a beautiful ceremony in an exotic country or in a dream location, where for some reason all guests cannot come. Then a classic reception is organized at homeland, and in Sicily, for example, a dream wedding day is being prepared for a couple.

A wedding for two can be chosen by couples who, more than anyone else, appreciate the opportunity to exchange vows without prying eyes and in the most intimate atmosphere.

Ph: Tatiana Costantino. Elopement to the Godfather’s castle with mt Etna erupting in the backdrop

A separate category of couples – extreme and nature lovers – choosing locations that are simply physically inaccessible to most guests. For example a ceremony in the mountains, on volcanoes, where you need to do trekking to the place of ceremony, on wild beaches with complicated logistics. Well, what can I say? Any dream has its right to come true! And wedding planners like no one else can help with this.

PH: Eximia Events. Elopement to the Alcantara Gorges, Sicily

So what are the main advantages of a wedding for two, especially during covid times (and this is all the 2021 year for sure):

1. Simplified organization – minimum stress. No need to think up seating options for guests, no need to keep in mind thousands of details from the banquet menu to the disco playlist.

2. Transparent and fast budget. As a rule, this is the only type of wedding where a package offer is appropriate because there is no most difficult component of the budget – guests and reception. There are tons of ready-made packages online that can be easily customized, such as our package offers for a wedding for two in Sicily.

3. The huge advantage of this type of wedding is that it can be organized in just a couple of weeks. And in the context of a global pandemic, unstable flights and constantly changing conditions of border crossing, this is the only type of wedding that can be organized with the most minimal risks. For Sicily, the frequency of changes on entry and exit from the country due to the situation with the coronavirus is approximately 14-30 days. During this time, it is quite possible to organize an intimate ceremony for only two. And in case of cancellation financial risks are also minimal.

4. More flexible wedding day program. The couple does not depend on the guest’s arrival, on their movements and waiting at reception. The couple can afford more options for filming, the result will be a richer video and photo album.

5. A wedding for two with a symbolic ceremony is a long-awaited celebration for those couples who, for whatever reason, did not have it, but they have been living together already for many years.

6. And finally, the most important thing is, of course, intimacy and unique moments that a couple lives only together, without looking back at anyone else.

7. The possibility of a ceremony in locations where access for all guests is simply impossible, but where the couple can get on their own, for example, mountains overlooking the fjords in Norway, the slope of Mount Etna or a wild beach in a nature reserve.

When choosing a location for an elopement, be guided by the type of ceremony you are planning: if you want to hold a symbolic wedding for two, any locations and beaches are suitable for this, but if you want a civil wedding, then only authorized locations are suitable for this, where it is allowed to bring out the ceremony register. A list of such authorised locations in Sicily can be obtained by applying for a first free consultation.

Streaming video capabilities allow you to share your wedding ceremony online with relatives who were unable to attend. Many couples prefer to show the finished wedding video as a surprise to their loved ones. How to do it in a better way is up to you, and in case of doubt, a wedding planner with experience in planning such weddings can help with the decision.

PH: Tatiana Costantino. Elopement to the Godfather’s castle

Statice or limonium

Posted on by Анастасия Леонова

This flower is used both in fresh bouquets and in compositions of dried flowers. Limonium is a typical Mediterranean plant growing along the sandy beaches of Southern Europe. It can be found of all colours of the rainbow, but I prefer delicate shades in wedding arrangements – from pale yellow to lavender, which wonderfully matches with pink peonies and blush roses in floral compositions. Yellow limonium smells pleasantly of citrus fruits, lilac-pink statice is usually odourless or with a light scent of prairie herbs.

Rustic bouquet with Avalanche roses, yellow limonium and rosemary from my garden.

Limonium is also called as sea lavender, in bouquets it has meaning of longevity and everlasting beauty.

  • Pinterest photo.

The advantage of limonium is that it can be kept as a keepsake as a dried flower, and if you pick up other well-preserved flowers, then the whole bouquet can be conserved for a long time or can be used after the wedding in the interior decor. A good solution for “sustainable” brides who do not like fading flowers.

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Sicilian traditions: bonbonniere

Posted on by Анастасия Леонова

Typical Sicilian gifts for guests – bonbonniere  – with 3, 5 or 1 (rare) almond candy sweets inside. Besides its common meaning as a thankfulness for the presence of the guests and their gifts this little wedding detail has also other signification: the number of almond sweets (always odd number!) The 5 bring prosperity, happiness, health, fertility and long life, the 3 candies represent the couple and their child and the 1 candy represents the unicity of the event.

At Italian weddings, to the zone for distributing of these gifts (confettata in Italian) is given a special attention: the style of the confettata zone is developed in accordance with the general style and the theme of the wedding. It can be a large table decorated with flowers, candles and fabrics, on which there will be not only gifts for guests, but also vessels with similar sweets of various tastes that guests can taste and even take with them at the end of the banquet. Usually, guests serve themselves in this area, but a waiter may also be present who will help guests in choosing the sweets. Such a wedding detail is a classic for an Italian wedding, and for destination weddings, a confettata can become an elegant stylish detail that will surprises guests, because everyone, in addition to a gift, can carry away a pretty bag with his own sweets of favorite tastes.


Do you like such traditions? Would you like to try them for your ceremony??

examples of bonbonnieres

Orange blossom as a sacred flower of Sicily.

Posted on by Анастасия Леонова

Not all flowers have a sacred meaning, and certainly, not all flowers turn to such ancient wedding symbol … like orange flowers. The flower, la zagara in Sicilian, which delicate smell dominates all Sicilian gardens from April to May, is beloved by the locals for its beauty and smell, but, as historical facts show, popularity as a wedding symbol came to it in completely different countries.

Lemon flower close-up

Initially, an orange as a garden culture was brought to Europe from China, where this flower was traditionally considered a symbol of purity and of the maidenhead of the bride, as well as of fertility. Also, this is one of the rare plants that can simultaneously bear fruits and flowers (just like in the main photo from my garden). And in Sicily, due to the excellent climatic conditions, citruses blossom 2 times a year; in winter the whole island is simply buried in orange fragrant balls of different shapes and tastes.

After the orange tree migrated from Spain to France in the early 1800s, and from there to England, along with it the fascinating Chinese legends about the magical properties of this flower migrated also. Enchanted British brides increasingly began to use the orange blossom to decorate their wedding dress and the wedding crown. It never occurred to anyone before that the crowned ladies shall use a simple flower instead of jewellery for their wedding attire. But the year 1840 has arrived. And it was Queen Victoria who has set the fashion for the orange flower, turning it into a European wedding symbol. She used it to decorate her wedding dress, as a symbol of fertility and long happy life. The wedding tiara was also made of these fragrant and for some opinion, folkloric, flowers under the style of the dress (see photo). After the royal wedding articles began to appear in all the most influential fashion magazines, explicitly requiring all British brides to use orange flowers in their wedding image. A bride with a tiara of orange blossoms has become a classic look of the Victorian bride.

Of course, southern flowers were very rare in the northern countries, so only wealthy British families could afford them. But the rest found a way out and began to make them from ceramics and porcelain. In the colour photo, you can see the bride with such porcelain tiara made of the smallest orange flowers.

The fashion for this, typically Sicilian, flower lasted until the 1950s. So, if you are thinking about a vintage style for your wedding, be sure to consider this little miracle of nature for compositions or a wedding bouquet. Orange blossom is not so easy to manage, not all florists know how to work with it correctly. I created my very first wedding with this flower at the request of the bride, you can see the table decorations and bouquet option in the album portfolio “Anastasia and Gennady”

Why do you need a wedding planner?

Posted on by Анастасия Леонова

I would like to go back to one of my favourite sections #etnamarewedding_advices
Let’s talk, dear brides, why are you looking for (and are you really looking for?) a wedding planner at all? For saving your time and to consider the all-inclusive packages, which is not typical for Italy, but so common overseas? To ask for prices and if they are convenient? Get the contacts you need if you organize everything yourself? Or are you looking for “your” person who knows everything about everyone and will be the right hand, girlfriend, coordinator, inspirer and your problem solving? …

In the meantime, I will write what I see as the usefulness of a wedding organizer in Italy. By default, I write about a LOCAL planner who knows the area where he/she works as his own ✋, who already has his own connections and reputation:

⚜this person knows contractors not only for their beautiful portfolios but also for many other aspects, in their work, in meeting deadlines and agreements, so they can give precise advice on who is right for you and your celebration.


⚜this is a person who knows the specifics of the area, laws, regulations, infrastructure, mentality, who is able to influence the locals and get what you need (managerial experience in the background probably?).


⚜this is a person with whom you are comfortable, who knows how to listen to☝.


⚜this is a person who will protect you from wrong decisions, unreliable venues and suppliers.


⚜this is a person who will help you to save money and to balance your budget correctly.


⚜if you have an English – Italian wedding, this person will be simply irreplaceable for your English-speaking guests who do not speak Italian.


⚜and there are also planners-celebrants of ceremonies and planners-decorators. For mini-weddings, this is a godsend. You don’t need to hire 3 separate persons.


⚜this is a person who will help you to collect all the documents for a legal wedding in Sicily WITHOUT your presence.


⚜this is a person whose presence during the organization of the celebration will guarantee that everything will go as planned, and everyone (including your guests) will be satisfied.

⚜ and finally, this is a person without whom it is impossible to have a wedding in Italy and Sicily in the new realities of 2021. When you need to control a lot of new protocols from the guest list to compliance with anti-covid seating norms and compliance with all anti-covid protocols by contractors and guests.

What new rules for weddings in Italy and Sicily in 2021 can be found here.

Or if you want to read why do you need to choose ME as you wedding planner, click here

Sincerely yours, with love and peace,

Anastasia Leonova in Carastro

A wedding next to a volcano – is it only for extreme people?

Posted on by Анастасия Леонова

Often, future brides think something like this: “What kind of wedding can be next to an active volcano? It’s crazy to organize something in a potentially dangerous area. ” A small spoiler: Sicily, according to the largest Italian wedding site matrimonio.com, in 2018 was on the third place for wedding tourism among all other regions of Italy. So, what facts do we know about Etna from official sources, according to volcanologists and from our own experience of living on its slope ?:

? Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe. This means that even if he is now visually calm, the eruption can begin at any time.

Яндекс.Метрика