Dreaming of a destination wedding in Italy, whether you elope to Lake Como, host an intimate beach ceremony in Positano, or a chic celebration in Rome? Those fantasies may soon be a reality again. While couples planning to wed in 2020 and 2021 have had to adapt quickly to shifting guidelines and international regulations, finally there is some positive news for those eager to host ceremonies abroad. Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s office has declared that weddings can begin in Italy on June 15–with no guest limits.
If you’re a Canadian dreaming of spending the summer in Italy, that reality just became one step closer. Air Canada is the first Canadian airline to announce they will begin operating COVID-tested flights to Rome, Italy from Toronto and Montréal starting early July.
As Canada’s vaccine rollout continues and fully vaccinated tourists begin to eye international destinations, here are the latest guidelines* for weddings in Italy.
Engaged couples should begin planning now
I would recommend booking a venue and all key vendors nine to 12 months before the desired wedding date, but for those who are newly engaged and want to host a late 2021 or 2022 wedding, keep in mind that venues and all vendors have been booking up quickly as many dates have been filled by postponements of 2020 weddings.
Wedding season at Lake Como runs from May to mid-October, many couples are planning weddings in the first half of the season have postponed to next year, creating greater competition for openings in 2022.
So, if anybody is holding out there to wait and see and leave it to later, assuming that nobody’s booked yet, you may be disappointed. Keep in mind that standard minimum lead time for destination weddings is around three months, given that guests will have to book travel, hotels, etc.
Stay up-to-date on travel and wedding regulations
This is the most recent government guidelines provided based on travel from Canada. Keep in mind that your transit points could affect your ability to enter Italy. It’s important you regularly check this website for updates.
As for wedding attendance specifically, according to the most recent protocols from the Italian Technical Scientific Committee (CTS), all travellers attending weddings must have a “green pass,” which certifies that the person is vaccinated, has recovered from COVID in the three months preceding the trip, or has a negative PCR test result 48 hours before the wedding*. The E.U. is also expected to launch a digital COVID-19 certificate on July 1.
Currently wedding agencies or vendors are required to have a COVID manager in place for every 50 people in order to ensure green passes or negative COVID tests are being checked.
Guide guests on all guidelines
Once couples are ready to send out their Save the Dates, it’s important that they include all information that their guests should keep in mind when travelling to Italy in order to adhere to the most recent national and local guidelines for wedding guests coming from Canada.
It’s been a long time since anybody’s travelled in most cases. Count on your travel professional, me, for a bit of hand holding and guiding through what’s required and actually how to do it.
Check for COVID clauses in contracts.
Many vendors in Italy, like those elsewhere, have included COVID clauses in contracts that set terms and conditions relating to the pandemic, adding updates to their force majeure, date change, and liability clauses. Such clauses are up to individual vendors, so it is important for couples to check ahead of time for them and learn specifics.
You may want to prioritize vendors who have policies in place that would allow them to postpone without rescheduling fees, something that was rarely top-of-mind pre-pandemic. Your travel advisor will ensure that to establish clear communication and realistic expectations with all the vendors from day one. It’s important you understand what their policies are for cancellation and postponements at the onset of booking them. It never hurts to ask if you need clarification or want something added to a contract.
I also recommend checking to see if vendors have online reviews and selecting ones that are renowned, professional, and up-to-date on the latest guidelines. When choosing who to collaborate with, look for honest opinions and reviews on the quality of their work and check their ability to adapt to change and last-minute unexpected issues.
*subject to change.
At the time of publication, non-essential travel is not recommended or encouraged. When conditions allow, I will be happy to help you plan future travel.
