Italy; the land of allure where life’s finer things, from art and architecture to opera and design, are enjoyed in abundance. It’s the boot-shaped babe that intrigues millions of visitors with its great success stories – pizza and pasta – and its many wanderlust inducing attractions of the sparkling Como Lakes, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and, well, George Clooney!
In fact Italy, with its glorious climes and dramatic scenery, is a total aphrodisiac when it comes to weddings. Considered to be one of, if not the romantic destination, enamoured celebrity couples head there to exchange rings and bask in its rustic serenity. From Kim and Kanye’s ultra-glam Florence affair that attracted the gaze of the world, to David Hasselhoff and Hayley Roberts’ passionate partnering in Puglia. Here are some of the celebrities that said “I do” in Italy…
Source: Getty
George and Amal Clooney
When the world’s buffest bachelor finally “put a ring on it,” boy was the whole world watching! George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin exchanged vows at the Aman Canal Grande luxury resort in Venice in 2014, in what was one of the most spellbinding events ever to have graced the celeb calendar.
Venice, the nook of Italy that epitomises romantic scenes, saw the couple indulge in a four-day Venetian extravaganza with an invite list bulging with star-studded names, from Cindy Crawford to Bono. The wondrous, gondola laden city is a labyrinth of special places to wed, from Renaissance-era palaces to five-star boltholes enraptured between iconic views such as the Baroque San Marco cathedral and the Grand Canal. Wearing Oscar de la Renta, Amal wed George and a fairy tale wedding came to life.
Source: People Magazine
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel
Justin and Jessica certainly brought sexy back as they wed in Italy’s Borgo Egnazia resort in Puglia. The glamorous 2012 affair that saw girl’s hearts breaking across the globe, witnessed Justin serenade Jessica as she sashayed down the aisle in a pretty-in-pink Giambattista Valli gown.
Encircled by Italian countryside, the couple had the whole 63-room, 28-villa luxury hotel at their disposal and, it’s rumoured that they journeyed to Italy for their marriage simply because of their shared amore for Italian cuisine! We can hardly say we blame them…
Source: Hello / @leonalewis on instagram
Leona Lewis and Dennis Jauch
Leona Lewis and Dennis Jauch have been a “thing” for quite some time! Their love story began in 2010, when German-born choreographer and creative director Dennis toured with Leona’s world tour ‘The Labyrinth’ as a backing dancer. Then, the musical duo got engaged when her dancer beau popped the question whilst holidaying in Puerto Rico last year.
Fast forward a year to a fairytale wedding in Italy, as the pair shared stunning snaps, kisses and cake in a ceremony held at Sting’s Tuscan estate. The couple married in a Buddhist ceremony, which was attending by 180 guests, and Leona sashayed down the aisle in a spellbinding lace-embellished bodice by Israeli design Mira Zwillinger.
Whilst our wedding invite must’ve got lost in the post, it hasn’t stopped us from ogling photos of Leona and Dennis’ stunning day…
Source: @kimkardashian on Instagram
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
When the power couple of all power couples got married, the world knew it was going to be a lavish affair. On the 24th of May, 2014 Kim Kardashian married Kanye West at the 16th century Forte di Belvedere in Florence against a mesmerising floral backdrop.
Clad in a Lorraine Schwartz 15-carat engagement ring and Martin Katz’s Tobey diamond studs, Kim walked down the aisle to the undulating tones of Andrea Bocelli with her sisters who, like Kim, wore spectacular white dresses. Why Florence? Well, it was where their first child, North West, was conceived. All the feels!
Source: Getty
Emily Blunt and John Krasinski
Who doesn’t love this couple? First off, he’s absolutely hilarious in The Office playing Jim and, quite possibly one of the most related people on earth. And Emily? Well, her portrayal of an unbearable personal assistant in the Devil Wear’s Prada was quite akin to marmite – do we love her or do we hate her?
The talented duo wed in July 2010 at an outdoor private ceremony in Como, with a sea of celeb guests including George Clooney – gosh, he just loves Italy! Emily wore an utterly gorgeous cream chiffon Marchesa sweetheart gown and it’s been happily ever after since their Italian wedding, and some awesome movies to boot!
Source: Danielle Levitt
Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka
Never mind the tale of how I met your mother, we want to hear all about how Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka got married in Italy! The star from the aforementioned show married partner David in Perugia, the capital of Umbria, as dreamy guests including Elton John, who performed, looked on. The men of the moment donned Tom Ford suits that were tailor-made and designed by Tom himself – wedding outfit goals!
Despite being a private affair, various flies on the walls have informed us that the Italian wedding ceremony boasted fireworks, magic tricks and more all wrapped up in their rented-out Italian castle.
Source: @penny.lancaster on instagram
Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? Is something we’re sure Rod asked Penny as they swayed in celebration after their wow-worthy Italian wedding in Liguria. At the historic Palazzo Durazzo in 2007, which overlooks the bay of Santa Margherita Ligure, Rod Stewart married Penny Lancaster to the tune of 100 guests and a whole load of fireworks!
The couple have since renewed their vows under an ancient tree in their Essex home – it must be the Italian love spell!
Source: KT Merry / @Kateupton on instagram
Kate Upton and Justin Verlander
It was a wedding that looked as though it’d been picked up straight from a Pinterest board when Kate Upton and Justin Verlander got married in Italy. We’re talking florals galore, a secret garden theme and rose petals scattered in their bucketloads across the aisle. The intimate wedding took place in Tuscany – but only just! Verlander was playing in Game 7 of the world series and Kate cheered him on in the stalls as their guests arrived for the wedding. After a win, they fled to Italy to relish in the nuptials and as we expect, throw a well-deserved party.
Instagram went into overload as everyone copped a look at the stunning Tuscan backdrop to which the couple exchanged their vows, followed by an epic firework display as the night went out with bang!
Source: Aaron Delesie
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend
What would he do without her smart mouth, drawing him in and then kicking him out? When the All of Me singer, John Legend married Chrissy Teigen on Lake Como in 2013 it was, quite literally, legendary. The couple, famed for epic vocals and Chrissy’s beauty and social media witticisms, headed to the stunning Italian ‘Villa Pizzo’ for their ceremony – the location where they claimed they first fell in love. How cute!
Chrissy pretty much bought out the whole of Vera Wang for her Italian style wedding, changing into three different dresses by the designer throughout. Showered in cream-coloured rose petals, the Lisa-Vorce designed event was topped off by Legend serenading Teigen with his hit-song All of Me!
Source: Villa Tiepolo Passi / David M Benett for Getty Images
Jessica Chastain and Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo
When your surname is pretty much pronounced as the word proposal, you’re bound to put a ring on it at some point, especially when your girlfriend is Jessica Chastain! In 2017, the actress married her long-term lover Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo at his jaw-dropping family home in Carbonera, Italy. No, that’s not where the pasta Carbonara comes from but it is a gorgeous province of Treviso, famed for its lush green expanses.
Jessica walked down the aisle in an unknown design but what was known were her celebrity guests which included Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt.
Source: Bertrand Rindoff-Petroff/AP
Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault
If an Italian wedding party is fit for French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault and movie star Salma Hayek then it’s fit for anyone! The dreamy couple said their ‘I do’s’ in France in 2009 but hosted a huge Italian wedding weekend bash in Venice for family and friends afterwards. We’re talking a carnival-style masked ball, and a Balenciaga princess wedding gown. We’d love to have been a fly on the wall for that party!
Weddings in Italy – you gotta love ‘em! From masked-Venetian affairs peppered with designer gowns and masks, to intimate candle-lit gatherings in Tuscany to all-out extravaganzas in Como, it’s no wonder, given the glamour and romantic status of Italy, that numerous celebrities have wed amongst its magic. Will you follow in their footsteps and plan your fairy-tale wedding in Italy? We say – why not! Italian Wedding Circle will give you all the guidance, advice and need-to-knows for getting married in Italy.
