You may now get married in Italy again!
If you had planned your dream destination weddings in Italy and wasn’t sure what were the latest safety measures, then this article will answer all your questions. We can finally say it; weddings are back all over Italy! With the start of phase three, in addition to civil and religious ceremonies wedding banquets will also resume. Let’s see what are the provisions of the new decree!
After months of uncertainty, we are happy to finally announce the news we all expected: weddings are back all over Italy!
Below we will give you all the specific information regarding the security measures to be considered to say “Yes, I do" in Italy.
What does the decree in force since 15 June say?
The latest decree in place since 15th June is valid for the whole national territory and offered positive news regarding events, including weddings. So let’s delve in further and try to understand the key points we need to be aware of. The new guidelines as a whole specify that any activity must be carried out in safe conditions, and maintain respect for social distancing whilst using protective wear such as masks.
Travel between Italian regions and to and from abroad
As indicated in the latest decree, travel between regions is not subject to restrictions. In addition to this, travel to and from the following states is not subject to any restrictions.
- Member States of the European Union.
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Unfortunately, as of now, travel to and from other countries such as the United States is prohibited, except for proven work needs, urgency, or health reasons. The government has not yet referred to international travel that can affect honeymoons. In addition to this, as of the 10th July the health minister in Italy confirmed a ban of entry for those traveling from countries of high risk, these include the following countries: Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bosnia Herzegovina, Chile, Kuwait, North Macedonia, Moldova, Oman, Panama, Peru and the Dominican Republic.
Wedding Celebrations in Italy
- It is essential to provide adequate information on the prevention measures that will be in place during your wedding.
- The names and contacts of all the guests must be kept for up to 14 days after the event, for track and trace purposes.
- The space must be reorganised to ensure that all entry and exits to the venue allow guests to respect the 1-meter rule in place. If possible, it is encouraged to offer separate routes for entry and exit.
- The tables and seats must be arranged in such a way to ensure that the 1-meter rule can be maintained between the guests.
- Staff working onsite for the wedding must ensure adequate cleaning and disinfection of internal environments and any equipment before and after each use.
- Staff working onsite for the wedding must ensure adequate cleaning and disinfection of internal environments and any equipment before and after each use.
- Guests must wear masks whenever they are indoors, unless they are sitting down at a table. The service staff in contact with guests must use masks and frequently sanitise their hands.
- It’s possible to organise a buffet style reception, however the staff must manage the distribution of food in order to prevent guests from coming in close contact. Masks must be worn at all times when close to these food stations. When guests arrive to select their food, there must be enough space between them (1 meter) and ideally the area should have signs and barriers offering guidance. The self-service buffet style may be permitted only for set-ups that use individually packaged products.
- Any music performances or activities that do not allow the maintenance of at least 1 meter must be avoided.
Civil Weddings and Religious Rites in Italy⠀
It is possible to celebrate civil wedding and religious rites in Italy again, always taking into consideration the security measures.
Here are some of the measures to follow for church celebrations:
- Individual access to places of worship must be carried out in such a way as to avoid any gathering both in the building and nearby places, such as the sacristies and the churchyard.
- Access to the church, in this transition phase, remains contingent and regulated by volunteers and/or collaborators who favour access and exit and supervise the maximum number of admissions allowed.
- Anyone with a body temperature equal to or higher than 37.5 ° C should not be allowed inside the venue, the same goes for those that are showing symptoms.
- The safety distance of at least 1.5 meters must be respected inside the space.
- Those who access places of worship for liturgical celebrations are required to wear masks, including musicians etc.
- As for civil marriages, these can be celebrated in the Municipality with all the necessary precautions that include masks and respect for the safety distance. In any case, it is advisable to contact the Municipality of reference directly for precise information on the adoption of the measures of the decree.
Postponing My Destination Wedding in Italy
If you have already postponed your Italy wedding, it is understandable that you must be going through a stressful time, it’s never going to be easy. Try not to panic, stay calm and think with a clear mind. The situation is ever-changing so it’s important to keep an open mind and be as flexible as possible.
Give yourself some you time, and practice all the self-care you need. Your dream wedding in Italy will come around eventually and just think with all the extra planning time you have, it’s bound to be even more beautiful than you could have ever imagined.
When you’re ready, the first thing you need to do is get in touch with your suppliers and try and change the date to your new one. Unfortunately, with there being only 52 Saturdays in 2021, it is inevitable that lots will quickly become or have already been booked up. Be as flexible as possible with your dates for your wedding in Italy, your guests will understand.
