Italy is a stunning place for an elopement. The vast and diverse landscape can bring you so many different things, such as the Italian Dolomites, The Amalfi Coast, Ancient structures, and so much more. This guide is going to go over everything you need to consider, such as locations, crowds, seasons, and permits. Read on to find out exactly how to elope in Italy, and see the most beautiful Italy elopement locations.

Where is Italy

Italy is in Southern Europe, with a coastline along the Mediterranean Sea. If you’re flying into Italy from the US, there are a few major airports that you can fly into. Leonardo da Vinci International Airport is located near Rome, and is the biggest and busiest airport. Milan Malpensa Airport is the second biggest, and a great one to fly into if you’re headed to the northern part of Italy, such as the dolomites. Finally, Naples International Airport is the best airport to fly into for southern Italy, such as the Amalfi Coast.

When to Elope in Italy

The best time to elope in Italy is the Spring and Fall, as the off season brings in less crowds, as well as discounted rates on flights and accommodations. However, each season brings something different to Italy, and the weather is different in specific places, such as northern Italy vs Southern Italy. It’s a good idea to decide what meets you and your partners needs the most, and then pick a time of year based on research. Here is what each season looks like in Italy:

Spring

Spring is a beautiful time in Italy. The temps are mild and lovely, at around 55-75 degrees. This is the time of year where everything is green, and flowers are blooming. Not to mention, there are way less crowds. If you’re looking into eloping at a more popular spot in Italy, the shoulder season (spring) is going to be a great time for that! If you’re interested in the dolomites (northern Italy) some things in higher elevation will still be snow covered and inaccessible.

Summer

Summers in Italy are vibrant and incredible, however, there are a few things to consider here. It will be peak beach season, so places like the Amalfi Coast will be a lot busier, and more expensive. Places like Rome, Naples, and Sicily can get very hot, sometimes even up to 100 degrees. However, the mountains are perfect in summer. The temps are cooler than in the more central and southern regions. And everything is fully accessible as all the snow has melted. Overall, summer is the best time to elope in Italy if you’re looking to be in the mountains or northern regions.

Fall

Fall is one of my favorite times for an elopement in Italy (September to November) The changing of colors are absolutely stunning. And of course, you can still easily get temps within the mid to high 70’s in early fall. The mountains are still fully accessible prior to new snowfall. And finally, crowds have once again quieted down. This will give you more freedom to explore without being surrounded with people!

Winter

Winter can be a beautiful time of year in Italy. The mountains will start getting snow, and the temps will range from the 30’s to 40’s. Central Italy is a bit more mild, ranging at about 40-50 degrees. Places such as Florence and Rome rarely see snow. Southern Italy tends to stay mild, at around 50-60 degrees. This is an amazing time for an elopement in Sicily, The Amalfi Coast, or Naples. This is when there are the least amount of people, and temps are still great for couples who don’t crave heat!

How to Get a Marriage License in Italy

You do not need to be a resident of Italy to get married here, and you have two different options for this. First, you can go the simple route. This includes going to your local courthouse prior to your elopement, and doing the paperwork there. This ensures that you’ll be legally married, and can simply celebrate your union in Italy!

However, if it’s important to you to do the legal bits abroad, here is how to get a marriage license in Italy:

First, you must prove that you are legally free to marry. In Italy, this is typically done by obtaining a “nulla osta” (certificate of no impediment) from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You will need for this, an Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry. Obtain an affidavit from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Italy, declaring that there are no legal impediments to your marriage. You need to make an appointment for this at the Embassy or Consulate. Here are the Documents Required for the Affidavit:

• Valid U.S. passport.
• Birth certificate.
• Proof of termination of any previous marriages (divorce decree or death certificate)
• The affidavit needs to be translated into Italian and legalized with an apostille from the Secretary of State from the U.S. state where it was issued.

Next, you will need to book the ceremony! You will need to contact the town hall (comune) where you plan to marry to book the date and time for your wedding ceremony. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Passports.
• Nulla osta.
• Banns (if applicable).
• Additional documentation as required by the local comune.

Finally, after the marriage, the officiant will register your marriage with the local vital records office. You should obtain a certified copy of the marriage certificate! Request a certified copy of the marriage certificate from the town hall (comune) where the marriage was registered. And if you need the marriage certificate for use in the U.S., have it translated into English and legalized with an apostille.

How to Elope in Italy

You plan a Italy elopement in similar ways as you’d plan any adventure elopement. There are a few major steps, and you can read about those here on my thorough guide on how to elope. For this Italy elopement guide, I’m going over the major things you’ll need to consider!

1. DECIDE IF YOU’RE HAVING GUESTS

This is an imperative part of the planning process for elopements. This is because some guests won’t have the hiking ability, some might not be able to travel, and some locations will have a cap on how many guests you’re allowed to have. Choosing a location will be much easier once you’ve determine who you’re inviting, and how many guests total you’ll have.

2.HIRE YOUR ITALY ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER

This might feel early in the planning process, but bear with me. Elopements don’t have wedding planners. Most elopement photographers have taken it upon themselves to help couples with some of the planning. Many actually help you find your location! And they will think of things you might not have considered, such as: lighting, elevation, difficulty in hiking in a dress, permits, and so much more.

Each elopement photographer offers something different. Personally, I send my couples a customized list of locations based on their preferences, hiking ability, who they want to invite, and what they want to see. I also help them determine lodging options, get permits, get their marriage license, recommend vendors, and create a comprehensive day of timeline, and offer unlimited guidance calls for any questions along the way.

The being said, hiring your Italy elopement photographer early is going to take a massive amount of planning stress off of your shoulders. Wanna chat? Contact me here!

3.DETERMINE WHAT WEATHER YOU WANT TO BE IN

This is going to help you choose a date and location. Some areas are more mild year round, while some get very hot or very cold. Determine what type of weather you want to be in, and research what each season brings, and this will greatly help you determine a time of year for your elopement, as well as a general region.

4.PICK YOUR ITALY ELOPEMENT LOCATION

Once you’ve decided on how much you’d like to hike, how many guests are coming, your ideal weather, and the landscapes you want, you’re ready to deep dive into researching Italy elopement locations. Finding the perfect spot will be a lot simpler after considering all of your needs and logistics.

This is information I collect from my couples through a questionnaire, and then use to make a customized list of Italy elopement location options for them.

5.HIRE VENDORS

Once you have your location, it’s time to consider if there’s anything you need vendors for. Do you need any event rentals? Do you want a friend or family to officiate, or do you want to hire an officiant? Will you go out to eat, or do you want something catered, like a meal at an Airbnb from a private chef?

Figure out what extra services you may want, and hire your vendors in advance!

6.GET YOUR PERMITS

You will need to get the correct permits for your elopement. These are usually “special use” permits that you apply for on the National Parks website, or National Forest/BLM website.

Personally, I get all permit information for my eloping couples that hire me. With that, all you need to do is fill out the application when it’s sent to you and pay the fee. Fee’s vary, but are usually around $150 or less.

7.CHOOSE ADDITIONAL ELOPEMENT ACTIVITIES

Activities are such a fun part of an elopement. When you choose to elope, you’re opening yourself up to having a wedding day celebration that feels unique and resonates with you. Incorporate things that will elevate your elopement day experience. Here’s just a few ideas to get you brainstorming:

• Going on a hike
• Having a bonfire
• Having a picnic on a mountain top
• Star-gazing or astrophotography
• Swimming
• Cliff jumping
• Visiting waterfalls
• Gondala ride
• Dinner in a private mountain chalet
• Hiring a private chef
• Hot air balloon ride
• Visiting historic landmarks

8. MAKE A DAY-OF TIMELINE

Making a timeline is an important part of any elopement. It strings together all of your locations, activities, and lets guests know where to be and when. Creating a well thought out timeline will help you feel relaxed during the day, instead of stressed or rush. Make sure to include drive times as well as buffer times between each “event.”

Here are the things I include in the timelines I make for my couples:

• All addresses
• Sunrise time
• Sunset time
• Drive times
• A linke to Accuweather
• A list of all names for group shots
• Vendor info
• Emergency contact info
• A packing list

Lodging in Italy

Lodging is important when it comes to elopements. A lot of couples incorporate their lodging into aspects of their wedding day. For example, getting ready + getting ready photos, a first look, an intimate reception with friends, a dinner made by a private chef, etc. Once you’ve decided what you’ll incorporate in your day, pick a location that will allow everything you want to include.

If you want to host an intimate reception, I highly recommend a vacation rental such as a cabin or an Airbnb. You can also stay at hotels, resorts, chalets, campgrounds, etc. Here are some amazing lodging options near Italy:

• Sextanrio Le Grotte Delle Civita
• Monteverdi Tuscany
• Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli
• Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel
• List of Chalets in Italy
• List of Airbnbs in Italy
• List of Villas in Italy

How Much Does it Cost to Elope in Italy

Obtaining the affidavit and certificate from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate can cost around $50-$100, translating documents into Italian and obtaining apostilles can cost approximately $50-$200 per document, and the cost of the marriage license and registration at the town hall varies by location but is typically between $50-$200. So technically, it’ll cost around $500 to get married in Italy. That being said, most couples spend an average of $5000-$25,000 on destination elopements. This includes flights, lodging, permits, vendors, wedding attire, meals, and anything extra a couple might want.

Italy Elopement Locations

There are endless amounts of Italy elopement locations to choose from. From mountains, islands, cities, and more. As an elopement photographer, I make a customized location list for my couples based on their needs, this includes: landscape, drive times, how much they do or don’t want to hike, ideal weather, and guest count. For now, here are some of the top stunning elopement locations in Italy:

Lake Como

The Italian Dolomites

Sicily

Tuscany

Puglia

The Amalfi Coast

Venice

Apulia

Cinque Terre

Capri

Italy Elopement Packages

Elopement photography by Emilee Setting Photo, and everything included in my packages:

• Explore anywhere within Italy, all travel fees included in the price!
• Packages from half day elopements to multi-day elopements
• Receive a customized location list
• Help finding lodging that suits your needs if you’re having an intimate reception
• Included comprehensive timeline design
• Help obtaining your permits
• Help obtaining your marriage license
• A planning checklist
• Unlimited planning and guidance calls 
• All of your stunning photos delivered under three months
• Day of polaroid sneak peeks

Italy elopement packages starting at $8800. Want more information on my pricing and what’s included? Click here

Ready to Elope in Italy?

This Italy elopement guide is a way to get you excited about all the possibilities of what your day could look like. Although, this amount of information can be overwhelming. I’m here to help. I can answer any and all questions you have on a complimentary low pressure consultation call. If you then choose you’d like to work together, I’ll do all of this planning right by your said to alleviate any stress, and bring your Italy elopement vision to life. We can chat here!