Getting Married in Italy: A Practical Guide for International Couples
“How to turn the dream of an Italian wedding into an unforgettable reality — at the foot of Vesuvius”
The dream comes first
You’ve imagined it a hundred times. The golden light of a late afternoon in southern Italy. A table set beneath ancient vines. The scent of volcanic soil mingling with wild flowers. Your closest people, gathered in a place that feels like it exists outside of time.
Getting married in Italy isn’t just a trend. For couples from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and beyond, it’s a deeply felt desire — to mark the beginning of a shared life in a landscape that has stirred poets, painters, and lovers for centuries.
But between the dream and the day itself, there’s a path to navigate. And we’re here to help you walk it.
Why Campania — and why Bosco de’ Medici
Italy offers many backdrops for a wedding. The Tuscan hills, the Venetian lagoon, the Sicilian coast. All beautiful. All well-trodden.
Campania offers something rarer: an ancient land where history isn’t behind glass. Where you can stand in a vineyard planted on the same volcanic earth that buried Pompeii — and feel the weight of centuries beneath your feet, and the warmth of the sun on your face.
Bosco de’ Medici Wine Resort, located a few minutes from the archaeological site of Pompeii and the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, was born precisely in this fold of history. A working winery, a boutique resort, a wedding venue — all in one estate that has been producing wine from indigenous volcanic varieties for decades.
This is where couples come when they want more than a beautiful backdrop. They want a place that tells a story.
The legal side: what international couples need to know
Marrying abroad requires some planning on the administrative front. Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning a legal ceremony in Italy.
1. Civil vs. symbolic ceremony
Many international couples choose between two routes:
- Legal civil ceremony in Italy: Fully legally binding under Italian law. Requires documentation from your home country and is performed by the local Civil Registry (Comune).
- Symbolic ceremony: Not legally binding in Italy, but couples often marry legally at home before (or after) the Italian celebration. This option gives maximum creative freedom.
At Bosco de’ Medici, we support both formats. Our team has experience coordinating with both routes, and we can guide you toward the option that best fits your situation.
2. Documents required for a legal ceremony in Italy
If you opt for a fully legal ceremony, the documents typically required include:
- Valid passports for both parties
- Birth certificates (translated into Italian and apostilled)
- A Nulla Osta (Certificate of No Impediment) from your country’s consulate or embassy in Italy
- Declaration of marital status (stato libero)
Requirements can vary slightly depending on your nationality, so we always recommend consulting with your local Italian consulate early in the process — ideally 6 to 9 months before the wedding date.
3. Timing
The Italian Comune typically requires that the pubblicazione delle nozze (official announcement of marriage) be posted for at least 8 days before the ceremony. Factor this into your planning timeline.
Planning your wedding at Bosco de’ Medici: step by step
Step 1 — First contact and site visit
The process begins with a conversation. We invite couples to visit the estate in person whenever possible — to walk the grounds, taste the wines, meet the team. For those coming from abroad, we also offer detailed virtual consultations.
Step 2 — Choosing your date
Campania is a year-round destination, but each season offers a different atmosphere:
- Spring (April–June): blooming gardens, mild temperatures, long evenings — ideal for outdoor ceremonies
- Summer (July–August): vibrant and warm, best with late afternoon or early evening timing
- Autumn (September–October): harvest season at the winery, golden light, cooler air — perhaps the most atmospheric time of year
- Winter (November–March): intimate and quiet, perfect for smaller gatherings
Step 3 — Catering and menus
Food is not a detail at an Italian wedding. It is the celebration itself.
Our kitchen works with three menu tiers, all built around Campanian ingredients, seasonal produce, and the estate’s own wines. From the welcome aperitivo in the vineyard to the final toast, every moment at the table is designed to reflect the flavour of this land.
Step 4 — Accommodation
The estate has 18 rooms available for guests, making it possible for a close group to share the entire wedding weekend on-site. For larger parties, we work in partnership with Hotel Diana, our preferred overflow property nearby.
Step 5 — The ceremony itself
Whether civil, symbolic, or religious (held at a nearby church), the ceremony can be designed around your vision. We have coordinated ceremonies entirely in English, bilingual scripts, and even personalised rituals — such as a wine-blending ceremony, La Fusione, in which the couple pours their individual wines into a shared glass as a symbol of their union.
Step 6 — Vendors and coordination
We work with a trusted network of local vendors: florists, photographers, musicians, officiants (including English-speaking civil celebrants), hairstylists, and transfer services. You are free to bring your own vendors, and our coordination team will ensure everything runs seamlessly on the day.
A note on exclusivity
Bosco de’ Medici operates as a non-exclusive venue. On your wedding day, other guests may be staying at the resort or visiting the winery. We are transparent about this and work hard to ensure that private wedding spaces remain entirely dedicated to you. Many couples find that the living nature of the estate — the vines, the activity, the wine — adds authenticity rather than detracting from the experience.
Start your journey
The first step is always the simplest: reach out.
Our wedding team — led by Margherita Di Somma — is experienced in working with international couples from the very first enquiry to the final farewell. We speak English, we understand the logistical challenges of planning a wedding from abroad, and we genuinely love what we do.
