We are so delighted that Paula Wratten will be joining us for The Italian Destination Wedding Show. Paula is a specialist celebrant who delivers custom made, unique ceremonies designed the way you wish your ceremony to be.

Picture courtesy of Paula Wratten

Paula will be able to talk you through all the options for your ceremony in Italy, but we thought that we would give you some ideas and details prior to our event so that you can start thinking about what your dream ceremony in Italy will be.

So you’ve set a date for your Italian destination wedding.

Of course, finding the perfect venue is one of the first things you need to do, but in conjunction with this you should also consider what sort ceremony you want to have.

Below are a few options for your ceremony in Italy. Now, we don’t want you to be bamboozled by all this information, but it is important to know what your options are so you can make the right decision for you and your partner.

There are legal requirements to consider for any destination wedding and a good wedding planner, such as our lovely Francesca from Will Be Wedding & Events, can assist you with submitting the documentation to the Italian authorities. Depending on your nationality you may also need to visit an Embassy Office in Italy.

Once the legalities are taken care of, then there are a number of options open to you for where your ceremony can take place.

• Church ceremony
• Civil ceremony
• A symbolic ceremony with a Celebrant

Church Ceremony

Italy is a Catholic country and there are some amazing churches in just about every Region, City and Town in Italy. You will need to contact your priest at home first as you will require their assistance to put together the documentation. Not all churches will marry non residents, so we suggest you make some inquiries at your dream venue (before booking) as they will know which local churches will be delighted to have you.

Italy also has a number of English churches and it may be you can have a blessing ceremony, however, you will need to have a civil ceremony before the church service. You can do this in the UK or in Italy. Your wedding planner or venue should be able to assist you with this process.

Picture courtesy of Sergio De Riccardis

Civil Ceremonies

This is very popular option for UK couples getting married in Italy. The ceremony will take place in a Town Hall or public space owned by the Town Hall. There are some procedures to follow, of course, and the procedures and costs can vary from region to region. Again, your venue or wedding planner will be able to assist you through this process.

Picture courtesy of  The San Domenico Hotels

A symbolic ceremony with a Celebrant

A celebrant is simply someone who can perform ceremonies for you the way you want it to be. They are becoming increasing popular in the UK and internationally for destination weddings.

Using a wedding celebrant allows you complete flexibility – you can have your wedding wherever you choose, at any time you want. You can choose your own vows, readings, poems, music, absolutely everything. It can have elements of a religious ceremony or nothing religious at all. It really is up to you.

You will still need to have a civil ceremony, in either the UK or Italy, but this could be quite a small event with just close friends and family. Then, on your wedding day, pull out all the stops and have your ceremony at your dream venue or location.

You can of course, hire an Italian celebrant, but we believe you need to choose a celebrant who you connect with – you should like them immediately and as it’s such an important part of your wedding, it is a huge advantage to have someone who speaks your language and you can have several face to face meetings with in the UK.

And we believe we have the perfect person to introduce you to at the Italian Destination Wedding Show – Paula Wratten of Amara Ceremonies. She will be able to help you create your bespoke ceremony and more importantly in the style of your choice.

Picture courtesy of Villa Balke

Imagine getting married under a starry night, near a mountain, or on a beach. Done, done and done. The ceremony is tailored to your needs. So if you are looking for a religious or non religious ceremony Paula can do either. Paula has great experience and she would be an essential asset to your destination wedding in Italy. She has celebrated ceremonies on beach locations, helicopter rides, outdoor settings and far away villas.

Picture courtesy of Paula Wratten

Picture courtesy of Villa Luppis

Paula is really looking forward to chatting with our guests at The Italian Destination Wedding Show and we are so delighted she will be there.

So what are you waiting for? Make sure to book your ticket today!

Special thanks to Alex Kais for contributing to this blog

Love, the Stylish Events and Will Be Wedding & Events team.