Wedding Destinations in Sicily

Hands up how many of you lucky girls and guys went back to work this New Year sporting a sparkling new ring on your left hand. Christmas and New Year is a time for love and romance so it is no surprise that it is one of the most popular times of the year to get engaged, Mr K proposed to me on Christmas Eve. Valentines Days is also a popular date in the calendar for proposals. Over the past five years wedding tourism in Sicily has increased dramatically.

Weddings abroad can often be more intimate, less costly and a lot less stressful with beautiful weather, which is why more couples are opting for destination weddings creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Italy has always been a popular choice offering romance and a variety of venue options.

If you are a couple on the hunt for a fabulous and unique wedding destination you are in luck because Sicily is the perfect place.

Italy is well known as a country full of love and romance and the island of Sicily is not only Italy's largest region but it is also its most varied.

In terms of geography there are offshore islands, an endless coastline, rugged mountains, a stunning capital city, romantic towns, gorgeous beaches, volcanoes and dreamy hilltop villages, making it unlike any other place in the world.

Sicily is a land full of myths, legends and romantic love stories. It is a place where you are immediately seduced by its outstanding beauty, gastronomic food, rich culture and the Sicilian people who are so passionate about their island.

The climate is warm and sunny for nine months of the year making it ideal for those looking for great temperatures with an abundance of sunshine, vital elements for a destination wedding.

Glorious weather equals happy couples and very happy wedding guests.

With climate in mind Spring arrives early in March with the almond blossoms, it is also when the orange and lemon trees bloom. May and June are perfect if you want a warm temperature without the summer crowds. In July and August the temperature rises and sizzles so not the best months for a wedding. September, October and November are also pleasant months for a wedding.

When in Sicily your guests would be totally spoilt with a choice of activities during their stay on the island. Whether they are lovers of art, history, mythology, food, wine or literary, walking and hiking, a Godfather movie fan or just sun worshippers of beautiful beaches or lazy days on board a boat. There are exciting excursions to all parts of Sicily and its islands and it is also home to three top class golf courses. Cooking classes are always a popular and fun activity for your guests. The beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world with many to choose, from long sandy beaches to rocky beaches and beaches that are protected nature reserves meaning that your guests can enjoy a wonderful holiday as well as enjoying your wedding.

Wedding venues range from boutique hotels, historic and luxury five star hotels, castles and restored baglio's (ancient Arabic fortresses), beautiful private villas, noble mansions, aristocratic palazzi, country houses, agroturismi (farms), beautiful restaurants, enchanting forests, tonnaro (ex tuna factories) and there is always the option of being at sea on board a luxury yacht.

Civil, church and symbolic weddings along with elopements can be planned with ease with the help of a locally based wedding planner and you will be spoiled for choice with some of the most beautiful island destinations and unique venues in Italy, the possibilities are endless to create the wedding that your heart desires whether you have just two guests, a small intimate wedding or a wedding on a grand scale.

Sicily is a foodies paradise and romantic restaurants adorn the island. Your guests can expect to eat wonderful fish and seafood, along with tempting pasta dishes followed by sharing the most delicious decadent desserts.

Food at a traditional Sicilian wedding is of the utmost importance and after several delicious courses the dessert table is always very popular, originating from the "Venetian Hour" which is actually an old Sicilian tradition of having an array of pastries, fruits and cakes in great quantity.

Inspiration for your wedding in Sicily is endless. What could be more inspiring than the sparkling turquoise blue Sicilian sea, seashells, starfish and corals? Handmade Sicilian white lace veils? Oranges and lemons from citrus groves? Bouquets enhanced with olive branches and wild mountain herbs? Bright colours and designs from hand painted majolica tiles? Or how about the ruby red colour of volcanic red wines?

I have been lucky enough to have worked in the wedding and event industry in London for many years dealing with guest lists ranging from super models to royalty, setting up at fabulous venues such as The Dorchester, The Berkeley, Claridge's and the Mandarin Oriental and I have worked at prestigious wedding showcases and ateliers so I believe this gives me the ability to identify a beautiful destination and venue and recommend the best local wedding planners on the island to help you.

A locally based wedding planner knows the island well, knows popular venues, scenic locations and Sicily's customs and traditions. They will also help you choose the right vendors and accommodations. By choosing a local planner you are helping support small businesses and artisans on the island. With seamless collaboration your local wedding planner can help ensure that all aspects of your wedding day comes together smoothly and deal with all your official paperwork that is needed for a wedding in Italy. They will help you plan a unique and personalised wedding that will make your guests exclaim "Wow!!!" and they will provide professional guidance and advice. They we will be able to accompany you on site inspection at venues, at meetings with vendors, such as beauticians and hair stylists, and join you on tastings at your venue for your wedding feast and wine list.

Of course another advantage of a destination wedding in Sicily is that you can combine it with a honeymoon on the island. Planning a wedding can be very stressful and you might be too exhausted to plan a honeymoon from scratch and so staying on the island after your wedding requires way less planning and research. Another great advantage is that you can easily add it to your wedding gift list. This is great for couples who do not feel comfortable asking for money to put towards their honeymoon and so wedding guests can contribute towards a fabulous meal, couples spa treatments, excursions and experiences, maybe an exciting boat trip, wine tasting experiences or a cooking class for two.

So I now hope that you have now chosen Sicily as the destination for your dream wedding so let's have a look at just a few beautiful wedding destinations on the island ...

Taormina

Set on a mountainside, Taormina was Sicily's first resort and an obligatory stop on the Grand Tour, this beautiful town has been welcoming visitors for centuries and is the most popular choice for weddings. The town draped with bougainvillea offers breath taking views, an ancient Greek theatre, the beautiful island of Isola Bella, historic villas and hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants with terraces overlooking the sparkling Ionian Sea and a smoking Mount Etna in the distance. This town just oozes romance.

Mount Etna

Mount Etna is the largest and most active volcano in Europe and its awesome presence dominates the eastern side of the island. The Parco dell'Etna encompasses much of the volcano encouraging locals to produce wine, cheese, honey, olives and citrus fruit in the rich lava soil. Etna has a magical atmosphere full of beautiful myths and legends.

Aeolian Islands

Volcanic activity lent each of these seven islands its own land, seascape and character rising out of the sea like mysterious gems. Each island is like a little piece of paradise. Choose from Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Panarea, Stromboli, Filicudi or Alicudi. In August the rich and famous sail to Panarea on multi-million euro yachts making it one of the most fashionable and expensive island wedding destinations in the world.

Savoca & Forza D’Agro

The quaint hilltop village of Savoca is located just north of Taormina and is famous for being one of the movie locations for The Godfather Part I, in particular the iconic scene when Michael Corleone is hit by a "thunderbolt" and falls in love at first sight with the beautiful Apollonia which then turns into a spontaneous proposal. This pretty town has cobbled paths that lead up to the church were Michael and Apollonia got married. Nearby another hilltop village, Forza D'Agro, set the scene for a traditional Sicilian wedding in The Godfather Part II.

Marzamemi

This postcard perfect little fishing village grew up around the tonnara (tuna fishery) and villa of the noble Villadorata family. The old village still remains which boasts cute intimate restaurants each which ooze seaside and coastal living inspired decoration that are adorned with bright and colourful geraniums.

Cefalù

This ancient fishing village was given new life in 1131 when Count Roger founded the beautiful Cathedral here whose architecture and mosaic decoration make it one of Sicily's must sees and a great location for a wedding. Narrow Arabic style alleys open onto small squares which are the heart of the villages medieval centre.

Ortigia

This tiny little island attached to the city of Syracuse is a bustling mix of temples, churches, museums, open piazzas, seaside bars, markets and shops. The ancient market typically bustles with local housewives and vendors shouting out the merits of their produce. According to Greek mythology the Fonte Aretusa is where the nymph Aretusa returned to the earths surface after escaping from her undersea home of Arcadia.

Palermo

Everybody loves a European city and Palermo makes a great wedding destination. Settled by the Phoenicians in the 8th Century BC Palermo fell first to the Romans, then the Arabs, who chose Palermo for their capital making the city one of the most magnificent and powerful in the world. This splendour was compounded during the Norman reign. Today what remains of earlier ages coexists with modern life. Laundry billows off balconies of 15th century palaces and older buildings display a mixture of east and west.

Noto and The Baroque South East

The landscape of the south east is markedly different from the rest of the island yet this small corner of Sicily is rich in wedding venues. The towns of Caltagirone, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo Acreide, Ragusa and Scicli have all been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the merits of their Baroque architecture which adorns majestic churches and noble palaces.

The West Coast

Far from the developed resorts of the east coast, much of the western side of Sicily was remote until relatively recently and now presents unique opportunities for wedding tourism. The beaches of the west coast are prettier and less busy than the rest of the island and make a great place for a relaxing wedding. There are plenty of bays with gorgeous coves and clear waters and on some beaches you could be fooled to think that you are in the Caribbean or The Maldives.

Scopello

This small fishing village was almost inaccessible until recent years but is now experiencing a tourist boom, yet it still retains the charm of a tiny fishing hamlet. Here is the beautiful cove of the Tonnara di Scopello, an old tuna fishing complex located next to blue waters at the foot of the village, and it is currently a popular venue for weddings. Movie fans might recognise here as the location for Oceans Twelve when Brad Pitt takes Catherine Zeta Jones character to meet her estranged father in the final scenes of the movie.

Beaches

Everyone loves a beach wedding. Sicily has many great beaches, including white sand beaches, beaches with clear water and beaches in nature reserves with pink flamingos. There are also ones with hidden coves and off shore islands. Sicily's coastline stretches for miles so there are plenty of beaches to choose from to get the sand between your toes on your wedding day.

Wineries

One of the most amazing experiences you can enjoy in Sicily is wine tasting where you can immerse yourself in true Sicilian hospitality. The wine industry in Sicily has been going through a period of rapid change over the past twenty years and the popularity and prestige of Sicilian wine is continuously on the rise. Your guests will be sure to be impressed with a rustic winery and vineyard as your venue.

The Sicilian Sea

With more than 1000 kilometres of coastline Sicily is the perfect destination for an intimate wedding on board a boat. Sicily is surrounded by three seas, the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the south and the Ionian Sea to the east. The eastern coastline between Syracuse and Messina is particularly beautiful as Mount Etna dominates the coastline. You can create unforgettable memories at sea.

The Sicilian Countryside

An agriturismo is primarily a farm with a number of rooms for guests where you can enjoy a wedding feast of local produce, wine and local dishes and be made to feel part of the family. Most often they are restored farmhouses located on the quiet beautiful terrain. Additionally baglio's are ancient Arabic fortresses that have been restored and you will find many of these unique venues scattered across the Sicilian hinterland and countryside.

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Cover photo: Wedding in Sicily Taormina

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Now join myself and Isabella Randazzo from

Wedding in Sicily Taormina

at a fun Wedding Showcase at La Plage Resort,

a beautiful venue set on the beach of

Isola Bella in Taormina