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Il matrimonio all'italiana
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How are weddings celebrated in Italy?

Whether you’re already married, about to tie the knot, or someone who avoids weddings at all costs, there is no denying that the “Italian Wedding“ is a spectacle of its own. In Italy, a wedding isn't just a ceremony; it’s a marathon of customs that blend ancient history with modern practicality.

Getting married in Italy: <br> How do Italians do it? -

How did people celebrate in the past?

In the past, getting married was a “matter of honor” between families with very strict financial rules.

  • The Groom’s Family was responsible for providing the house, the furniture, the groom’s suit, the rings, and the honeymoon.
  • The Bride’s Family had to provide the corredo (the trousseau) – a massive collection of linens, towels, tablecloths, and kitchenware – along with the bride’s dress and the entire wedding reception.

Today, things are much more flexible. Most couples now use a “lista di nozze“ (wedding registry), allowing guests to buy them specific items they actually need. Expenses are usually shared between the couple and their parents without the rigid “honor codes” of the past.

Are there any Italian superstitions related to marriage?

Even the most modern Italian brides often find themselves following old superstitions “just in case“. The dress is a big deal: it must be white. While designers try to push other colors, the traditional meanings behind them are enough to scare any bride away:

  • Ivory: Predicts a turbulent life.
  • Pink: Suggests a future financial loss.
  • Red: Traditionally associated with death or the afterlife.
  • Black: Completely forbidden, as it represents mourning and suggests the bride regrets her choice!

A bride also cannot look at herself in a full-length mirror once she is fully dressed. If she absolutely must, she has to remove an earring, a shoe, or a glove first to “break” the image and avoid bad luck.

To ensure a happy marriage, every Italian bride tries to wear five specific things on her wedding day:

  1. Something Blue: An ancient symbol of purity.
  2. Something Old: To represent the life she is leaving behind.
  3. Something New: A symbol of her new life ahead.
  4. Something Gifted: Representing the love of those dear to her.
  5. Something Borrowed: To maintain a bond with her family of origin.

If you are waiting for a wedding invitation from an Italian friend, don't expect it to fall on a Tuesday or a Friday. There is a very famous Italian proverb: “Né di Venere né di Marte, né si sposa né si parte” (Neither on Friday nor on Tuesday should one marry or depart). Tuesday (Marte) is the day of Mars, the god of war, and Friday (Venere) is associated with the day evil spirits were supposedly created. Consequently, almost all Italian weddings happen on Saturdays or Sundays.

Depending on the region, you might see some even stranger sights:

  • In Sardinia: The bride might break a plate filled with rice and salt on her new doorstep for luck.
  • The Tie Cut: In some areas, guests cut the groom’s tie into small pieces and “sell” them back to the guests to raise money for the couple.
  • The Bed Ritual: In many regions, the bride’s unmarried friends prepare the wedding bed with the finest linens and scatter rose petals and grain before the couple arrives.

At the end of the day, whether it’s breaking plates or avoiding Tuesdays, all these traditions have one goal: to wish the newlyweds a long, wealthy, and happy life together.