Italy’s wedding seasons at a glance
It may be a relatively small country but Italy has a diverse climate and countryside. Northern Italy experiences hot and humid summers paired with cold, foggy winters, with the Italian Alps getting lots of snow in winter. Southern Italy has a much more Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers paired with milder and rainier winters. The Central Italian regions such as Tuscany and Umbria bridge these two climates.
Spring weddings in Italy (March-May)
Why our couples love spring weddings: gorgeous flowers everywhere, al fresco ceremonies, not too many tourists.
Pros: Warm temperatures (15-20C, 59-68F average), beautiful light, affordable shoulder season.
Cons: chance of rain in north and central Italy.
Regions to consider for a spring Italian wedding: Tuscany, Lake Como, Amalfi Coast.
“Spring is actually my favorite time of year,” shares our Italian wedding planner Eleonora. “Vendors are feeling fresh as it’s the start of the wedding season, and it’s not too hot. It's the best time if you want fewer tourists but nice weather, plus you’ll get flowers in bloom, lush greenery and a breeze in the air."
Our couple Skyrl and Crystal made the most of seasonal blooms for their May wedding in Florence: both carried bouquets of pastel perfect peonies, and said their vows under an archway filled with a profusion of spring flowers.
Summer weddings in Italy (June-August)
Why our couples love a summer wedding: long evenings, beautiful golden light, outdoor ceremonies and receptions.
Pros: Guaranteed sunshine, lively atmosphere.
Cons: Heat (especially in July and August), higher costs, busy venues.
Regions to consider for a summer wedding: Amalfi Coast, Puglia, Sicily, Lake Garda.
“‘La dolce vita’ by the Mediterranean sea is what you'll get with a wedding in Italy in the summer time,” advises Eleonora. “It’s warm, the beaches and lakes are shining, and it's perfect al fresco dining time."
Our tip is to avoid the heat is to plan a sunset ceremony – you can still take advantage of the warm weather but avoid the midday sun.
For Australian couple Emily and Josh, Italy’s warm August weather was just what they were used to in their home country! Their summer Positano micro wedding was bathed in glorious sunshine, and meant they were able to say their vows outside in the cloisters of their stunning 13th-century venue.
Fall weddings in Italy (September–November)
Why our couples love a fall wedding: Harvest season, golden vineyards, softer light.
Pros: Ideal weather, fewer tourists, rich colors.
Cons: Shorter days, some venues close by late October.
Regions to consider for a fall wedding: Wine country, such as Tuscany, Umbria and Piedmont, for wonderful vineyard and harvest vibes.
By September, the summer heat has dispersed, there’s a wonderful softness to the air and the trees are putting on a wonderful show of color. “It's lovely to get married in Italy in the fall, as the foliage in the countryside is gorgeous, temperatures are still mostly mild and there are fewer tourists than in the summer," says Eleonora.
Keeley-shea and Dante’s autumn celebration in Tuscany is a fantastic example of this type of Italian fall wedding. The still-warm fall sunshine meant they could enjoy an al fresco ceremony with breathtaking views of the Cortona hills, which were lit up in autumnal colors.
Winter weddings in Italy (December–February)
Why our couples love a winter wedding: Magical holiday atmosphere, snow in the mountains, peaceful feel.
Pros: Lower costs, cozy venues, fewer tourists.
Cons: Limited daylight, cold weather in the north.
Regions to consider for a winter wedding: Rome, Venice, Florence, the Alps.
Winter is often underrated as a season to get married in Italy, but there are so many advantages to this time of year. “Winter is the best for an unconventional wedding in Italy: snowy white mountains, a cold breeze in the air, and beautiful Christmas lights decorating the city streets,” agrees Eleonora.
Dreaming of getting married in the snow? Head to the Italian Alps for mountain magic and enchanting winter landscapes. Cities such as Rome and Florence are also magical in winter (and have fewer tourists to share the magic with!), while countryside villas warmed by roaring log fires will create a wonderfully cozy atmosphere for your vows.
Emmanuel and Leslie made the most of their winter elopement in Rome with a photoshoot across all the city’s famous spots – the Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum. Because there are fewer tourists in January, they had plenty of space and time to get some truly beautiful shots as a newly married couple.
Other considerations for when to get married in Italy
Week day versus weekend
Weekdays weddings (Monday to Thursday) are generally cheaper, and you’ll also avoid the crowds in more tourist hotspots.
Italian holidays
There are several Italian holidays that can affect travel. These include:
- Christmas and New Year
- Easter
- Ferragosto (a public holiday on 15th August, around which many Italians also take longer vacations)
Also consider destination-specific festivals that might have an effect on your wedding plans, such as the Venice Carnival (late February-early March).
Your guest availability
If you’d like your loved ones to be with you for your Italian micro wedding, think about what time works best for them, considering things such as annual leave and school vacations.
Flight availability and cost
Flights are naturally more expensive during more popular times of year: spring, summer and Christmas. The advantage is that you’ll have more choice over routes and frequency.
Any significant dates in your relationship
You may want to get married in Italy based on a date that’s significant to you, such as when you got engaged, when you first said ‘I love you’, or the day you first met.
Top tips from our Italian destination wedding planner
Eleonora also recommends taking these elements into consideration when deciding when to get married in Italy.
Booking timeline
With at least 12-18 months you’ll be able to secure your top choice venue and vendors. But don’t worry: you can still definitely plan an amazing small wedding in Italy with less than a year to go – you may just need to make quicker decisions and be prepared to compromise over a few things.
The good news is that even with just a few months’ lead time, our extensive network of suppliers and venues means we can organize you a wonderful wedding with no stress and with all the elements taken care of!
Legal & religious paperwork
If you want to get legally married in Italy, rather than having a purely symbolic ceremony, you’ll need at least a few months to get all the paperwork sorted.
We’ve put together more information about legal wedding ceremonies in Italy which details everything you need to do for both religious and civil ceremonies.
Planning your Italian destination wedding
Whenever you choose to get married in Italy, we guarantee you’ll have a magical celebration. We’d love to help you plan your small Italian destination wedding, so pick from one of our all-inclusive packages and make it yours.
This article was created by:
Helen Dorritt
Helen is a writer and editor based in Bristol, UK. After five years sitting in the editor's chair of a bridal magazine, she now specialises in writing about all things wedding. You can find her on LinkedIn and The Wedding Wordsmith.
Eleonora Gobbo
Eleonora has been planning weddings since 2018 and has brought over 100 couples’ weddings to glorious life. A native of Turin, where she lives with her cute rescue dog Gaia, when she’s not planning weddings you’ll find her vintage shopping, curled up with a fashion magazine or watching Mad Men.