Italian Wedding Inspiration For Your Big Day

Congratulations! You’re getting married — or maybe you’re daydreaming about when that special day comes. Perhaps you’re helping a friend plan hers.

Either way, you’re here because you’re looking for Italian wedding inspiration. I’ve got you.

I know how overwhelming it can feel when you don’t know where to start — especially if you’ve never attended an Italian wedding. 

There’s endless inspiration out there: couples getting married in Italy, lavish celebrations in Lake Como villas… But what if you just want to bring a touch of Italian flair to your wedding — without flying all your guests to Italy or breaking the bank?

That’s where I come in. I’m Alessia, the founder and writer behind Italy with an Italian. In this post, I’ll share practical, inspiring ideas to help you plan an Italian-themed wedding. You can pick one or two elements or go all in — it’s completely up to you.

So, grab a cup of tea, or maybe a glass of Prosecco — and let’s get planning! 

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Italian Wedding Inspiration – Start Here

You know you want your wedding to feel a little or totally Italian. But is that enough to start planning it?

The answer is yes and no. If you know what an Italian wedding means to you, you can go ahead and recreate those aspects. As long as it all feels right to you, there’s nothing to worry about. Keep things classy, and your guests will be happy too.

However, if you’ve never been to a real Italian wedding, watched Italian movies with weddings in them, or even online creators sharing theirs or their experiences attending one, you might have zero clues.

If you’re in that situation, I’d suggest you do your research. This article will give you the inspiration to get you started. Youtube, Pinterest, Google, and even Instagram are going to be your best friend. You can also try Tiktok. All you have to do is type Italian wedding, scroll through the results, click on what catches your eye. If you do that 30 minutes every day for a few weeks, you’ll have plenty of inspiration.

However, you might also feel overwhelmed. Here’s a tip to avoid that: pay close attention from the start to what you like, and ignore the rest. Is it a rustic Italian wedding, in the countryside, like one in Tuscany or Puglia? Or is it one by the sea or a lake?

If you’re getting married in your country, you could at least find a venue which has similar surroundings and vibe.

But you should also pay attention to the other details that catch your eye – are they simple settings, or glamorous ones?

If you don’t want to go through that research process, or if you already have, and it left you feeling confused and back to square one, I suggest you take this article as your main inspiration. You can obviously pick what you like, and leave behind what you don’t.

My aim is to share general aspects of an Italian wedding, including traditions that are deeply rooted with this special day. 

I will also share a few tips about the venue, decor, flowers, etc. However, I will mostly be talking about the three types of weddings that to me are the most popular in Italy. Of course, that’s based on my knowledge and experience.

And if there’s a number one tip I can give you is not to overcomplicate your big day, enjoy the planning process, and don’t let it stress you too much.. 

Italian Wedding Venue

When you’re planning a wedding, it’s usually the wedding theme you pick first. Then, comes the venue.

In your case, you know you want an Italian themed wedding, so what type of venue should you pick?

How to pick your Italian-style wedding venue?

If that’s in your plans, pick a spot in Italy you love and research a wedding venue online in that area. If you think that will break the budget, I would suggest staying away from popular locations like Lake Como. How about you look into Umbria, Marche, Calabria, even Emilia Romagna?

Those are less popular regions, which means they will likely be less expensive, especially if you choose the right venue, a less busy period of the year, and maybe a weekday.

If your only option is to get married in your country, perhaps in your state if you’re American, or your city if you live in Europe, then pick the venue that feels the most Italian to you.

Here’s how to do that:

1. Ask yourself, what type of wedding do you day dream about, or what type of Italian wedding caught your eye when scrolling on Instagram?

Is it a rustic Italian wedding in the countryside, with long outdoor tables?

Or is it the elegant Italian wedding by the lake, with a beautiful Italian villa in the backdrop?

Could it be a simple meal at a wonderful Italian restaurant, right after the ceremony?

I just listed three very typical Italian wedding venues – the first is the middle option in terms of how easy it is to plan and how expensive it can get; the second is the most fancy; and the final is the most popular in Italy and also likely the least expensive.

In case you’re wondering, I went with the fancy option. It wasn’t a villa by the lake, but a hotel by the sea. Renting an event room in the hotel made it much more affordable than renting an entire villa, but it still gave me a similar vibe. Feel free to use this budget hack.

Let’s get back to helping you choose a venue in your country.

2. Once you know the venue vibe and aesthetic you are after, you can start doing your research. Look at venues that have a similar vibe.

If you want a rustic countryside Italian wedding, look at local vineyards that host weddings. Even if they don’t, I would approach them and ask them how much it would be to rent the venue alone. You can always bring the rest yourself, via third party suppliers, and maybe that would make the whole thing more budget friendly.

If you’re set on having an Italian wedding by the water, focus on the venues that have a similar setting, even if it’s a man-made lake.

And if the idea of a simple Italian wedding meal tempts you, start looking for the best Italian restaurants in your country or city. Food quality should come first, but you also need to like how the restaurant looks. Do you want a view, an outdoor setting, or are you happy with a cosy Italian interior?

Italian Wedding Decor

Once you pick the type of venue you want, shortlist a few options, go visit them, and book the one, you’ll likely want to start thinking about your Italian wedding decor.

If you’re set on a particular look, or want all your wedding colors to go together nicely, I suggest you think about this while you are weighing up the different venues.

That’s what I did. My wedding venue had a carpeted floor with a very evident blue print, and while it went well with the seaside decor, it wasn’t what I had envisioned. I had to look past that and make sure every other wedding color wouldn’t contrast it. I wasn’t about to choose red or yellow bridesmaid dresses, if you get what I mean. 

In case you’re wondering why I didn’t choose a different hotel, that’s because since that hotel opened and my husband and I visited it, I knew I wanted to get married there. We were both fascinated by hotels’ aesthetics in general, but this one had a special view, and we love a good view.

Let me give you a few practical ideas.

An outdoor wedding venue in a vineyard will be easy to decorate. Here are a few ideas inspired by Tuscan weddings or Italian countryside weddings outdoors.

If you’re going for the fancier wedding by the lake, or inside an Italian style villa (perhaps you can book an Italian style mansion in your area), or even a hotel that has a Mediterranean aesthetic, I would keep things simple but classy.

Think less is more, but focus on the detail and the quality of the decor – beautiful cutlery and place settings, white table cloths and seat covers, and big flower arrangements in the middle. 

You could go with multiple round tables, or do longer ones. This look is especially great if the villa or hotel room you book has beautiful antique interiors with an Italian vibe. I have seen this done before in Italian weddings by the lake, where they use the inside rooms for the dinner, and the terrace for the pre-dinner drinks and appetizers.

Here are a few ideas to help you envision what I am talking about:

If you choose to opt for the Italian restaurant meal, all you have to do is ask for white table cloths, or perhaps you might want to go with a rustic red gingham one. And then bring your flower decorations in. Make sure everything complements the restaurant decor, not too look too clashy, unless you don’t mind.

Italian Wedding Ceremony

Do you know that a civil union is the most popular choice among Italians?

That’s why it’s very common to go for a delicious Italian meal afterwards.

Of course, there are people who plan their civil union ceremony as part of their venue, and bring an officiant on location, after the necessary arrangements and legal procedures.

That’s what we did.

Civil unions are the most common option in the North, especially in Lombardy (the region of Milan). As you move further down throughout the Italian peninsula the percentage of civil unions drops slightly, with more church weddings in the South.

I believe that getting married in church or opting for a civil union shouldn’t have anything to do with your Italian wedding theme. Just choose based on how religious you are, how you were brought up, what feels right to you and your husband to be.

I grew up in a family with split religious customs. My mum’s family was super religious, catholic to be specific, with my grandparents going to church daily, and my uncles and aunties going weekly.

On the other hand, my dad’s side was not religious at all. My grandma prayed, but they only went to church to attend special occasions like weddings and baptisms. 

While I attended church a lot when I was staying with my mother’s family, I didn’t go to church regularly with my parents, and as I got older and older I realized that I believed in God, but not so much in the church. I don’t want to offend anyone, or have anyone come at me. We are all free to have our opinions and beliefs. I am just sharing my thoughts and opinions. We live in a free world, and I know my audience is intelligent and open minded.

What I am trying to say is that you do you. Forget what your parents want, and do what feels right to you and your fiancé. After all, it’s your wedding day, not theirs!

Of course, once you make your mind, you can carry your Italian theme decor into the church, or into your civil ceremony setting – mainly with flowers.

We had it set up on the terrace by the sea. It was an intimate wedding with a few guests. We had beautiful chairs, a floral arch around the ceremony table, but the main piece of decor was the view!

At the end of the ceremony our guests threw silver artificial rose petals, because that was the accent color I picked. If you want a more Italian traditional option, choose white rice, but be careful it doesn’t land in anyone’s eyes or mouth!

Italian Wedding Food

This is the most important aspect of every respectful Italian wedding, so if you want to have a true Italian wedding theme, you need to invest in your wedding food. 

These are my most useful tips:

1. Pick the best caterer you can afford, even better if he specializes in Italian food, and preferably if the business owners are Italian.
   
   
2. Don’t skimp on food, the more the merrier.
   
   
3. Where possible, always opt for a sit down dinner as opposed to a finger foods reception. Most Italians hate the latter, and while your guests might not be Italian, do that if you value the traditional aspect.
   
   
4. If you like the idea of finger foods, you can start with a standing reception with pre-dinner drinks and aperitivo style appetizers in the form of nibbles.
   
   Then, move onto the sit down dinner, with at least one pasta and a main course. The best idea is to let your guests pick their favorite pasta and main course options beforehand.
   
   Then, you can have the dessert table and cake table, where everyone helps themselves with the desserts, while also being served a slice of the wedding cake. Or you can have the desserts be placed on the tables family style, and everyone can help themselves to what they want.
   
   
5. In terms of aperitivo food nibbles, pick food that you love but also know that your family and friends love. And if you have many guests on your list, the safest option is to go with the classics, and have plenty for everyone to pick their favorites.
   
   
6. Pasta is an Italian favorite, so you might want to serve two or three options. That can be done with the waiters serving each individual plate, or family style, where everyone helps themselves. The latter can get messy, and it’s not suited for a fancier wedding.
   
   
7. If you like my tip number 6, you only have to ask your guests to RSVP with their main course choice. I suggest you give them three to four options – one fish, one meat or chicken, and one vegetarian/vegan.

In terms of specific menu ideas, you can never go wrong with true Italian classics. Let me list a few for each course.

Appetizers

• Antipasti selection or entire antipasti tables with a vast selection of cheeses, Italian hams, pickled olives and other vegetables, crackers, grissini, taralli, fresh Italian bread, focaccia, dips and spreads, extra virgin olive oil & balsamic dips.
• Meat or fish Carpaccio
• Vitello tonnato
• Meat or fish Tartare
• Mini parmigiana
• Mini caprese salad
• Fried calamari and prawns
• Mini arancini balls

Of course, you can take these ideas and turn them into separate finger foods too.

Pasta

I suggest choosing your pasta dish based on the overall theme and vibe of your wedding. You should opt with more family style traditional dishes if that’s the vibe you want, or fancier options like fresh pastas from tortellini to ravioli.

• Norma Pasta
• Carbonara
• Amatriciana
• Basil Pesto
• Pistachio Pesto
• Seafood Pasta
• Tortellini in broth
• Stuffed ravioli with pumpkin, or ricotta and spinach, or any other flavor of your choice with simple sauces.

Main Courses

Simpler options will likely be safest when it comes to your main courses. Rather than elaborate sauces that many of your guests might not like, opt for simple meats and fishes with classic Italian herbs, and side dishes. Here are my suggestions.

• Salt-baked seabass with a side of potatoes and fresh vegetables
• Roast beef with a bubbly wine sauce and a side of potatoes and vegetables
• Sicilian or Apulian Braciole for a more rustic Italian option
• Beef tagliata with an olive oil and sage reduction
• Lobster Medallions in Prosecco Cream Sauce

For vegetarians and vegans consider these options:

• polenta with mushrooms
• parmigiana
• stuffed zucchini, eggplants, peppers, or a mix of those three
• cauliflower breaded steaks inspired by the cotoletta alla Milanese
• a vegetable tart with Italian flavors – lemon and asparagus, or caramelized onions with walnuts and blue cheese.

Italian Wedding Cake & Desserts

Keep it simple and classy. It’s my overall advice for your cake and the entire Italian wedding theme.

A three tiered wedding cake, all white or ivory, with a few embossed icing designs, or perhaps a few flowers, depending on your overall theme, is all you need. It will look gorgeous and elegant.

Here is an  idea of what I mean. And mine was fairly similar.

In terms of Italian wedding cake flavors, the most typical in Italy is a plain vanilla one, like Chantilly cream. You can also choose lemon cream, pistachio cream, or add a fruit component.

Millefoglie or diplomatico cakes have become popular, but I would suggest sticking to the classic cake if you value the tradition, and then having mini millefoglie pastries as the extra desserts.

Other traditional Italian desserts that you might want to add to your wedding dessert table include these: paste di mandorla (traditional almond cookies), mini tiramisu cups, mini cassata cake, and mini cannoli. If it’s a summer wedding, don’t forget gelato and/or sorbet. 

If you want more food and dessert ideas, come connect with me in my email list, and ask away.

Italian Wedding Invitations

We call them partecipazioni di matrimonio. In terms of aesthetic, the options are endless, and you should let your wedding theme guide you. 

If you want to simplify things, go with the most traditional option – a white or cream or ivory high quality invitation card and envelope. It can be shiny or matte, embossed or not, as long as it looks elegant and good quality.

Pick an elegant handwriting style font, and use black, or a metallic color. Black is the most traditional option.

Keep the design elements to a minimum, focusing on the feel and look of the paper and envelope.

That’s what we did, and that’s what many Italians do.

And in case you’re wondering, yes you can include a small card giving details of the wedding gift. Just keep it short, classy, and make it sound like the gift is optional.

Italian Wedding Favors

This is a very important part of every Italian wedding, a custom that has spread across the world.

It’s really simple. For us Italians, wedding favors usually involve two parts: a little ornament to give our guests, and a small sachet with a few almond confetti. 

We call the ornament bomboniera. An example is a small piece of Murano glass. That’s the favor we chose for our wedding. It was a small oval plate and we picked ivory to go with our wedding colors. My dress was ivory.

Depending on your wedding theme, you could go with small pieces of ceramics – perhaps Sicilian ceramics, or Amalfi theme ceramics, vintage cutlery, etc. However, my best advice would be to stick to something that you know everyone will love – and that’s food. Ceramics will not fit everyone’s home decor vibe, but a good quality EVOO or balsamic vinegar of Modena will please most people. 

The sugar coated almonds, which we call confetti, are a custom which dates back to ancient Rome, and they are a symbol of good luck, prosperity, and happiness for the newlyweds. White confetti are the most popular and traditional choice.

There’s a specific number that should be included in each sachet, and that’s 5 almonds, each representing a different best wish – fertility, a long life, health, wealth, and happiness. 

The sachets – you can simply search confetti bags online; they are usually small clear fabric bags with a drawstring closure.

More Italian Wedding Inspo

I haven’t touched on Italian wedding dresses because I plan to do a separate post about that and groom suits.

The same holds for Italian wedding flowers and table decor, although I have given you a little bit of inspiration about that here.

In the meantime, you can have a look at these posts where I touched on a few aspects of Italian weddings:

Italian Hair
Italian Makeup
Italian Nails
Italian Suits for Women (in case you’re thinking of getting married in a suit)
Italian Men Outfits

You might also like this article where I share about Italian wedding traditions.

If it’s your first time on my blog, I hope you found this post helpful and inspiring. Please give it a heart and share it with a friend who is getting married.

If you love Italy and everything Italian, and would like a weekly chat with an Italian friend, I invite you to join Buona Settimana. It’s my weekly newsletter that lands in your inbox every Sunday. You can sign up via the sign up boxes in this post.

I also invite you to have a look at my other posts. I write a lot about Italian fashion, share delicious Italian recipes, and Italian travel guides, but you’ll also find posts to help you learn Italian, and even plan your move there. Start browsing here.

Happy wedding planning or dreaming.

A presto,
Alessia