Italy has many beautiful cities, but did you know that a Sicily wedding may be your dream come true?
Sicily is famous for having Italy’s largest island. Its stunning baroque architecture, pristine beaches, and many archeological sites make this a perfect location for your destination wedding.
Our comprehensive guide explores some of the reasons you should consider a Sicily destination wedding, tips on how to get there, and some of the best venues to consider for your special day.
Table of Contents
Best Venues for Your Sicily Destination Wedding
About Destination Weddings in Sicily
Legal Requirements for Weddings in Sicily
Sicily Destination Wedding Planning Tips
Average Room Price: $1000+
Drive Time to Airport: 50 minutes
Number of Rooms: 70
Weddings Per Day: 1
All Inclusive: Yes
Adult Only: No
LGBTQ Friendly: Yes
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The Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo is the most beautiful backdrop for your vacation wedding. If you want a romantic marriage, this hotel should be at the top of your selection. It provides couples with personalized wedding deals to ensure their big day is special and spectacular.
Belmond Grand Hotel is surrounded by steep hills and overlooks the Island’s beach. It is about 50 minutes from Catania Airport and can house up to 250 guests for a reception. Its 44 guestrooms and 26 suites have balconies and patios, breathtaking views of Mount Etna, beautiful design, and marble baths.
Exchange your vows on the Ganimede Terrace, which overlooks Mount Etna, and then proceed to the opposite end for cocktail hour. Depending on your preference, you can have dinner inside or outside in the Afrodite Hall. For a more private celebration, take your vows in Efesto Hall. Zeus Hall is a great place to have fun dancing to your favorite music.
Have a walk across the six-acre park or Lay back by the beautiful pool. Additionally, recharge at the modern spa, which offers a variety of treatments, or stretch at the hotel’s fitness facility. Trips outside the hotel include guided tours, helicopter flights, boat rentals, and more.
Average Room Price: $400 to $1000
Drive Time to Airport: 40 minutes
Number of Rooms: 11
Weddings Per Day: 1
All Inclusive: Yes
Adult Only: No
LGBTQ Friendly: Yes
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Dimora Delle Balze is a beautiful 19th-century villa in the heart of the Sicilian countryside. It has lush gardens and olive groves in its surroundings. The owners restored the historic estate to its former glory. It has a mix of traditional architecture and modern facilities, making it an exceptional location for a wedding celebration.
The villa’s wonderful environment offers amazing views of the Sicilian landscape, offering a romantic and idyllic backdrop for your special day. It’s the ideal setting for a magical wedding. You can hold symbolic rituals at Dimora Delle Balze and catholic ceremonies in Noto’s churches.
Their expertise and support will ensure a stress-free, smooth celebration, from arranging transportation to coordinating with vendors. Say your vows in the lush gardens or the magnificent courtyard, surrounded by the aroma of Sicilian flowers and the Mediterranean sea wind. Have a drink by the pool and relish a delicious food experience in the primary courtyard.
The hotel has 11 spacious rooms, a pool, and a lemon grove. The towns of Syracuse and Noto are about 30 kilometers apart. So, you can visit various fine dining establishments, exhibition spaces, and museums in the cities.
In the peak season, Dimora Delle Balze demands a minimum visit of three nights, while a minimum stay of two nights in the low season.
Average Room Price: $1000+
Drive Time to Airport: 50 minutes
Number of Rooms: 122
Weddings Per Day: 1
All Inclusive: Yes
Adult Only: No
LGBTQ Friendly: Yes
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Begin your new life in the spectacular San Domenico Palace Taormina. It is a luxurious 5-star hotel in Taormina, a picturesque town on the east coast of Sicily, Italy. The hotel is housed in a former Dominican monastery that dates back to the 15th century. Situated on a hill overlooking the Ionian Sea, the hotel offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
The magnificent venue exudes timeless grandeur and beauty. San Domenico Palace, which overlooks the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna, allows couples to enjoy Sicily’s magnificent paradise. The hotel offers a variety of wedding packages that ensure fantastic service and a personalized experience.
Say your vows in the beautiful Chiesa Ballroom, which has an altar, and then walk out for cocktails on the sea-view terraces or Italian gardens. Take photographs of beautiful scenery or sip wine and enjoy the warm Mediterranean heat.
After your wedding, treat yourself at the Botanica Spa or unwind in the pool while looking at the beautiful Mount Etna. San Domenico Palace Taormina offers excellent facilities, including a spa, fitness center, two swimming pools, and exceptional dining options. The hotel’s restaurants serve delicious and authentic Sicilian cuisine made with the freshest local ingredients, ensuring a memorable dining experience for wedding guests.
Average Room Price: $400 to $1000
Drive Time to Airport: 30 minutes
Number of Rooms: 14
Weddings Per Day: 1
All Inclusive: Yes
Adult Only: No
LGBTQ Friendly: Yes
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Have you ever dreamed of getting married in a Castle? Well, your dream might come true at Castello Camemi. Built-in the 15th Century, the now five stars hotel is in Eastern Sicily, a lovely countryside overlooking the hills of Val di Noto. This historic castle-turned-hotel offers a unique and romantic setting for couples looking to tie the knot in style.
Exchange your vows in the garden surrounded by beautiful trees and lush green foliage. Celebrate your reception with an Aperitif closer to the castle walls or at the classic-style lounge. You can also take beautiful shots with the hills as your backdrop.
Castello Camemi has different wedding packages depending on the couple’s needs. The hotel’s expert wedding planners can help you plan every detail of your big day, from the ceremony and reception to accommodations and transportation.
After the ceremony, head to the pool garden for the cutting of the cake and a dancing party. The on-site restaurant offers a delicious array of traditional Sicilian cuisine made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients.
You and your guests can stay in some of the elegantly furnished rooms of Castello Camemi and enjoy facilities like the Jacuzzi and a fireplace. The castle’s elegant reception rooms and dining areas provide the perfect setting for a sophisticated and memorable wedding celebration.
Average Room Price: $400 to $1000
Drive Time to Airport: 80 minutes
Number of Rooms: 203
Weddings Per Day: 1
All Inclusive: Yes
Adult Only: No
LGBTQ Friendly: Yes
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Verdura Resort is another fantastic Sicily wedding venue featuring a private coastline, an exclusive infinity pool, and coastal golf courses. Surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, this stunning resort is an idyllic setting for a dream wedding celebration.
The resort offers a stunning backdrop for a picture-perfect wedding. It has lush gardens, pristine beaches, and sweeping views of the sea and mountains. Say I Do at the sea-view terrace of the Liola restaurant, on the fascinating amphitheater with olive trees, or on the well-kept, lush green golf course.
If you’re planning a grand celebration, want to hire the entire resort, or need something intimate with your close family and friends, you’ll find a package that suits you. Enjoy an uninterrupted view from one of the 203 rooms. You may also relax in the hot tub as you catch up with friends online.
After the ceremony, play golf at one of the 18-hole golf courses. Taste the rich Sicilian cuisine at one of the four restaurants and sip some cocktails as you enjoy live entertainment.
The resort is easily accessible from major airports and cities in Europe, making it a convenient destination for guests traveling worldwide. And guests can enjoy all of Sicily’s attractions and activities once they arrive. They can explore historic towns and landmarks to savor the delicious local cuisine and wines.
About Destination Weddings in Sicily
Sicily is not just a designer’s hub; the charming island offers much more. Find out more on why you should consider a Sicily wedding.
Why Get Married in Sicily
Some of the reasons you should get married in Sicily are:
Beautiful Landscapes and Charming Beaches
Natural landscapes and beautiful beaches surround Sicily. You can opt to have a countryside wedding close to Mount Etna and enjoy stunning views of the Island’s east coast or exchange your vows on one of the charming beaches as you enjoy a cool breeze and experience the turquoise sea.
Additionally, Sicily has a warm climate year-round.
There are endless wedding location options in Sicily, making it one of the best places for a destination wedding.
Get to Experience the Fusion of Cultures
Sicily is full of history. Everywhere you get to step has a historical background dating back to the Spaniards, Arabs, the French, and Greek. You’ll notice the mix of cultures from Sicily’s unique architecture. Famous places like the baroque Palazzos of Modica, Piazza Armerina, and the Greek temple are must-visit.
Lots of Activities to Explore
Whether planning an elopement or inviting close family and friends, Sicily has lots of activities to keep you busy.
Sip some cocktails as you watch the sunset at the beach club, go on a historical walking tour in Taormina, or visit the Syracuse archeological park for some archeology and history.
Average Cost of a Destination Wedding in Sicily
The average cost of a destination wedding in Sicily is $35,000. That includes the wedding venue and a wedding package for up to 100 people.
Expect to pay more or less, depending on wedding extras, accommodation, and when you book your flights.
Legal Requirements for Weddings in Sicily
While anyone can have a Sicily destination wedding, there are legal requirements you need to meet.
Here’s everything you need to know about getting married in Sicily and the paperwork requirements.
Legal Weddings Vs. Symbolic Weddings
Sicily offers you the option to have a legal or symbolic ceremony, depending on your preferences.
However, you should note that you can only have a civil wedding in an authorized venue like a town hall and have the ceremony conducted by a local government official. Furthermore, you need to have the paperwork sorted before arriving in Italy.
Alternatively, you can have a symbolic ceremony in Sicily if you’d rather avoid the hassle of getting the paperwork or being limited in terms of your wedding venue.
A symbolic Sicily ceremony gives you more options for wedding styles and locations.
Required Legal Documents & Cost
As an American citizen, you’ll need:
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- Valid passports or IDs
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- Am Atto Notorio from your nearest Italian Embassy
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- Get the Nulla Osta from the U.S. consulate in Italy
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- Previous marriage certificates and Decree Absolute depending on the times you’ve been married
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- The widow or widower needs to produce the marriage certificate and earth certificate of the previous spouse
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- Witnesses over 18 years
The Nulla Osta needs to certify that there are no impediments to marriage according to the country’s laws. It should include your name, date, place of birth, citizenship, birth certificate of both parents, and free status.
If the Nulla Osta doesn’t have birth and maternity/paternity information, a birth certificate must be issued by the country of origin and translated.
Note that the Nulla Osta expires after six months.
Costs of Legal Paperwork
The cost of legal paperwork includes:
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- $20 for the Atto Notorio
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- $50 for the Nulla Osta
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- €16,00 for the legalization of the Nulla Osta
Legal Marriage Timeline
Sicily has no requirements for the number of days you must be there before getting married.
Nonetheless, if you plan on having a Civil ceremony, you must start planning early to submit all your paperwork. Arriving a week before your wedding gives you ample time to submit the documents and collect the finalized Nulla Osta.
Sicily Destination Wedding Planning Tips
Sicily has everything you need to make your dream wedding a reality.
However, if this is your first time in Italy or Sicily, you may need help navigating this beautiful island and planning a wedding.
Here are some handy wedding planning tips to have in mind.
How to Get There
Sicily has four international airports. Aeroporto di Palermo to the northwest and Aeroporto di Catania on the east coast. The majority of international flights land and depart from these two airports.
Aeroporto di Comiso and Trapani-Birgi Airport are on the southeast and west coast, respectively. These are smaller airports, and most budget airlines land at either of the two.
Note that there are no direct flights to Sicily from the United States. You need to change planes at another airport in Europe or within Italy.
Swiss Air, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Alitalia have flights to Sicily.
On average, a flight from New York to Catania takes 14 hours, from Boston to Comiso 16 hours and 20 minutes, and from Newark to Catania 14 hours and 15 minutes.
You can also take a bus to Sicily. Eurolines has buses to Rome. It takes 33 hours to get to Rome. There are Italian buses to Sicily from Rome’s Piazza Tiburtina to Palermo.
Alternatively, you can take the train from the Italian mainland to Sicily. The trip can take 12-15 hours.
Sicily Weather
Sicily has a Mediterranean climate, which means summers are dry and hot, while winters are often wet and mild.
Mid-June to early September is the summer season in Sicily. Temperatures average 80 degrees Fahrenheit and can go above 91 degrees Fahrenheit. July is the clearest month of the year. Summer is the peak tourist season, and you’ll find different venues and hotels packed. Prices for flights and hotels are also high. Sicily also hosts food fairs, cultural festivals, and concerts.
Fall in Sicily starts in September to November. The average temperature range from 81 degrees Fahrenheit to 67 degrees Fahrenheit. September and October are perfect months to visit Sicily if your wedding involves lots of exploration and excursions. There may be rain in November, but it’s also the best time to have a Sicily wedding as it’s the least crowded.
Winter in Sicily starts from December to February, with average temperatures ranging from 60 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit. The coldest months are January and February.
Budgeting Tips
Planning a Sicily wedding doesn’t have to be expensive.
Here are some tips on how to budget for a Sicily destination wedding.
Skip the Civil Ceremony
The costs of getting all the paperwork ready and translated can add up to your wedding budget. Apart from the documents, you’ll also need to pay a hefty rental price for the legal wedding venue.
However, with a symbolic ceremony, you can choose to get married in Sicily’s countryside, by the beach, or close to Mount Etna.
Have a Wedding During the Low Season
Scheduling your Sicily wedding on a weekday guarantees cheaper venue prices and discounted travel fares. Additionally, a weekday wedding during the low season allows you to explore Sicily without big crowds, which translates to a perfect arrangement.
Consider Working With a Wedding Planner
Working with a wedding planner gives you access to discounted rates. An experienced wedding planner knows the best venues for couples on a budget and the best suppliers in the city. That saves you money and reduces all the stress of getting every detail sorted.
Best Time of Year to Get Married in Sicily
The best time to get married in Sicily is between September to November.
That’s the Autumn season in Sicily, where temperatures are mild and the streets less crowded. You can still dip in the sea and enjoy the cool breeze as you Say I Do. You can also have a countryside ceremony and enjoy great rates as it’s low season.
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