How to Plan Your Perfect Destination Wedding in Sicily
Dreaming up your very own destination wedding might be easy – but sitting down to plan it can be a harsh reality check. Navigating international travel laws, country-specific marriage customs, and breaking through language barriers is no easy feat. Luckily, that’s where experts like us step in.
We’ve curated luxury destination weddings all over the world and helped couples with a range of preferences find the locations, venues and vendors that speak to them. Along the way, we’ve developed strong relationships with trustworthy local partners who can help finalize every last detail of your perfect day. We recently sat down with our friend and wedding expert, Guiliana, to talk about getting married in one of the most sought-after regions in Italy: Sicily.
Read on to learn more about how to start your dolce vita off on Italy’s picturesque island.
What do you need to know about Sicily?
Hi! Please introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background in destination weddings and luxury travel.
My name is Giuliana and I’m a travel designer with Yeep based in Catania, Italy. I have been in the tourism and events industry for about 10 years.
Yeep means “Your Exclusive Experience,” and the word itself says it: our mission is to create once-in-a-lifetime and unforgettable exclusive luxury experiences. We design 360° tailor-made events and travel with unique, high-end experiences.
Why is Sicily the perfect place to plan a destination wedding?
Sicily is an island in the middle of the Mediterranean: it is a concentration of cultures, art, nature, and breathtaking landscapes. You can go from the top of a volcano to crystal-clear beaches in the blink of an eye. The noble past mixes with a look towards the future. It is the land of dreams, and isn't it really a dream that a wedding should be made of?
Talk to us about Italian weather seasons and the best time to get married in Sicily.
In Sicily, you can find very different landscapes, situations and venues, which make it the perfect wedding destination in almost all seasons.
Spring and early summer, as well as autumn (which is never too cold in Sicily), have the perfect climate for a wedding by the sea or in the wonderful countryside. Autumn transforms the vineyards into breathtaking stages for the most romantic country weddings. Winter is never too harsh and the luxurious noble palaces of cities such as Palermo, Taormina, Catania, Syracuse or Noto can become the scene of memorable winter weddings.
There’s also the Trapani salt pans and the magic of the Valley of the Temples. And why not consider the Etna volcano? Untouched nature, and extinct craters along slopes that slide towards the sea, Etna is the perfect place in all seasons: white snowy landscapes in the winter months, the explosion of flowers in spring, the lunar landscape (but always cool in summer) and the magic of autumn foliage.
All things venues and vendors
What are the three most popular areas couples often choose in Sicily?
Especially in recent years, I would say Taormina, Syracuse and the Sicilian Baroque area (Ortigia, Noto and surroundings) and Palermo.
How does Yeep Italy assist clients in choosing the perfect venue as well as coordinating all the ins and outs of their dream wedding?
Yeep creates a direct and very honest contact with the customer from the very first moment. We believe that, especially when planning a wedding, empathizing with the client is the first and most fundamental thing to do. You need to listen very carefully to the wishes of the spouses, so as to be able to direct, advise and support them in the next steps. It helps that we have a deep-rooted knowledge of our territory and a large network of suppliers and consultants with which we are able to guarantee that degree of competitiveness and flexibility that the wedding industry nowadays demands more and more (wedding planners, location scouters, musical consultants, floral designers, personal chefs, caterings, fitters, stylists, entertainment of all kinds).
Moreover, the professional background of our CEO Francesco Scuto certainly gives a great added value: coming from the event management industry, both in Italy and abroad, he certainly has that overall vision and that particular know-how that combines Italian genius with international expertise (this helps a lot in the creation of custom made projects for our customers, which are 60% international).
Rapid-fire round
Tell us more about the experience. What can clients expect in this island destination?
Can I summarize Sicily with 4 words? It’s unexpected, welcoming, passionate, trustworthy.
What are things couples should consider when thinking about planning a destination wedding in Italy?
Well, pretty much everything you would expect when choosing any other destination: planning a wedding will be a beautiful, unforgettable and probably a bit stressful journey! Fortunately, those who choose to get married in Sicily will be able to do so in one of the most beautiful lands in the world, with great culinary traditions and some of the best wines.
With breathtaking locations that can really satisfy and gratify every type of couple: ancient villas, Norman castles, Baroque palaces, beaches renowned all over the world, and islands with fiery sunsets. It also has a wonderful climate practically all year round and honestly extremely competitive rates, both in Italy and across Europe.
How can couples create a memorable experience for all their guests traveling abroad?
Spend a few more days on the island and organize activities for yourself and for your guests (from family to close friends): fun, interesting and absolutely not-too-demanding activities. They should be a maximum of 2 or 3 hours, to be planned with a consultant who knows Sicilian culture and cuisine extremely well. For us, the keywords are: customized, flexible, and authentic.
Whether it's an exclusive visit to an ancient noble palace in Palermo in the company of the duchess who owns the house, to a walk along the alleys of Taormina, to a visit to the Greek Theater accompanied by a local expert who will tell little-known anecdotes. It could be a visit to the local markets to shop with one of our personal chefs, followed by a cooking class with freshly purchased products – helping you discover a little of the massive Sicilian culinary tradition. Or you could go horseback riding in the vineyards, quad rides on the slopes of the volcano, or do a special tasting in a castle overlooking the sea. What about a day on a sailing boat to discover the smaller islands, or a themed pre-party to enter even more into the Sicilian mood and culture? I could go on for hours…
Any helpful insider tips and tricks our couples should know?
Well, the first seems obvious to me: call the Yeep team! All jokes aside, I'd say that good advice would be to plan everything a year in advance and take a few days to do on-site inspections because nothing is more convincing than seeing places in person. If possible, avoid the months of July and August for the ceremony, because it is very hot and crowded.
To get started on planning your perfect destination wedding in Sicily, inquire to work with us!
Courtnie is the founder & CEO of TravelBash. After years as an ambitious fundraiser, she took her passion for travel full-time. She has lived all over the U.S. and abroad and after planning her own destination wedding, she decided to help other couples plan their big day abroad too. She has written “Passport to Paradise: The Complete Destination Wedding Guide,” a top seller on Amazon. She has also been featured in Travel + Leisure, Destination I Do and The Washington Post. As a certified travel advisor, expert event planner and natural connector, she uses her powers to create VIP travel experiences.
