How to Elope in Italy
So you are here because you are thinking of eloping in one of the most romantic places in the world? Maybe you started planning a big traditional wedding and started feeling the stress pile on, you began doing some quick mental math and thought—if we are going to spend this much money anyway why don’t we just combine our honeymoon and wedding and book our flights right now? Whether you are thinking of a microwedding on a winery in Tuscany, a lavish intimate wedding on Lake Como, an adventurous hiking elopement in the Dolomites, or renting a boat on the Amalfi Coast in the South of Italy as you watch the sunset, you can truly have it all. Admittedly, I am biased because my family is from Italy and I eloped there myself, either way, I am here to guide you.
Why Should You Elope in Italy?
Italians are passionate people, but in reality eloping is simply not common yet in Italy. Italians just don’t really get it. I was staying at a place in Sardinia and trying to explain the concept of eloping and I think they just thought I was making a mistake and trying to tell them I was there on a honeymoon until it finally landed. Italians just simply don’t understand why you would want to get married without your entire family and community by your side, it is literally a foreign concept to them. That being said, it is not really a fully established elopement destination as many places in the United States such as the Pacific Northwest or the West Coast in general have tons of people eloping by hiking atop a gorgeous mountain. This means that as a couple thinking about eloping in Italy you are really traveling down the unbeaten path. Italy is so romantic, it is pretty in every direction, the food, especially in the South is incredible, and if you do finally get through to an Italian and let them know you are eloping they are over the moon happy for you, I can tell you from experience. Such a special part of our elopement day was once the hotel finally figured it out (when they saw me in my wedding dress that morning!) they set up a special table for us on a private terrace overlooking the mountains with a 5-course-meal, truly incredible. Italians love, love, (I would know because I am one of them!) I want to help couples create a uniquely them experience in Italy and I just see Italy as having so much to offer, really no matter what your interests are.
Should you have a symbolic or legal ceremony in italy?
This is a decision that only you and your partner can make but first think about how important it is to you both that the legal part be done in Italy. I will get into the specifics but know up front that the process of doing it legally is a lot more complicated and requires many more steps. It also to some extent ties you geographically to areas where you can get a “Dichiarazione Giurata”, at least to complete some of your paperwork. If you are looking to elope in the city anyway it may not matter so much to you but if you are looking to elope in a more remote location you will just need to plan ahead!
Symbolic Italian Ceremony
So I will speak to the symbolic ceremony first because frankly it is what I recommend and how I personally did it. As I am in the final stages of my dual citizenship for Italy I can say that I have personally had just about enough of Italy’s paperwork and all the bureaucracy. My husband and I did our paperwork back at home, so that we would have easy access to future copies of our marriage certificate in the case that I may misplace it, and to remove all the stress of the legal process and paperwork. A destination wedding even if it is an elopement already has so many moving parts we wanted to eliminate the stress of the paperwork that would’ve been needed to have a legal ceremony. To us, our personally written vows was what was important to us, and in spirit is when we felt actually married. Regardless of any government entity, to us, our marriage was valid because we said it was and the date we celebrate is technically the date of our symbolic ceremony. Well, enough about me, and more about your symbolic ceremony. A symbolic ceremony really is everything up until the legal paperwork signing, it is often a lot more simple to plan and does not require a celebrant(unless you want one!), or anyone to sign any paperwork. You simply say your vows just as you would at a real ceremony, but you do not have to have an officiant unless you would like one and you don’t sign any official paperwork until you return home. Bonus: If you are eloping and are in debate of how to involve your family while still honoring you and your partner’s authentic desires, having a small group be present at home for your official paperwork is a great way to include a few really important people in your life!
A Legal Italian Ceremony
A symbolic ceremony still not your thing? There are two types of ceremonies in Italy if you are looking to actually make your marriage legal in Italy to be recognized in your home country, a civil ceremony, and a religious ceremony. Both a civil and religious ceremony require the following:
Valid U.S. passport (active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces can present their military ID card instead).
Birth certificate (a long form copy with an apostille from the Secretary of State where the birth took place). Alongside your birth certificate must also be an Italian translation of this document.
Evidence of the termination of any previous marriage/s if applicable (e.g., final divorce decree, annulment decree, death certificate of former spouse-also apostilled as described above with Italian translation). If you are a female whose previous marriage was terminated within the last 300 days, you must obtain a waiver from the Italian District Attorney’s Office (Procura della Repubblica presso il tribunale) at the court in the city where the new marriage will be performed. The waiver is issued upon presentation of medical evidence that you are not pregnant.
Get an “Affidavit” or “Dichiarazione Giurata” from a U.S. consular officer in Italy. This document confirms there’s no legal reason stopping your marriage according to the laws of your U.S. state of residence.
To get this document, you need to make an appointment with a notary at a U.S. Consulate General or with the U.S. Embassy in Rome. To schedule your appointment in Milan, Florence, Rome or Naples, you can do so here. To schedule your appointment in Genoa, Venice, or Palermo, contact the local Consular Agency directly to set up your appointment here. Based on the Embassy, consulate, or consular agent you selected, you can select from the following list to print your Dichiarazione Giurata.
Before your appointment, select and print the “Dichiarazione Giurata” form from the above list provided for your chosen Embassy, consulate, or consular agent. Fill out the form, but do not sign it. It must be signed in front of the consular officer.
All translations of the above certificates (birth, death or divorce) must also have an apostille. Find out more information on where you can get them apostilled here.
After you make your declaration, the marriage notice (banns) needs to be posted at the local City Hall for eight days. You must then wait four more days before you can get married. If neither of you is Italian or living in Italy, the City Hall might skip this waiting period. Check with the US Consulate in Italy or the local City Hall to see if this applies to you.
On the fourth day after the eight-day posting period, you can get married. You can choose a civil ceremony with the Civil Registrar or a religious ceremony with a clergyman.
Before leaving Italy, get a copy of your marriage certificate from the City Hall and have it legalized with an Apostille at the local Prefecture.
Civil Ceremony
In addition to the requirements above if you wish to have a Civil Ceremony to make your marriage legal in Italy and be recognized in your home country and are not looking for a wedding in a church then I would recommend a Civil Ceremony. Here is the following criteria in addition to the other criteria we already discussed above:
It is performed by a mayor or one of their deputies
You must have two witnesses (of any nationality but must be over 18 and have valid photo identification, specifically a passport)
an interpreter, if necessary
You must rent out a marriage hall (in buildings or locations approved by the Italian government)
Religious Ceremony
If you are looking to have a religious ceremony in Italy here is the criteria:
It must be performed by a Roman Catholic Priest
The Roman Catholic Church requires a baptismal and confirmation record.
Remember: If you choose a religious ceremony, the clergyman must register your marriage with the Civil Status Officer to make it official.
So as you can see there are a few moving parts with needed documents and appointments are needed if you were opting for the legal ceremony in Italy, but it is certainly not impossible! Additionally you are limited to approved locations by the Italian government, so these are a few factors to consider as you plan your wedding or elopement in Italy.
Note: For the most up-to-date information on getting married in Italy always check in with the US government website or the Italian Consulate in your place of residence.
The Best Places to Elope in Italy
Lake Como
Lake Como has remained a highly sought-after destination for weddings, but elopements are still a newer concept here. Once you arrive you will have no doubt as to why people choose this stunning location for the backdrop to their wedding, picturesque views stand before you in every direction. With a history of luxury as wealthy families built ornate villas that still adorn the shores of Lake Como you really can’t go wrong at any location.
These historic villas drew European aristocrats and royalty to its shores and the villas became a symbol of wealth and status, with ornate gardens, and stunning interiors-and of course panoramic views. If you are looking to get hitched and be immersed in complete luxury then Lake Como is it!
First class accommodation, Michelin-starred restaurants serving premium food and wine with luxury spas waiting for you. It is also common in Lake Como to rent the old school wooden boats, they are truly unreal and in some cases more affordable than you may think, and 1,000% worth it!
Lake Garda
If Lake Como is symbolic of luxury, Lake Garda is Lake Como’s more adventurous, thrill seeking, and badass cousin. Don’t get me wrong, luxury is certainly an option on this lake but Lake Garda is more recently discovered as a go to Italian destination, while I would not say it is off the beaten path by any means, it is certainly busy especially in the summer months but it is larger than Lake Como so it handles the volume a bit better, the roads also have more space so traffic is slightly more manageable, I would not recommend driving around Lake Como especially during busy season, the roads can be a bit chaotic to say the least with barely any room for the large buses, cars, mopeds, and pedestrians that flutter the tiny streets.
Lake Garda is filled with adventurous activities if that is your kind of thing. Water sports, horse back riding, rock climbing, paragliding, canyoning, hiking, mountain biking, ziplining, or horseback riding. There are TONS of activities around Lake Garda if that is your jam! Amalfi Coast. If you like lemons lemon cultivation on Lake Garda dates back to the 13th century when monks from the nearby. monastaries started growing lemons int he area’s microclimate. There are a few museums and lemon groves that you can visit and even arrange to take photos there.
Tuscany
While many people think of the incredible vineyards and rolling hills of Tuscany there is so much more. My goal when I travel somewhere is to uncover the hidden gems and Tuscany is filled with history as the birthplace of the Renaissance, there are hot springs, incredible farm-to-table meals, and a gorgeous coastline. I would love to bring a couple here to elope in some of the lesser known places in Tuscany, let’s travel off the beaten path!
Umbria
Umbria is also located in the center of Italy like Tuscany. It is often referred to as the “green heart of Italy,” Umbria features lush, rolling hills, dense forests, and fewer vineyards compared to Tuscany. Its landscape is more mountainous with a greater emphasis on natural beauty and tranquility. Umbria is less crowded than Tuscany and can be a quieter alternative if you still are looking for a mountaineous central Italian
Puglia
Puglia is at the tip of the boot in Southern Italy, it has a warmer climate and is known for its incredible beaches and seafood. While people are starting to catch on, try and take advantage of this hidden gem before it is not hidden anymore! If you are looking for sweeping coastlines and pristine beaches for your Italian elopement this is it!
Sardinia
Sardinia is where I personally got married. I didn’t want to choose between the ocean and mountains and I have a thing for islands. Sardinia also is a blue zone meaning that the most people in the world living over 100 are concentrated here. To me, they are doing something right and I wanted to be immersed in it for my own elopement! I planned the entire thing remotely and we rented a boat for the day in a National Park, we swam in caves, and did a hike where we said our vows at sunset, it was truly unreal!
How Much Does it Cost to Elope in Italy?
It really can be as expensive or budget-friendly as you want! If you are willing to skip some of the more popular spots and take a chance on some of the lesser known locations you could have a destination wedding for a relatively affordable price. Of course the more you increase your guest count the higher the final price will climb but if you keep it small and intimate and opt for a symbolic ceremony you have a lot more flexibility. Let me be your guide to having the most perfect Italian elopement!
Costs to Consider for your Italian Elopement
Flights (Example: $1500)
Accommodation (Example:2 weeks $1800)
Food +Drink Costs (Example:$2500)
Photographer ($4,000)
Make up Artist + Hair (did my own)
Attire + alternations ($800)
Activities (Boat +captain $550)
Marriage License Fees (if not doing a symbolic ceremony)
