A Three-Day Wedding in Italy: Welcome Dinner, Wedding Day and Farewell Brunch
Updated: Oct 6
A wedding weekend in Italy gives you time to settle in, share good food and enjoy the people you love. A welcome dinner, your wedding day and a farewell brunch create a gentle rhythm, with space between the celebrations to enjoy the setting.
The aim is to spend meaningful time together, without making every hour an event. Long lunches, a swim or a quiet morning can be as memorable as the organised celebrations.
Use this itinerary as a starting point. All timings below are illustrative: we adapt them to the season, daylight, venue access, ceremony arrangements, music restrictions and your guests’ travel plans.
Whether you’re gathering at an Italian villa, a coastal estate or a countryside masseria, this framework adds structure, ease and moments to savour.
Day 1: Arrive and feel at home
Afternoon: Guest Arrival & Settling In
Example arrival window: 3–5 pm, subject to accommodation check-in times. Allow time to unpack, refresh and explore.
Share a simple itinerary, key contacts and local tips. A small regional treat is a thoughtful optional welcome.
Make water and a comfortable place to relax available; keep the afternoon free of obligations.
Planner’s note: Guests may arrive on different flights. Keep your welcome plans flexible and allow a comfortable gap between check-in and dinner.
Evening: A relaxed welcome dinner
Example time: 7–9 pm, adjusted to arrivals and the venue.
Style: informal but elegant — think a garden dinner, rooftop cocktails, rustic pizza party or tasting dinner in a local trattoria.
Bring in regional food, local wine, gentle live music and warm lighting.
Suggested dress code: relaxed evening wear, with practical footwear for the setting.
After dinner: Time to unwind
There is no need for a second organised event.
Guests can linger over a drink if they wish, or enjoy an early night after travelling.
Leave space for conversation and let the evening end naturally.
Choose one or two local touches that feel personal to you; a welcome evening does not need to be elaborate.
Day 2: Your wedding day
Build the day around your ceremony, a generous aperitivo and dinner together. A clear schedule helps everything flow, while leaving you time to be present.
Morning: Getting ready
Example preparation window: 9 am–2 pm, confirmed with your hair and makeup team and photographer.
Begin with breakfast and allow enough time for getting ready, photographs and any travel to the ceremony. Keep lunch, water and a few quiet moments in the plan.
Planner’s note: Build in realistic buffers, especially when several people need hair and makeup or transport.
Afternoon: The ceremony
Example ceremony time: 4 pm. The best time depends on the season, shade, ceremony type and venue.
Your ceremony might take place in a villa garden, a historic church or an authorised civil ceremony setting. Confirm the location and arrangements before building the rest of the day around it.
Allow for a few minutes after the ceremony to soak in the moment with your spouse.
For outdoor summer ceremonies, consider a later start and plan shade, water, comfortable seating and a weather alternative with your venue.
Late afternoon: Aperitivo and photographs
Example time: 4:30–6 pm, following the ceremony.
Enjoy regional bites and drinks with your guests. Agree a focused photograph plan so you can spend much of the aperitivo together, with time for couple portraits when the light suits your setting.
Planner’s note: Allow for family photographs without filling the whole aperitivo with formalities.
Evening: Reception
Example dinner window: 6:30–9:30 pm, agreed with your caterer and venue.
Let dinner be a highlight: seasonal ingredients, regional wine and unhurried conversation. Plan speeches around service so food and celebrations flow comfortably.
Follow dinner with your chosen cake moment, first dance and music. These can be arranged in the order that feels most natural to you.
Suggested dress code: your choice, communicated clearly with guidance on footwear and evening temperatures.
Evening: Dancing and optional after-party
Example start: 9:30 pm; finish time and location depend on the venue’s music rules.
If you want to continue later, confirm an approved indoor space or alternative location, with transport where needed.
Late-night food can be a welcome addition. Agree bar arrangements, staffing and costs in advance rather than assuming they are included.
Day 3: Farewell breakfast or brunch
A simple farewell gathering gives you one more chance to enjoy each other’s company before journeys home.
Morning: An easy farewell
Example time: 9–11 am, adapted to checkout and departure times.
Offer a relaxed breakfast or brunch at your accommodation or a nearby venue. Keep it optional for guests with early flights, and confirm luggage storage and checkout arrangements.
Suggested dress code: comfortable and travel-friendly.
Departures: Leave a comfortable travel buffer
Departure times will vary with flights, transfers and accommodation checkout.
Give guests clear transfer details and allow a realistic margin for the journey. A warm thank-you is enough; farewell gifts are entirely optional.
Make the weekend your own
At Charlotte and Ceri’s three-day celebration at Villa Catignano in Tuscany, we planned a welcome pizza evening with gelato and live music, followed by their wedding day and a relaxed barbecue on the third day. It is a lovely example of adapting the format around the couple rather than following a fixed template.
You might prefer a farewell lunch to brunch, or a quiet final morning. The right itinerary reflects your priorities, your guests and the place you have chosen.
Remember, the key is to balance planned events with downtime, allowing everyone to enjoy the destination and savour the joy of your wedding celebration.
With a fourth day and a longer accommodation booking, you could add an optional pool afternoon, wine tasting or cooking class. Keep experiences manageable, confirm any additional costs and leave free time for guests who prefer to explore independently.
Planning your wedding weekend in Italy? Our multi-day wedding planning service brings together your venue, suppliers and celebrations, with time to enjoy the destination. Explore our planning services or let’s plan your wedding.
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Image credits and featured locations: the original photographs in this guide feature celebrations across our wider portfolio. The contributors and venues credited below relate to those images; recommendations for your own wedding are tailored to your plans.
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