Italy, often hailed as one of the most romantic places in the world, has several charming Italian wedding ceremony traditions that might surprise you. From engagement rituals to wedding customs, these Italian wedding cultures, add a unique flair to any wedding, enticing couples worldwide to consider tying the knot amidst Italy’s stunning backdrop.
Italian Wedding Traditions
In Italian wedding culture, the typical Italian wedding includes several fun and romantic traditions that are performed during the engagement period and the wedding day itself. Let’s take a look at some of them.
1. The Rehearsal
The rehearsal dinner, held on the eve of the wedding, is a great way for the couple to spend time with their family and friends before the big day. At the dinner, the bride wears green which is seen as a lucky color and a way to promote good fortune on the wedding day.
2. The Serenade
This romantic gesture, also known as La Serenata, happens on the eve of the wedding. The groom serenades the bride underneath the starry night sky beneath her window. This is an Italian wedding ritual in which family and friends take part, joining the groom as he serenades his wife-to-be. Musicians join in on this musical night and if the bride wakes up, it is considered as an accomplished mission.
3. The Isolation
The night before the wedding, the bride and groom must remain apart. The bride stays at her parental home and avoids looking at her reflection in the mirror, except when necessary, like when taking off jewelry.
4. The Attire
The traditional wedding dress is made to suit the bride’s preferences and can be either white or Ivory, symbolizing purity and innocence. The dress features delicate lace and other precious fabrics with intricate details. Guests are forbidden from wearing white to the wedding. The groom is donned in a classic tuxedo or suit with a pocket square, tie and boutonniere.
5. The Bouquet
It is a traditional Italian wedding tradition for the groom to pay and deliver a bouquet of flowers to his bride on the morning of their wedding. The flowers represent the last gift the bride will receive as a ‘single person’ and symbolize everlasting love. This bouquet is tossed after the wedding and whoever catches it is believed to be the next to get married.
6. Wedding Rings
Wedding rings or bands are called ‘fede’ in Italian, which means faith. The exchange of Italian wedding bands is one of the most beautiful traditions because of the ring’s symbolism. It represents the couple’s bond, the love they have for each other, and their commitment. Italian wedding rings are worn on the left hand because it was believed that the ring finger was connected to the heart by the vena amoris (vein of love).
7. Tie Cutting
In some Italian weddings, mostly in Northern Italy, the groom’s tie is cut into little pieces and sold to guests. This entertaining tradition symbolizes the groom’s transition from bachelor to husband. The money collected is spent on the couple’s future expenses, like the honeymoon.
Read: Best Jewelry for Wedding Guests
8. Glass
At the reception, guests clink their champagne glasses, urging the newlyweds to kiss. After the celebration ends, family and friends break glasses, and the shattered pieces represent the number of years the couple’s marriage will last.
9. Bomboniere
Bomboniere are small sugared almonds that are given as party favors to the guests at the end of the wedding. They come in different flavors and are handed out in odd numbers, usually five or seven, for good luck.
Read: What Does The Wedding Band Symbolize?
10. Rice Shower
When the newlywed couple exits at the end of the celebration, the guests shower them with rice (or rose petals ) while chanting Long live the spouses’ in Italian. This is a way to celebrate the newlyweds and wish them prosperity.
Found these Italian wedding rituals interesting? Here are some more Wedding Ceremony Rituals that will fascinate you.
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FAQs
1. What are some traditional Italian wedding customs?
Some traditional Italian wedding customs include the bride-to-be wearing green for the rehearsal dinner, symbolizing good luck. Another custom entails the groom paying for the bride’s bouquet and having it delivered to her on the morning of the wedding.
2. What is the significance of the “La Serenata” in Italian weddings?
La Serenata also known as ‘the serenade’ is a romantic gesture carried out by the groom. It usually involves family, friends and even musicians signing beneath the bride’s window on the eve of the wedding.
3. How are Italian wedding ceremonies conducted?
The wedding ceremony involves the reciting of vows and exchanging of rings which is the heart of the wedding.
4. What role do traditional Italian wedding clothes play?
Traditional Italian wedding clothes play an important role in the wedding. The groom’s tie is cut into pieces and sold to guests, while guests try to get a piece of the bride’s clothes as it is considered good luck.
