Italy has everything couples want from a destination wedding: villas with long views, food that guests talk about for years and a honeymoon on the doorstep. For same-sex couples there is one extra step, because Italy offers civil unions rather than marriage. This guide explains the legal side, compares the most popular regions and helps you decide between a legal ceremony in Italy and a symbolic one.
The legal side: civil unions, not marriage
Same-sex marriage is not available in Italy. Since 5 June 2016, Law No. 76/2016, often called the Cirinnà law after the senator who proposed it, has allowed same-sex couples to form a civil union (unione civile). A civil union carries many of the same rights as marriage, including inheritance and pension rights, but it is a separate legal status.
That leaves you with two main options.
Option 1: a civil union in Italy
Foreign couples can register a civil union at an Italian town hall (comune), but it takes paperwork and planning:
- Each of you usually needs a nulla osta, a certificate showing you are free to enter the union, issued through your own country.
- Documents generally need to be legalised or apostilled and translated into Italian.
- Some town halls set a gap between your first appointment and the ceremony, and procedures vary from one comune to the next.
Before you commit, check how your home country will treat an Italian civil union. Recognition rules differ, and they change. In the UK, GOV.UK and the British Embassy in Rome are the places to start; in the US, ask a family lawyer in your state.
Option 2: marry at home, celebrate in Italy
Most same-sex couples who wed in Italy choose this route. You complete the legal marriage at home, often a short register office or city hall ceremony with a few witnesses, then hold your full ceremony in Italy with a celebrant. Because the Italian ceremony is symbolic, there is no Italian paperwork, and you are free to hold it anywhere: a garden, a terrace, a vineyard or a lakeside lawn.
This route also avoids any question about recognition later, which matters for pensions, property and, for some couples, parenthood.
Where to have your wedding in Italy
Tuscany
The classic choice. Hilltop villas, cypress-lined drives and vineyards around Florence, Siena and the Chianti hills. Many villas take exclusive bookings for several nights, so your guests can stay together and the celebration can run over a long weekend. Florence and Pisa airports are both within reach.
Lake Como
Grand lakeside villas, gardens running down to the water and boats to move guests between towns. It suits smaller, elegant weddings, and Milan’s airports are about an hour away. Space at the best-known villas books up well ahead.
The Amalfi Coast
Cliff-top terraces above the sea in Ravello, Positano and Amalfi. The views are remarkable, but the roads are narrow and venues are often reached by steps, so think about older guests and anyone with limited mobility. Naples is the nearest airport.
Puglia
Whitewashed towns, olive groves and masserie, the fortified farmhouses that now host weddings and house guests on site. Puglia tends to feel more relaxed, with good value compared with the better-known regions. Fly into Bari or Brindisi.
Rome and Sicily
Rome offers historic palazzi and rooftop terraces for a city wedding. Sicily, particularly around Taormina, combines sea views, Mount Etna and a strong food culture, with direct flights to Catania.
When to go
Late spring (May and June) and early autumn (September and October) are the most popular months: warm days, softer light and comfortable evenings. July and August are hot, busy and expensive, and many Italians take their own holidays in August. Winter weddings are possible in cities but many coastal venues close for the season.
Practical tips
- Use a local planner. A planner based in Italy knows the venues, the suppliers and, if you register a civil union, how the local town hall works.
- Book a celebrant early. English-speaking celebrants who lead same-sex ceremonies are in demand in peak months.
- Give guests notice. Send save-the-dates nine to twelve months ahead so guests can plan time off and flights.
- Plan the weekend, not just the day. A welcome dinner and a relaxed lunch the day after give guests more value from the trip.
Still deciding between home and abroad? Our guide to the pros and cons of a destination gay wedding sets out the trade-offs, and you can see where same-sex marriage is legal around the world.
Turn the wedding into a honeymoon
Italy makes the honeymoon easy: you are already there. Many couples move on from a Tuscan wedding to a few nights on the Amalfi Coast, or from Lake Como to Venice. Out Of Office, our sister travel company, builds tailor-made gay honeymoons in Italy, from lake hotels to coastal villas.
Frequently asked questions
Is gay marriage legal in Italy?
No. Italy does not offer marriage to same-sex couples. Since June 2016 couples can form a civil union under Law No. 76/2016, which gives many of the same rights as marriage. See where same-sex marriage is legal for countries that do offer marriage.
Can foreign couples have a civil union in Italy?
Yes, at an Italian town hall, but you will need documents such as a nulla osta from your home country, usually legalised and translated into Italian. Many couples find it simpler to marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony in Italy. In the UK, that can be a short register office ceremony; our guide to same-sex marriage in the UK explains your options.
When is the best time for a wedding in Italy?
May, June, September and October are the most popular months, with warm weather and fewer crowds than July and August. Coastal venues often close in winter.
Photo: Michael Kroul on Unsplash
