Italy Elopement Packages & Guide

How to elope IN Italy

So you’ve weighed the options and you really want your Italy adventure to include your legal wedding ceremony. Here are the steps you need to follow if you are a US citizen that wants to elope in Italy. If you are eloping from another country, consult the Italian embassy in your home country for information and requirements. 

First of all, you’ll need to provide the following documentation:

Civil or religious ceremonies require multiple steps. It is recommended that you contact an Italian Consulate office well in advance of your trip to fully understand what is required and ensure that you fully understand the requirements and timelines. Generally, you’ll need to do the following for a civil ceremony:

• An affidavit, Nulla Osta or Dichiarazione Giurata sworn before a consular office of your home country, stating that there’s no legal impediment to your marriage in your home country
• An Atto Notorio signed by two witnesses, attesting that there is no legal impediment to your marriage
• A declaration of intent to marry that will go to the civil registrar

There is also a waiting period of up to 2 weeks from when you sign the affidavits to your wedding day. This waiting period can usually be waived for non-Italian citizens, but how much depends on the locality. Be sure to check with the consulate and local officials as far in advance as possible to make sure you’re prepared. 

Commitment Ceremonies in Italy

The easiest way to get married

When you choose to elope in Italy, you’ll have to decide how you want to legally get married. As you can see above, the requirements for a legal wedding in Italy can be a bit much for a lot of couples, which is why I recommend having a commitment ceremony, and then doing all the legal paperwork back home.

A commitment ceremony is a legit wedding ceremony that isn’t legally recognized. You can still do everything in a regular ceremony – exchange vows, rings, intentions – you just won’t sign legal paperwork that moment.

Saving the legal paperwork for back home makes the day easier and relaxed, and gives you the space to truly immerse yourself in the moment. I highly recommend considering a commitment ceremony.

Planning and Logistics Help

Especially for destination elopements, it’s important to choose a photographer who has experience with the type of elopement you want AND your elopement location. If you want an adventurous elopement, you’ll definitely want someone who has experience in a more unpredictable environment. 

Another part of planning your Italy elopement is deciding what type of elopement to have. There are multiple types of weddings in Italy, and many couples opt for a symbolic elopement, meaning that they file their official marriage license paperwork in their home country either before or after their Italy elopement. For more on how to elope in Italy, check out this guide.

Not to brag…but planning and logistics are kind of my jam. This comes from my experience with elopements all over the world, and also the time I take to get to know my Amores. All of my elopement packages include simple planning assistance and vendor help, unlimited consultations and questionnaires to make sure I fully understand you as a couple so I can help you have an experience that is uniquely crafted for you.

How Much Time Will You Need for Your Italy Elopement Package? 

One of the questions I hear most from couples is: How much time will I need? The answer is, it depends! Since no two elopements are exactly alike, the amount of time needed is highly variable. That said, here are some general guidelines of what to expect when you elope in Italy:

1. Getting ready photos: 30 min – 3 hours. This is where you start to tell the full story of your incredible day.
   
2. Hiking: Plan on 45-60 minutes per mile depending upon the difficulty and what you are doing when you elope in Italy. You’d rather plan for hiking to take longer than expected and have extra time, then under plan the time it takes and rush to do whatever you want to do. An experienced photographer will be able to give you more specific guidance as to how long a particular hike should take.
   
3. Star photos: Want some truly epic photos? Wait until the sun goes down! You want to start these 30 minutes after sunset, or finish no later than 30 before sunrise. Star photos can take a long time, up to thirty minutes or an hour, because you need to stand very still, sometimes for 5 – 10 seconds at a time, for a single photo. 
   
4. Ceremony: These are 10 – 20 minutes on average depending on vows, unity activities. If it’s a religious ceremony with a lot of scripture, you will likely need more time. 
   
5. First Look: This can take 5 – 10 minutes. Add more time if it will take a while to get to your dream location.
   
6. Post-Ceremony Photos: These can be anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours. They can involve activities such as picnics, songs, dance, or anything else that is meaningful to you as a couple. You won’t be posing for pictures the whole time as you’ll be enjoying your activity, but you’ll want those spontaneous moments captured! 
   
7. Post Ceremony Party: Again, this will be different for each elopement. It could be anything from a 1 hour backyard get together with cake cutting, to a several hour party with dancing, toasts, meals, and shenanigans!
   
8. Intimate session: This is a session where you and your partner are more intimate. This could be on a bed, shower, jacuzzi, in your underwear or even naked. It’s a chance for you two to really get close to each other, and let your emotions be vulnerable. I recommend at least an hour for these sessions.

“BLOWN AWAY! Those are the words I feel best describe our wedding experience with Adam Amit. To say that Adam made the whole process a breeze would be an understatement!” – April & Devon