Marrying in Campania
Campania holds the Amalfi Coast and its clifftop towns, which have their own guides, and much more besides. The Sorrento Peninsula, the Bay of Naples, Capri, Ischia, Pompeii and Paestum all lie within the region.
Inland from Naples the land is volcanic soil and farming estates. Fiano di Avellino, buffalo mozzarella from Caserta and San Marzano tomatoes all come from here, so a wedding in the interior sits close to the source of the food.
The wedding market runs on two tracks. The Amalfi Coast and Capri carry international premiums, driven by demand and limited supply. Inland Campania, the Nola basin, the Cilento coast and the hill farms above Sorrento offer a different market with different prices.
The seasons
- Best
- Shoulder
- Peak
- Quieter
5 Star view Our reading of the wedding year, from the months below.
- Best months
- May, June, September, October
- Shoulder season
- April
- Peak season
- July, August
October is a strong month. The sea is still warm, the crowds have left and the harvest is in: grapes, late tomatoes and mushrooms from the Cilento hills. May and June bring reliable weather and full light. The Amalfi road is hard going for guests in July and August, so those months suit boat-only transfers and an experienced planner.
Daylight and sunset
The bar runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of each month. A ceremony is usually timed an hour or two before the sunset shown.
Calculated From the coordinates of Campania, local time, for 2027.
Ramadan and Eid
For couples and guests who observe them, the dates to plan a wedding around.
| Year | Ramadan | Eid al-Fitr | Eid al-Adha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 8 Feb to 8 Mar | 9 Mar | 16 May |
| 2028 | 28 Jan to 25 Feb | 26 Feb | 5 May |
Calculated From the Umm al-Qura calendar. The observed dates follow the sighting of the moon and can fall a day either side.
The areas of Campania
Sorrento Peninsula
Nola and the Campania Interior
Cilento and Paestum
Naples and the Historic Centre
What venues are like
Clifftop terrace venue
Gardens terraced into the cliff above the Tyrrhenian Sea or the Bay of Naples, with ceremony positions over the water. The better examples have garden rooms on different levels that separate the ceremony, aperitivo and dinner.
Rural masseria
Converted farm estates inland from the coast, with stone farm buildings around a courtyard, a pool and rooms in restored outbuildings. They suit larger parties, because catering and accommodation are on site and there are no coastal road transfers to manage.
Archaeological setting
The temples at Paestum date from the sixth and fifth centuries BC. Private access for ceremonies or dinners is available in some circumstances through the Ministry of Culture.
Historic palazzo
Baroque and Renaissance palaces in Naples and the hill towns around the bay, with courtyards, frescoed halls and rooftop terraces. They need a planner with established city contacts.
Airports and transfers
- Rome Fiumicino (FCO) The main gateway for North American and intercontinental guests. The high-speed train from Rome to Naples is reliable, and many guests prefer it to the road.
- Milan Malpensa (MXP)
- Florence (FLR)
- Venice (VCE)
- Naples (NAP) The main gateway for Campania, with direct routes from London, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt and other European hubs. Intercontinental guests usually connect through Rome.
- Pisa (PSA)
- Bologna (BLQ)
- Milan Linate (LIN)
- Bergamo (BGY)
- Verona (VRN)
- Bari (BRI)
- Brindisi (BDS)
- Palermo (PMO)
- Catania (CTA)
The Amalfi Coast road, the SS163, is narrow and subject to traffic control in peak season. Guest transfers for coastal weddings should be run by specialist local operators, and boat transfers between Amalfi, Positano and Ravello are often faster and more reliable than the road in July and August.
Marrying legally in Italy
A foreign couple marries in a civil ceremony at the comune, the town hall, after presenting two documents for each partner: a Nulla Osta from their own country's authorities and an Atto Notorio sworn before an Italian consulate or court. Birth certificates are apostilled and carry an official Italian translation.
- 1Up to six months before
The Atto Notorio
A sworn statement that nothing prevents the marriage, signed with four witnesses who are not related to the couple, at the Italian consulate for your place of residence or at a court in Italy. It is valid for six months from signature and cannot be requested more than six months before the wedding.
- 2Before you travel
The Nulla Osta
The certificate of no impediment from your own country's authorities. British nationals apply by post to the British Embassy in Rome with a notice and an affirmation witnessed by a notary. American and Australian citizens obtain theirs from their embassy in Rome.
- 3Before you travel
Birth certificates
The original, with an apostille, and an official Italian translation that carries its own apostille.
- 4Before the wedding
At the town hall
The documents are presented to the comune where the marriage will take place.
- 5The day
The civil ceremony
The marriage is conducted by the comune.
- Atto Notorio
- 4 witnesses, valid 6 months
- Nulla Osta
- from your own embassy or consulate
- Birth certificate
- apostilled, in Italian translation
Already married at home?5 Star view
Many couples complete the legal or religious marriage in their own country and hold the celebration here. A ceremony with no legal effect needs none of the steps above: the venue and the planner arrange it.
Who needs a visa
Travelling from the United States
American citizens visit Italy without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period under Schengen rules. The European Union's ETIAS travel authorisation will be required of visa-exempt visitors, Americans included, once it is operating; the EU expects that in the last quarter of 2026.
Travelling from the United Kingdom
British passport holders visit Italy without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across the whole Schengen area. The passport must have been issued less than 10 years before arrival and be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave. The European Union's Entry/Exit System registers fingerprints and a photograph at the border on a first visit.
Travelling from the Gulf
Citizens of the United Arab Emirates travel to Italy without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and will need the European Union's ETIAS travel authorisation once it is operating. Citizens of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman need a Schengen short-stay visa, applied for through the Italian consulate or its visa centre; under European Commission rules, Saudi, Bahraini and Kuwaiti nationals who qualify can be issued a multiple-entry visa valid for five years. A resident of the Gulf who holds another passport follows the rule for that passport.
Other nationalities
EU and EEA nationals need no visa. Other nationalities check with the Italian embassy or consulate in their country.
At the border you may be asked for proof of accommodation, travel insurance, a return ticket and enough money for the stay.
Reference gov.uk: Italy entry requirements; Italy, certificate of no impediment application documents (updated 20 August 2024). Consulate General of Italy in Sydney and Embassy of Italy in Singapore: Marriage in Italy. EU Travel to Europe (travel-europe.europa.eu): ETIAS, who should apply European Commission implementing decisions on multiple-entry visas for Saudi, Bahraini and Kuwaiti nationals (2023, 2024). Checked 5 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the authority that will marry you before you book.
Accommodation
Campania covers a wide range of wedding settings, from the clifftop Amalfi Coast to the volcanic landscape around Vesuvius and the baroque palaces of Naples.
At the table
Campania is the home of pizza and Neapolitan pastry, and its food rests on volcanic soil, buffalo milk and San Marzano tomatoes.
Pizza Napoletana
The soft-centred, blistered pizza of Naples, protected in the EU as a traditional speciality. The Margherita and Marinara are the canonical versions, made with San Marzano tomatoes.
Mozzarella di Bufala
A protected fresh cheese made from buffalo milk on the plains around Caserta and Salerno. It is richer than cow's milk mozzarella and is served fresh.
Sfogliatella
A shell-shaped pastry filled with semolina, ricotta and candied orange. The flaky riccia version is harder to make than the shortcrust frolla, and it is a Neapolitan breakfast pastry.
Greco di Tufo
A white wine from the Greco grape grown on volcanic soils around Avellino. It is mineral and structured, and goes with the seafood on coastal wedding menus.
What planners tell couples
Naples Capodichino
Naples airport lies close to the city centre and has direct flights from several UK and European airports. Transfers to the Amalfi Coast use the SS163, which is slow in summer, so a busy July afternoon needs generous time.
Pompeii and Herculaneum
Both sites are within reach of central Naples and suit a wedding itinerary. Herculaneum is smaller, better preserved and less crowded than Pompeii. Timed tickets should be booked ahead in summer.
The Amalfi Coast road
The SS163 is a single-carriageway road shared by buses, coaches and delivery vehicles, and it is hazardous when wet. For evening transfers after a reception, minibuses with experienced local drivers are better than self-drive hire cars.
Vesuvius views and safety planning
Outdoor ceremonies at venues with a direct view of Vesuvius fall under the monitoring authority's evacuation protocols. There is no practical risk for a short visit, but venues in the Vesuvian red zone should give guests the local emergency plan.
