How much does a wedding in Italy cost

All you need to know about Italy & Tuscany wedding prices


The cost of a wedding in Italy | All you need to know on Italy & Tuscany prices
The cost of a wedding in Italy | All you need to know on Italy & Tuscany prices




COSTS OF A WEDDING IN ITALY

All you need to know about the costs of a wedding in Italy and Tuscany

2023/2024 Updated




Contents:


  1. Average cost of a wedding in Italy
  2. Costs Breakdown of a wedding in Italy
  3. Costs of a wedding venue in Italy
  4. Why is Tuscany so convenient for a wedding in Italy?
  5. Costs of the food for a wedding in Italy
  6. How to reduce food waste on your wedding day?
  7. Costs of a ceremony for a wedding in Italy
  8. Wedding Photography Packages
  9. Costs of a Wedding Planner in Italy
  10. Videography Packages and Costs
  11. Transport Costs
  12. Costs for the Decor
  13. Costs for Makeup and Hairstyle
  14. Costs for Music
  15. Budget for a plan B on a rainy day
  16. Planning a wedding in Italy on a budget
  17. Average number of guests at a wedding in Italy
  18. Plan an intimate wedding in Italy
  19. Elope to Italy 
  20. Extra resources to plan a destination wedding in Italy
  21. Download our FREE guide to plan a wedding in Tuscany
  22. Get in Touch!



Costs of a wedding in Italy | Confetti shot of a couple on their destination wedding in Italy



AVERAGE COST OF A WEDDING IN ITALY

€35.000 for a wedding with 50-80 guests, no accommodation costs included


People often wonder how much a wedding in Tuscany could cost. As Italian wedding photographers based in Florence, we often get asked this question too. 


If you are planning a wedding in Italy (even though of course this applies to any wedding), one crucial thing is to set a budget and try to stick to it as much as possible. A good place to start in order to get this bit right, is to have an actual idea from the beginning of the average costs and prices a wedding in Italy might have. When you set your budget, try to be as realistic as possible and always work hand-in-hand with your suppliers to achieve the result you envisioned and try to avoid those unnecessary costs!


So, first things first: How much is the average cost of a wedding in Italy and in particular in Tuscany?

 

The average cost of a wedding in Italy is around €35.000, but you should take this number with a pinch of salt as there are so many different factors that might affect it. Please note that this average cost is calculated for a wedding with 50 to 80 guests and it does not include the accommodation costs.


Let's make a breakdown of the costs together and let’s have a look at all the elements that might affect your budget.




DON'T FORGET TO LOOK OUT FOR OUR GREEN TIPS ACROSS THE ARTICLE AND CELEBRATE SUSTAINABILITY ON YOUR WEDDING DAY!





COSTS BREAKDOWN OF A

WEDDING IN ITALY


ALLOCATING YOUR BUDGET: THE WEDDING VENUE

What is the average price of a wedding venue in Italy?


€5.000 - €10.000 per day



The biggest percentage of your wedding budget will go to the venue and the catering, roughly 60%. Hence, it is important to get this bits right!

 

Choosing the right wedding venue will need a bit of planning. For one thing, you will have to plan in advance your trip to Italy and book a few viewings beforehand. As a general rule, the first step should be to go online and start to look through a few real weddings. A good place where you can get inspired is Pinterest. Feel free to start from here and check out Benni Carol Photography's Pinterest pins and boards for some inspiration. Having a general idea of the style and of the destination of your wedding in Italy is quintessential to set your budget right. As in most countries, remember that also in Italy there are more popular as well as more expensive destinations, so this is certainly something you should keep in mind before setting your heart on a place that might just be too expensive.


The second step would then be to choose the Italian region for your destination wedding. Ask yourselves what kind of experience you want to live, are you mountain lovers? Or would you rather get married on the coast, in coastal wedding destinations like Amalfi or Sorrento? Are you more into Tuscany, with its unique vineyards and historical cities? As we were saying before, researching for the right destination is very important as some areas might affect your wallet in different ways. 


One amazing thing about weddings in Italy though, is that our country can really offer any kind of experience, landscape and style for any kind of budget! It is just a matter of finding someone you trust (like your Italian photographer or planner) and see what alternative destinations they will suggest to you.  

 

For a complete guide to plan a wedding in Italy, check out our free guide here.


Prices of wedding venues in Italy range between an average of €5.000 and €10.000 per day. Of course this cost very much depends on the kind of venue you are thinking of renting. A farmhouse would cost considerably less than a luxury villa.



Intimate wedding reception in Tuscany | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Intimate wedding reception in Tuscany | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy


When renting a venue for your wedding in Italy, you can either opt for a day rental or you can decide to stay at the venue for a few nights (typically 2 to 3 nights, with prices starting at €5000/€6000 for a farmhouse in the countryside). The weddings we photograph the most are in this latter option: most of our couples rent a farmhouse or a villa in the countryside. When you choose this option, you can have a group of 20 - 30 guests to stay there with you. As we photograph mostly intimate weddings, this is usually the whole wedding party, but if you are planning to invite a bigger number of guests, make sure you provide them with a list of alternative accommodations in the area they can choose from. In this case you will also need to think about transport costs to and from the venue.


Remember that if you are planning to rent a venue for a few nights, you can ask your guests to share some of the accommodation costs with you, which will of course impact less on your budget.


→ Do not overlook practicality. When it comes to destination weddings, being practical will be essential. Think about transports, airports, how easy are these venues to reach?


WHY IS TUSCANY SO CONVENIENT FOR YOUR DESTINATION WEDDING?


Tuscany is not simply a unique beautiful region in Italy. It is its practicality that makes Tuscany the ideal place for a destination wedding.


There are two international airports in Tuscany.   


Galileo Galilei International Airport in Pisa.

Amerigo Vespucci Airport, also known as Peretola, in Florence.


If you are travelling from the UK, you will find loads of flights to and from Pisa with EasyJet and Ryanair.


People might not know it, but Tuscany is also very easy to reach from Bologna's airport, Guglielmo Marconi Airport. Another way to widen your options.


GREEN TIP..

How to plan an eco-friendly and sustainable destination wedding


Couple photoshoot during golden hour in Tuscany | The cost of a wedding in Italy
Couple photoshoot during golden hour in Tuscany | The cost of a wedding in Italy




COSTS BREAKDOWN OF THE FOOD AT A WEDDING IN ITALY


In site restaurant: €80 - €90 per person

External catering: €110 - €200 per person, with an avarage of €130



If you choose to get married in Italy, chances are that you LOVE great food!


Usually wedding venues in Italy do not have in site restaurants. If they do, quotes will usually be around €80-€90 per person. If you need to hire an external catering, the cost per person will range from €110 to €200 (with an average cost of €130). Remember that you will have to add VAT to all your quotes. The quotes usually include an aperitivo, the meal with 3 courses, water and wine. They also include the waiting staff and all the costs connected to rental (e.g. cutlery, chairs, linen..).

However, they do not include the costs of a bar service, which you will have to add to your budget (average of €2000-€4000 extra).


GREEN TIP..

One little extra on this: weddings should not be the excuse to create unnecessary waste! There is nothing more painful to see at weddings, loads and loads of food being wasted. Plates that go away half full (if not FULL). People love eating well at weddings, but this doesn't mean that they want to roll home after the party. Think about your wedding food in a conscious and sustainable way, it will save the planet and your wallet!

For more on this topic, check out this article by Catherine at All Things Considered for Green Union:



HOW TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE ON YOUR WEDDING DAY




Outdoor reception in a Tuscan Villa | Costs of a wedding in Italy
Aperitivo al fresco in a Tuscan Villa | Costs of a wedding in Italy
Outdoor aperitivo at a destination wedding in Italy | Costs of a wedding in Italy
Food menu at a destination wedding in Italy | Costs of a wedding in Italy
Outdoor aperitivo and canape' at a destination wedding in Italy | Costs of a wedding in Italy
Outdoor aperitivo at a destination wedding in Italy | Costs of a wedding in Italy
Al fresco aperitivo at a destination wedding in Italy | Costs of a wedding in Italy
Outdoor aperitivo at a destination wedding in Italy | Costs of a wedding in Italy




COSTS BREAKDOWN OF A WEDDING CEREMONY IN ITALY


Between €300 to €5.000



When getting married in Italy you can decide to have:


- A church ceremony

- A civil ceremony

- A symbolic ceremony (our favourite!)


Bride walking to church with her father on a destination wedding in Italy | Costs of a wedding


In terms of costs:

getting married in a church is free, but it is a nice custom to leave a little donation to the church (roughly €300).  


If you opt for a civil ceremony instead, prices change depending on the town hall or venue you choose. Prices for a civil ceremony in Italy range from €300 to €5000 (roughly).


Aerial view of Volterra | Average costs of a wedding in Italy
Volterra | Average prices of a wedding in Italy
Elopement in Volterra | All you need to know on Italy & Tuscany wedding prices
Elopement in Volterra | All you need to know on Italy & Tuscany wedding prices


Symbolic ceremonies are also free and surely our favourite formula! They allow you to get married anywhere you want to. If you want to get married outdoors, there is nothing better than a symbolic ceremony. You get all the boring legal paperwork done at home and you just enjoy your wedding day! 

Usually symbolic ceremonies are conducted by friends or family. If you wish to hire a celebrant, prices can range from €200 to €1600.


Outdoor symbolic ceremony in Italy | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Outdoor intimate symbolic ceremony in Italy | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Outdoor symbolic ceremony in Italy | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Outdoor symbolic ceremony in Italy | Average price of a destination wedding in Italy
Outdoor symbolic ceremony in Italy | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Outdoor symbolic ceremony in Italy | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Outdoor symbolic ceremony in Italy | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy


* Legal requirements to get married in Italy *

Italy recognises civil and religious weddings. There are no legal residency requirements.  You will have to have your paperwork ready on the day of the wedding and you will need two witnesses. You will need an official translator if you do not speak Italian. 




WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGES

Flying your photographer VS hiring a local photographer

The cost of a wedding photographer ranges from €1.500 to €10.000

The average spent is between €4.000 and €6.000



How much does a wedding photographer cost in Italy? 


When it comes to a destination wedding, you have two options with your photography. You can choose to fly your photographer from your home country, or you can hire a local photographer. 


There are pros and cons in both cases (as in most things). The pro of having a local photographer is definitely that they will know the area well. By area we mean that they will know when is the best time to get pictures. They will know exactly how the sun will behave in specific seasons. They will know the language and  how to interact with all your other Italian providers. They will be the experts, going above and beyond to help you have te best experience with your wedding in Italy.

On the other hand, when hiring a local photographer, one of the main concerns couples usually have is the language barrier which you wouldn't have with a photographer from your home country. Building up a good relationship with your photographer is quintessential to create wonderful images of your wedding day. So being able to communicate fluently with your photographer is definitely an important aspect.


This is why we specialise in destination weddings: we are a team of two Italian sisters who are based in the UK and in Tuscany. After having lived for more than 10 years in the UK, English has become our second language. So not only don't we have language barriers with our couples coming from abroad, but we also communicate perfectly with all the Italian vendors you will hire on your wedding day.


To read all about this topic, have a look at this link: 

How to hire your photographer for your destination wedding in Italy

Our packages start at €4.800 and they include full day coverage and a team of two photographers for the whole day. To request our detailed wedding brochure, feel free to get in touch:

Enquire about Destination Wedding Packages


Elopement in Rome | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Elopement in Rome | Average prices of a destination wedding in Italy
Elopement in Rome | How much does a wedding in Italy costs?
Couple on their Tuscan wedding | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Couple on their Tuscan wedding | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy



COSTS OF A WEDDING PLANNER IN ITALY

Packages are on average €4.000 for full wedding planning


When you are thinking of having a wedding abroad, hiring a wedding planner will most likely be the best choice you will ever make! Budgeting for a planner is what we recommend the most  to our couples. Planning a wedding in a foreign country could be stressful and they will surely have you covered no matter what! The cost of a wedding planner varies on the kind of service and coordination you will require (from merely coordination on the actual day, to location scouting, to taking care of all legalities and vendors, to full planning from day one..). The average cost of FULL planning for a wedding in Italy is usually around €4.000.


Over the years we have had the absolute pleasure to work alongside some of the best wedding planners in Italy and we will happily provide you with a list of our beloved recommended ones.


VIDEOGRAPHY PACKAGES AND COSTS

The cost for a team of videographers is on average €2.000 to €5.000


This is a cost that is usually left as one of the last ones to budget, but in our opinion it is a cost that should be included whenever possible. Having a video of your wedding day is something you will treasure forever. The cost of a team of videographers is between €2.000 and €5.000. Again, we have a few amazing videographers whose work we love and that we would happily recommend.



TRANSPORT COSTS

Average spent €1.600 - €2.000


If you are not having an intimate wedding where all of your 20 - 30 guests are staying at your same farmhouse/villa, you will have to arrange transport to and from your venue for your other guests. As we were mentioning earlier, it is always a good thing to let them have a good list of potential accommodations that are easy to reach from where the wedding will take place. Transport doesn’t come for free, so the closer your guests are staying, the better (Shuttle bus prices are between €700 to €1.000 depending on the number of seats).


We cannot stress enough how much thinking in advance will help you save money BUT ALSO will help you keep your wedding as socially conscious as possible.


GREEN TIP..

Driving your guests around or having a wedding in multiple locations is not only much more expensive, but it is also the least environmentally friendly option possible. In order to save some money that you could spend on other (maybe more satisfying) details and to have a low impact wedding, try to focus on venues that are as close as possible to other accommodations and that can host your ceremony as well as your reception.



COSTS FOR THE DECOR


Probably one of the most fun bits of the whole wedding planning journey (it would definitely be for us!) and this is when having saved on other aspects of the wedding will definitely come in hand! When you think about decor, you should think about many different aspects: bridal bouquet, buttonholes for groom and groomsmen, table decor, potential flowers for your ceremony, lighting..


GREEN TIP..

When it comes to the decor, it is again another chance to think about sustainability. Try to choose flowers that are as seasonable and as local as possible, opt for foam free floral arrangements, potted plants are also a beautiful and extremely sustainable option. You can also look into hiring them, maybe as a complementary bit of other floral arrangements.


On average, if you could allocate between €5.000 to €8.000 to your decor, you would certainly end up with a wonderful result.



COSTS FOR MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLE

Starting at €450


A Makeup Artist in Italy costs on average €650 for a bridal makeup and hairstyle with a trial included. When you are planning a wedding in Italy you will fly over the country on a couple of occasions (at least one) to finalise a couple of details, like for example, the menu for the day. It is on this occasion that usually you get most things done, like having your hair and makeup trials alongside other things, like for example, your pre-wedding session with your photographer.


Makeup and hairstyle with no trial is usually €450. If you want to add this service to your bridal party too, it is usually an extra €70 per person.


Some Makeup artists are now offering grooming options too, which are greatly appreciated by lots of our grooms!



COSTS FOR MUSIC


There is nothing more personal than your taste in music! Whether it is classical music or pop music, or a rock and roll band, or a string quartet or a DJ, the options are truly endless! And therefore the costs vary so much depending on what you decide to go for on your wedding day. Most of our couples choose to have a subtle music for their ceremony, which will also be there during the aperitivo moment and they will then opt for a music band that most of the time offers a DJ set too for the night.


You can allocate an average of €3.000 - €4.000 to music.



BUDGET FOR A PLAN B ON A RAINY DAY


Dealing with the rain on your wedding day is a state of mind! No one is saying that the rain will not affect the wedding, but it is also true that the way you react to it will totally change the way you will live and remember your day. Having said that, having a plan B in case of rain is always something you should take into account, especially if you want to avoid overstressing in the lead up to the day.


Outdoor wedding ceremony in the rain
Smiley couple on a rainy wedding day


You can deal with the “rain issue” in the very first stages of the planning, when you start researching for your venue. If you choose a venue that already offers a plan B option in case of rain, then you are sorted. Otherwise you will need to budget for a ti-pi or a marquee tent and potentially a couple of heaters (if your wedding is in late September, beginning of October and you are under a marquee on a wet day, you want to make sure your guests are not freezing).


For a plan B, you are looking at an extra cost of roughly €5.000.


View of a marquee tent for a wedding reception on a very rainy day in Italy
Rainbow over a marquee tent of a wedding reception in Italy



TIPS TO PLAN A WEDDING IN ITALY ON A BUDGET


If you have always dreamt of getting married abroad and you fell in love with the Italian beauty but you feel like the expenses would be just too much, then read through our few tips to plan a wedding in Italy on a budget. A destination wedding doesn’t necessarily have to be a huge wedding, there are a few smart tweaks that can be put into place to still plan a beautiful destination wedding without necessarily breaking the bank!



AVERAGE NUMBER OF GUESTS AT A DESTINATION WEDDING IN ITALY



This is the nature of a destination wedding. When you decide to get married abroad, your guest list can be shorter. With a shorter guest list, your costs on catering will go shorter too.


When planning a destination wedding, try to focus on the people that are important to you. Remember, you are choosing to go in a non-traditional way, to opt for your own, unique way of doing things. Do not listen to what other people might expect from your wedding, it is you two that will get to decide and no one else

 

An average destination wedding in Italy will have between 70 to 100 guests but most of the weddings we photograph in Italy are intimate weddings, with an average number of 30 to 40 guests.



GREEN TIP..


PLAN AN INTIMATE WEDDING INSTEAD!



Take your destination wedding in Italy as the perfect occasion to create an intimate and very personal experience with your dearest ones. But also, celebrate sustainability on your wedding day


When you decide to plan an intimate small wedding in Italy, by no means are you compromising or downgrading to a lesser package. In fact, you are investing so much more on the quality of what you will be experiencing, rather than on the quantity. Focus on experiences rather than stuff, this is always our motto!




Have a look at the two real intimate weddings linked below to see for yourselves what amazing days you can still have without the biggest budget:

Shannon & Adam's intimate wedding at l'Antica Fattoria di Paterno

Suzy & Adam's intimate wedding at Villa Petrolo



GREEN TIP..


ELOPE TO ITALY


Do you want to create a unique experience somewhere incredibly beautiful but you don’t want to go through the stress of planning a wedding abroad? Do you want to be as sustainable as possible on your wedding day? You want to save a little bit of money and you don't want to give up on the idea of getting married somewhere in Europe? Then, elope to Italy!

We are Italian wedding photographers who specialise in destination weddings and elopements all across Italy. We offer an all-inclusive elopement package to help you plan the elopement of your dreams!


CHECK IT OUT HERE:


ALL-INCLUSIVE ELOPEMENT PACKAGE IN ITALY


and browse through our Elopement Resources on our blog:


Elope in Tuscany


Elope in Lake Como


Elope in the Italian Alps


Elope in the Amalfi Coast


Elope in Italy - A comprehensive guide



Symbolic ceremony in the Alps | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Winter Vows exchange in the Alps | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Couple on their destination wedding in Italy | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Eloping to Italy | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Couple on their destination wedding in Italy | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Get married in Italy on a budget | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Get married in Italy on a budget | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
View of the Sorrento bay | Get married in Italy on a budget




EXTRA PLANNING RESOURCES FOR A DESTINATION WEDDING IN ITALY


If you are planning a wedding in Italy and you are looking for more planning resources, please feel free to browse through the articles below:


The 10 Best Wedding Venues in Tuscany

First 5 Steps to Take When Planning a Wedding in Italy


Couple on their destination wedding in Italy | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Getting married in Italy | Average prices of a destination wedding in Italy
Wedding venue in the Tuscany countryside | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Lakeside outdoor ceremony in Italy | Costs of a destination wedding in Italy
Wedding venue in Tuscany | All you need to know on Italy & Tuscany prices



DOWNLOAD OUR FREE GUIDE TO PLAN A WEDDING IN TUSCANY


13 Steps to plan a wedding in Tuscany


GET IN TOUCH!


If you are planning a wedding in Italy and looking for a photographer to document your day and help you on this exciting journey, then feel free to get in touch!

We would love to have a chat with you and help you create the day you dream of!


We are a team of two wedding photographers based in Florence, Tuscany and Hastings, UK and we specialise in outdoor, destination weddings.


Email us at info@bennicarolphotography.com or fill up our CONTACT FORM.


Benni Carol Photography | Two wedding photographers based in Florence and Hastings


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The cost of a wedding in Italy | All you need to know on Italy & Tuscany prices






Leave a comment

Comments

Jo Wiehler 6 Febbraio, 2023 | 11:17

You guys are fantastic!!!

Benni Carol 6 Febbraio, 2023 | 12:34

Thank you ever so much, so glad you find the article helpful! :) Benni & Carol

Stacey 5 Agosto, 2021 | 06:08

Hi, thank you for writing about this topic. I stayed up all night to read it fully, you open my eyes alot. Planing my wedding in December, I keep getting these over price wedding proposals for my small wedding. Because I didn't know about what the prices of things .

Benni Carol 11 Agosto, 2021 | 08:26

Thank you very much Stacey, we are so happy that you found the article helpful! That's all we care about. Should you need any further help at all, please do not hesitate to let us know. Take care and good luck with your planning, Benni & Carol

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